Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Have you ever wondered how a classic ribbon microphone sounds on a drum kit compared to a tube condenser microphone?
Generally speaking, ribbon microphones are loved for their incredibly smooth, natural high frequencies, rich midrange, and a very thick, fat low end. Tube condenser microphones, on the other hand, offer high sensitivity across a wide frequency spectrum. They capture incredible detail while adding beautiful harmonic tube saturation and a characteristic, airy top end.
Today, I have the absolute pleasure of testing two fantastic microphones sent to me by my amazing partner, the t.bone: the Retro Tube II and the RB770. I have been curious about these specific models since my early days in the recording industry, and I am thrilled to finally put them to the test on drums and share the results with you.
Beyond their impressively robust packaging, the sound quality genuinely surprised me. They deliver far beyond their price range. If you are looking to add that classic ribbon warmth or rich tube character to your studio recordings, I highly recommend giving these a try.
Below, you will find affiliate links to all the gear I used in this session, including today's stars, the t.bone Retro Tube II and the RB770. If you decide to check them out through these links, you support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support and for watching!
Microphones used in this video:
The t.bone Retro Tube II: thmn.to/thoprod/225039?offid=1&affid=1935
The t.bone RB770: thmn.to/thoprod/519258?offid=1&affid=1935
Other Microphones on the kit:
Snare Top: Shure SM57, JZ BT202
Snare Bottom: JZ BT202
Kick In: Sennheiser E901
Kick Head: Shure Beta 52A
Kick Out: JZ V47
Toms: Earthworks DM20
HiHat & Ride: Neumann KM184
Additional Overheads: JZ V12
All drum samples when there are drums only are unprocessed - so without EQ or Compression. In the final Mix or with Music I only used a drum bus compressor and soft EQ to shape the sound a little bit.
Credits:
An NB Studio video & audio production
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Mono Overhead Comparison
02:09 Stereo Overhead Comparison
03:34 Mono Room Comparison
04:59 Stereo Room Comparison
06:46 Microphones in a Recording
#tbone #RB770 #RetroTubeII #NoahBenedikt
Have you ever wondered how a classic ribbon microphone sounds on a drum kit compared to a tube condenser microphone?
Generally speaking, ribbon microphones are loved for their incredibly smooth, natural high frequencies, rich midrange, and a very thick, fat low end. Tube condenser microphones, on the other hand, offer high sensitivity across a wide frequency spectrum. They capture incredible detail while adding beautiful harmonic tube saturation and a characteristic, airy top end.
Today, I have the absolute pleasure of testing two fantastic microphones sent to me by my amazing partner, the t.bone: the Retro Tube II and the RB770. I have been curious about these specific models since my early days in the recording industry, and I am thrilled to finally put them to the test on drums and share the results with you.
Beyond their impressively robust packaging, the sound quality genuinely surprised me. They deliver far beyond their price range. If you are looking to add that classic ribbon warmth or rich tube character to your studio recordings, I highly recommend giving these a try.
Below, you will find affiliate links to all the gear I used in this session, including today's stars, the t.bone Retro Tube II and the RB770. If you decide to check them out through these links, you support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support and for watching!
Microphones used in this video:
The t.bone Retro Tube II: thmn.to/thoprod/225039?offid=1&affid=1935
The t.bone RB770: thmn.to/thoprod/519258?offid=1&affid=1935
Other Microphones on the kit:
Snare Top: Shure SM57, JZ BT202
Snare Bottom: JZ BT202
Kick In: Sennheiser E901
Kick Head: Shure Beta 52A
Kick Out: JZ V47
Toms: Earthworks DM20
HiHat & Ride: Neumann KM184
Additional Overheads: JZ V12
All drum samples when there are drums only are unprocessed - so without EQ or Compression. In the final Mix or with Music I only used a drum bus compressor and soft EQ to shape the sound a little bit.
Credits:
An NB Studio video & audio production
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Mono Overhead Comparison
02:09 Stereo Overhead Comparison
03:34 Mono Room Comparison
04:59 Stereo Room Comparison
06:46 Microphones in a Recording
#tbone #RB770 #RetroTubeII #NoahBenedikt
