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rickshawrecords wrote:The other thing I've read is that thinner foils give better high-frequency response and higher output. Admittedly, I have never used any other foil, so I don't have a reference.

Hey Rick,

Good to see that people are getting a lot out of that docment which you produced.

I think you'll find that in theory (and in practice to a certain extent) that the foil thickness will not change the response as far as levels go. You can prove this if you are bored by checking the theory of operation.

However, the thickness does affect two things at least; transient response and resonance. Better transisnt response due to thinner and thus lighter foil gives clearer treble response in my experience which gives th impression of more in some ways. Maybe more clarity. Thinner foil also reduces the effect of resonancs to a certain extent where you find that thick foil sounds boomy as the resonances are more noticeable (eg. 5-30Hz and any harmonics above this). You can hear it if you pluck the ribbon in some way.

2.5 micron is a good thickness in my opinion. 0.6 micron or thereabouts like you'd find with foil leaf or that used originally in STC mics like the 4038 can sound great, but is less rugged and needs to be suited to the mic for impedance reasons. The impedance (well, resistance) of the ribbon needs to be matched well to the mic transformer. Otherwise we may get bass loss, level loss, and noise.

Rodabod wrote:

rickshawrecords wrote:The other thing I've read is that thinner foils give better high-frequency response and higher output. Admittedly, I have never used any other foil, so I don't have a reference.

Hey Rick,

Good to see that people are getting a lot out of that docment which you produced.

I think you'll find that in theory (and in practice to a certain extent) that the foil thickness will not change the response as far as levels go. You can prove this if you are bored by checking the theory of operation.

However, the thickness does affect two things at least; transient response and resonance. Better transisnt response due to thinner and thus lighter foil gives clearer treble response in my experience which gives th impression of more in some ways. Maybe more clarity. Thinner foil also reduces the effect of resonancs to a certain extent where you find that thick foil sounds boomy as the resonances are more noticeable (eg. 5-30Hz and any harmonics above this). You can hear it if you pluck the ribbon in some way.

2.5 micron is a good thickness in my opinion. 0.6 micron or thereabouts like you'd find with foil leaf or that used originally in STC mics like the 4038 can sound great, but is less rugged and needs to be suited to the mic for impedance reasons. The impedance (well, resistance) of the ribbon needs to be matched well to the mic transformer. Otherwise we may get bass loss, level loss, and noise.

I just ordered 2 sheets of 1.8u foil from lebow. I'm excited.

might anyone have left over aluminum for sale?