In this Video Kristian Kohle of Kohle Audio Kult sits down with new CEO of AEA Microphones, Julie Tan, to talk about Ribbon microphones and the history of AEA.
This video stems from Kristians recent experience in Germany’s Toolhouse Studios where he recorded drums with ONLY ribbon microphones, all coming from AEA.
This wasn’t only overheads and rooms but also direct mics on the shells (audio example in the video). Needless to say Kristian was really impressed with the outcome so much so that he set up this visit to
AEA’s headquarters in Pasadena, California.
AEA microphones was founded by Wes Dooley, a legend in the microphone world, first started AEA as Audio Engineering Associates as a place for engineers to hang out and engineer things from mics to outboard equipment and more. AEA’s history intertwines with RCA’s history because Wes’s mic shop was one of 3 authorized service centers for the originals RCA microphones, once RCA mics had stopped manufacturing their mics they gave Wes all the left over parts wishing him luck. Having all these parts and the introduction of new ribbon mics by others mic developers Wes decided to create his own, having all the original RCA parts Wes was able to learn how RCA manufactured their mics starting with the RCA 44BX thus the recreation came about named the AEA R44C and many many more microphones to follow.
Fast forward to today Julie is now heading AEA with around 15 employees in the workshop keeping it a tight nit family, with a workshop in the building for Wes to continue working whenever he likes.
Check out the drum recording course Kristian did of using only AEA Ribbon Microphones here:
Check out the Kohle Audio Kult for more courses or membership
Kristian Kohle Youtube Channel: @kohleaudiokult
