In the recording industry, there is a long list of iconic microphones that every experienced recording engineer has at least heard of. The RCA 44-A, is one of these. Built in the 1930s, and known for its smooth sound and beautiful appearance, the RCA 44-A is an absolute classic. Cloud Microphones looks to build on that classic with the “something old, something new” approach. TheCloud 44-Ais a long ribbon design that is supposed to follow the exact specs of the RCA 44-A with modern materials. The Cloud’s body resembles the styling of the RCA’s, but it is more slender and light for a mic this size. One of the major differences from many ribbon mics is that theCloud 44-Ais an active design that utilizes their own “Cloudlifter” technology. This gives a major clean boost in output that greatly improves performance, then leaves your ribbon mic eating phantom power for breakfast. Preamps with even a modest amount of gain should drive this mic just fine. For ribbons and some dynamic mic applications, I use and love both the Cloudlifter Zi [Tape Op#123] and the Crimson Audio Mogain [#110] preamp booster. Having this technology built right into the microphone is a welcome design. TheCloud 44-A’s 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response is also expanded from the original RCA 44-A. The Cloud has two toggle-switched settings: Music for full range and Voice for a reduced low end.

I have not had the opportunity to use an original RCA 44-A, but I do use ribbon mics often. The mainstay ribbons in my mic closet are the Coles 4038 [#15], the beyerdynamic M 160 [#60], and the Cascade Fat Head [#55]. I have owned and used others, but these are the mics that have stayed in my collection. For this review, I mostly compared it against the Coles 4038 and the M 160 on various sources. TheCloud 44-Ahas an incredibly natural-sounding midrange. On several sources I didn’t feel like it was giving me asound, so much as it was justthere– what was in the room is what was coming out of the speaker.

During the process of my comparisons, I really learned a lot about my current ribbon mics when comparing them to theCloud 44-A. It was pretty much the same theme on every source. When compared to the Cloud’s extreme midrange detail and tight low and top end, the Coles 4038 had a slightly scooped, extremely smooth midrange, with more high end sparkle and extended lows. Not that the Cloud doesn’t have nice high end or solid low end – it’s just different than the 4038’s… almost like an inverse response from each other on sources like acoustic guitar. I had never considered the Coles as scooped in the mids until I compared it to theCloud 44-A. The beyerdynamic M 160, has much more of a bite in the midrange than the others and does not have the same level of neutrality that theCloud 44-Apossesses. On a vocal, things were much more similar sounding until the performer got very close. The Coles exhibited more low end boominess, whereas the Cloud was much tighter – especially with its Voice setting engaged. On trumpet theCloud 44-Awas stellar. It was like the trumpet was right there in my face without the squinting and pain a trumpet directly in your face would typically cause! I can see theCloud 44-Aas a mainstay for brass and other midrange heavy instruments. Cloud offers a microphone with vintage style that will impress clients, sound great, and comes in around $1500 – definitely worth a listen.

Buy Now From Sweetwater! Buy Now From Reverb! $1499 street;cloudmicrophones.com -Justin Mantoothjustinmantooth.com