The Basics: A carbon-granule-capsule microphone that delivers delicious distortion, $350 direct from Placid Audio.
The Apps: Imagine carbon particles sandwiched between plates, modulating DC voltage as their density and resistance changes from sound pressure.
If this sounds primitive and less accurate than moving a coil (or a corrugated ribbon) in a magnetic field, well…yes, it is, and the resultant distortion is uniquely interesting, much like an old telephone where this tech originated.
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Really loud sounds make a splat, really quiet sounds can be difficult to translate, but everything in the middle distorts readily and equally, creating a satisfying uniformity of crunch and crackle.
This model uses phantom power to enable an onboard preamp, providing a nice, hot output level. Your results may vary, but I’ve gotten nasty tones from vocals, guitar and drums, and I’ve only scratched the surface.
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The RU-80 is steampunky, made in the USA and has a lifetime warranty, so get cracklin’!
