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sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 Active Ribbon Microphone

Active Ribbon Microphone with 20Hz-18kHz Frequency Response
$499.00

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sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 Active Ribbon Microphone
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Hear Absolutely Everything with this Ribbon Microphone!

Not since the sE Electronics RNR1 ribbon microphone has an sE ribbon microphone covered so much ground. The active Voodoo VR2 ribbon mic, designed in-house at sE by classical musician, designer, and sE CEO Siwei Zou performs across a 20Hz to 18kHz range ensuring you'll encounter very few micing applications that wouldn't benefit from its detailed, open, and natural sound. Sweetwater engineers know there are an ocean-full of choices in microphones today, but you'll find very precious few that offer you the same high-end performance for such a great deal as the sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 ribbon microphone.

sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 Active Ribbon Microphone at a Glance:
  • 20Hz-18kHz frequency response offers clarity across the whole spectrum
  • One of the highest performing ribbon mics for the price
  • Active design for plenty of output and quieter performance
20Hz-18kHz frequency response offers clarity across the whole spectrum

Ribbon microphones, while offering incredibly warm tone are often known to lack a bit in the high-end detail. Not so with the sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 active ribbon microphone. It's frequency range of 20Hz to 18kHz ensures you'll capture everything in the air, making it great for acoustic instruments, voice, and even loud electric guitar and bass amplifiers with a high 135dB max SPL. Get the responsiveness of a great condenser with the smoothness only a ribbon can offer with the sE electronics Voodoo VR2.

One of the highest performing ribbon mics for the price

There are other mics that perform like the sE Electronics Voodoo VR2. But what good is that if you have to sell your studio to afford one? There simply aren't many options that will give you the 20Hz to 18kHz response, 135dB max SPL, and active circuitry of the Voodoo VR2 at a price point anywhere near this microphone. Is your project or studio on a budget? Need a top-quality, studio-grade mic, but don't have the resources or desire to spend a grand or above? The sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 ribbon microphone fits your bill perfectly.

Active design for plenty of output and quieter performance

Super quiet and super loud sources are usually not friends with ribbon mics. One of the few drawbacks to using a ribbon microphone is their low output, making capturing quiet sources like a fingerpicked acoustic guitar difficult to get while keeping noise down. And due to how fragile many of them can be to high SPL, use on loud sources like electric guitar amps can be a no-no. The VR2 can handle a max SPL of 135dB and thanks to the active circuit can push enough power to get immaculate performance on delicate quiet sources as well.

sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 Ribbon Microphone Features:
  • Specifications similar to ribbon microphones costing well over double its price
  • Active electronics make tracking quiet sound sources simple
  • 135dB max SPL for getting great results with louder sound sources
  • Figure-8 pickup pattern is amazing at picking up environmental sounds and impulses
  • Rugged design can be used virtually anywhere
  • Ruler-flat frequency response from 20Hz to 18kHz +/- 2dB
  • Requires +48V phantom power
The sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 active ribbon microphone, a great mic at an even better price!

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Tech Specs

  • Microphone Type: Active Ribbon
  • Ribbon Type: 2-micron Aluminum
  • Polar Pattern: Figure-8
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz-18kHz
  • Max SPL: 135dB SPL
  • Output Impedance: 200 ohms
  • Self Noise: 18dB (A weighted)
  • Sensitivity: 10mV/Pa (-40 dB)
  • Connector: XLR
  • Power Source: 48V phantom power
  • Weight: 14 oz.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: VR2-U

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Sounds great on my 3/4 Upright.

The proximity effect with this mic is pretty dramatic - and that's actually a good thing. One needs to experiment a lot with mic placement, but once you find a sweet spot, this mic really delivers.

What earns it five stars for me is that it is a ribbon that provides expected warmth, but also picks up mid-range frequencies from my bass and it does so in a live trio setting. I'd tried other dynamic and condenser mics, but this is the best one yet.

I am using the Reflexion Filter Pro to "block" the back-side of the figure-8 pattern with the other two musicians at approximately 45 degrees to the left and right (drums and various reed instruments). I'm also using a folded shipping blanket to cover the top "U-shape" of the Relexion Filter Pro to further block room reflections. The sound of this mic is very natural. I've also used it on Alto Sax, flute, clarinet and bass clarinet with success. It sounds amazing on bass clarinet. I'd love to try a pair on grand piano.

I got the active version because I wanted to avoid accidentally blowing out the mic by accidentally activating phantom power.

TBH, I'd love to have at least three more of these mics in my collection. For the price point, it's a steal and great value. sE Electronics is really shaking up the microphone industry with their innovative products.
Music background: Educated as a guitarist when young, reborn as a blues harp player, then a bassist since the 80's, mostly improvisational music.
Rated 5/5

sE Ribbon Mics Sound Great

sE makes ribbon microphones that sound wonderful. Their Voodoo models have a natural relaxed sound quality that LDC's don't achieve. This VR2 active model is a strange looking creature but when you mic a vocal or a guitar amp with it the sound is all natural, full with none of the high frequency roughness you experience in so many microphones. The inbuilt active electronics make this ribbon easy to use and assure you of no damage from phantom power. The VR2 has smooth frequency response that extends to 18K so you don't get the annoying roll off provided by many ribbon microphones. The build quality is also fantastic and it comes with a nice storage box. It's a great microphone, unique and excellent sounding.

Good Music To You!
Music background: Retired professional, loving life and my wife
Rated 5/5

Clear sounding

I have done a variety of music work adjacent to recording for many years, but I'm not actually a recording engineer. I was a little nervous about buying a ribbon mic, as I had heard that even blowing on one the wrong way could break it, but my Sweetwater sales engineer assured me that is only true for vintage mics, and modern ones are reasonably rugged.

The recordings from this mic sound just like the instrument does in studio. There is no exaggerated high end like with many condenser mics. The mic is surprisingly heavy for its size and seems well-built.

Despite what one of the other reviews says, the mic does come with a shock mount.

Only nitpick is that the wooden box the mic comes in feels extremely light and cheap. Obviously this does not relate to the quality of the microphone, but it was not what I expected.
Rated 5/5

The Winner of the unofficial Shoot-Out

I have been on a mic journey for over 2 years now. Testing all sorts of different mics from different eras through different processing chains. 6 months ago. I purchased an $1,800 mic that had won a proper shootout in a pro studio. Since then, day by day, I had begun to notice deficiencies in the microphone that my ear had not yet been tuned to. It does not suit my voice nearly as well as I thought it had. In truth, it came in second place at the shootout, the true winner was a 1933 RCA44 but I wasn't working in that kind of budget so we went with the runner up. Now, 6 months later, I decided to pick up a budget ribbon since I felt slightly desperate for the perfect mic for my voice and my budget had depleted.

The VR2 worked wonders. I run it through a 1073 into an 1176 and it sounds amazing. Ribbons truly hear like our ears. Beautiful ribbon that maintains clarity even through the smooth top end. Amazing mic, my favorite in my locker, no doubt.
Music background: National Touring Artist, Producer/Engineer
Rated 5/5

An affordable ribbon mic that sounds great!

Excellent frequency response and great character. This is the ribbon mic that all the bedroom producers have been waiting for.
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