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Recording
Recording Mag - Mar 2024 - 2

Recording - March 2024

BoRbon Ribbon Microphone

Amazona
Amazona - 1

Amazona - May 2023

BM9, Black Ops, BM9A

User Reviews

"Loving ours (Berserker), bit of a modern classic!"

Ibibio Sound Machine

"This thing (Berserker) is amazing. "

Luke Tweedy, Flat Black Studios

"The Berserker, needs to be listened to in order to really grasp the beauty of it. So, it looks stunning in photos, it’s even more awesome in person and when you listen to it you feel mesmerised. This is not an ad, this is just the opinion of a very happy customer of this (almost) one of a kind wonder. Thank you!"

Simone Coen

"The Berserker sounds absolutely wonderful on everything I've tried it on, male or female, softly spoken or angry screamers! It's gorgeous, thank you."

Ross Orton

"I love my Berserker, it‘s one of the best sounding and smoothest mics for vocals I‘ve used so far. Congrats on this one!"

Christoph Brandner

"With each Ribbon microphone fitted and tuned from their York-based UK facility by non-other than Stewart Tavener himself, Extinct Audio are fast gaining a reputation for extremely high quality, well-constructed ribbon microphones at a very attractive price-point.With a detailed yet vintage tone, the BM9 combines modern utility with classic design - exhibiting extremely low noise, rich lows and a clear, intelligible top-end. Beautifully made, with a fantastic sound too boot - well worth a spot on your 2020 wish-list."

Funky Junk, London

"Just wanted to say after using the Black Ops mic over a few months now. This is the most amazing microphone I’ve ever used. I feel inspired using it, the warmth and richness from this is what I’ve been searching for, for quite some time. The build quality is solid and the design is quite special. This microphone makes me smile every time I see it."

Dominic Halpin

"Used my BM9 on vocals the other day and it was lovely. A little high shelf boost, a little low cut - sounded big and rich and detailed AND I was surprised at how much level I got from it. Really nice!"

Scott Evans, Antisleep

"The build quality on the BM9s is amazing, I’m very impressed with them (and the box too, beautifully made!) I shall definitely recommend you highly to anyone I know in need of ribbon mics or repair. "

Dan Skinner, SkinnerBrosMusic, Liverpool, UK

"Hi Adam/StewartThe two BM9s arrived safely on Tuesday and I've spent the last couple of days trying them out in various ways on my new Shigeru SK5 chamber grand. The only word that comes to mind is - perfect. Up till now I've been using a Royer SF12 and various other mics but these are the absolute icing on the cake. May your business go from strength to strength."

Paul Carroll, Spiral Music, UK

"I received the [Extinct Audio] transformer well packed and thank you for the gift ;) I've done some tests with very good results. Warm, sweet sound. Detailed but very soft in the high range. Bass is open and large."

Maël Bellec, France (Melodium 42B replacement transformer)

"I have your BM9 pair now about two months. I love these! I been recording one band and one folk-artist here in Finland. "

Juha Keinänen, Finland  Juha’s YouTube videos of the BM9s in action

"The Extinct Audio Valkyr in MS is the greatest overhead going."

James Yates of Majetone Industries

"Broke out the Extinct Audio BM9 yesterday for flute and saxophone duties. It's really lovely. Paired with a 1073 gives loads of heft, yes heft, and it looks bloody gorgeous so even if you're not recording you can just stare at it for hours and hours and hours."

James Knight, Knight Time Studios, Ealing, London

"I love the Black Ops. It’s probably my favourite microphone (I got 40 of them). It’s very good on both acoustic instruments and vocals."

Rikard Frejgrim, FABRIKK, Karlstad, Sweden

"I got the mics yesterday. Everything OK with shipping, they are working fine. I am so impressed with the craftsmanship. Thee are pieces of art! I am so thrilled! "

George ‘Geegor’ Anagnostopoulos, Abyssal Productions, Sofia, Bulgaria

"The mic arrived in one piece thanks to your excellent packaging, already recorded a couple of tracks with it. I love it! Will use it all the time in my Film+TV Scores."

Dirk Leupolz, Berlin, Germany

"Recording strings today was amazing and made even more so with a pair of Extinct Audio BM9’s. Amazing ribbon mics for all applications that don’t break the bank either. Go check them out!"

Neil Innes. ATA Records

"I haven't put it down! It's really surprised me how versatile it is. I'm really impressed with it on amplifiers too - I expected to use it alongside a 57 or 421 but it sounds so good by itself. It's the first time that what I am recording sounds identical to the amplifier in the room. Definitely my go-to set up for clean guitar tones. I could do with another one or ten of these."

Daniel Collins (BM9 ribbon microphone)

"Following the success and critical acclaim of the ‘Viking’ BM9, Extinct Audio have continued the Nordic theme with their latest creation the ‘Valkyr’ BMx2 Blumlien Stereo Ribbon Microphone. If you are looking for a stereo ribbon mic which sounds fantastic and looks stunning this is it! The immediate reaction of performers and audio colleagues is ‘Wow, what is that’? Even the ‘Fenrir’ anti-vibration mount is a beautiful and effective piece of engineering, gripping the mic firmly and making it easy to position...."

Read the full review at Martin Mitchell’s Microphone Blog

"The Extinct Audio BM9s are classy and confidence-inspiring right out of the (very lovely) box. Every engineer I’ve handed them to immediately commented on the heft, build quality, and general good looks….. In every instance the mics were fantastic. Over and over they made my go-to guitar dynamic mics sound broken and one-dimensional in comparison…. At this price they’re a f***ing steal. Buy a pair." Tape Op  (Issue #127). Read the full review here

"The Black Ops mic is stellar. The muted proximity effect is indeed helpful and the Black Ops’ midrange character is different from the standard BM9, making it a different, but great-sounding beast." Scott Evans, antisleep.com

"I use the BM9 on drums as a mono crushed mic. Man its so good. I love it as much as the RCA 44! Lovely controlled lows." Robert Charles Wilks, Kent, UK

"We've been trying them on various different sources over the past few weeks and they've performed really well on everything. You've left us with no choice but to buy both of them!" Matt Jagger, Konk Studios, London, UK

"It's a fine mic, the most neutral ribbon I ever used. This and a good EQ would record anything. The thing I noticed the most is the absence of mid bump in the frequency response, it takes EQ so well that you can make it sound bright, deep and neutral as a C12/CK12 equipped mic without harsh mid bump in the way. I like the fact the mic reach the extreme highs easily. It's the type of mic you can trust on the sound quality. Funny enough, the mic in my locker which sounds the closest is a mint later [Melodium] 42B with a very impressive sound. " Jérôme Cousin, L’Atelier du Microphone, Saint Thual, France

"The new BM9 sounds incredible on guitars. Such a detailed sound." Jonny Hooker, Young Thugs Studios, York, UK

"BM9 ribbon from Extinct Audio sounding amazing! Vibe, detail and presence for days with zero noise... I'm in love!" Johannes Buff, France

"This mic sounds fricking nutz! Amaze balls! Thank you guys so much! " Ben Lee, Eugene, OR, USA

"The new Extinct Audio BM9s were a real surprise. They are really light and much easier to position as a pair. When I heard a range of blind samples from an SOS mic test, I picked out the BM9s as the best sounding mic.... since making these videos I’ve bought two BM9s." Robin Phillips, REP Music, UK

"This mic (BM9)is becoming a trusted member of my standard kit." Jeff Ardon, St Austral Sound, UK

"I've had the pleasure of trying the microphone with numerous instruments and on numerous sessions...including, drums, guitar cabinets, acoustic guitars, voice, percussion, and quite a few varying acoustic stringed instruments. The BM9 went above and beyond my expectations in all these applications.... It has also been a great pleasure when highlighting the BM9 in a mix...it sounds incredibly rich. It's also incredibly quiet! I am considering purchasing another one soon." Douglas September, Canada

"I am really, really impressed with how good they are. I have a bunch of large ribbon 1950's RCA 44 type mics and they stand up to them no problem and actually in a lot of ways are better. They have that large ribbon sound. Very natural, great highs and lows and everything in between." Neil Innes, ATA Records, UK

"They are really great. Their tone sits between a 4038 and a Royer 122 and they have a lovely bass tip up. Slightly more pronounced we think than a 4038 at a given distance." Jamie Neale, Real World Studios, UK

"I think I am falling in love with this mic! It is without doubt one of the most pleasing mics I have come across. The balance of the sound really sits well on my ears and with the acoustic instruments I have tried so far I have felt no inclination to reach for the EQ.... My favourite ribbon microphone of all time." Martin Mitchell, Freelance Sound Engineer, UK read Martins full review

"The BM9‘s are great…. Sounded stellar on double bass, room mics and acoustic guitar." Ali Chant, The Playpen Studios / Toybox, UK

"Wow! I initially tried them on a mid-size grand piano, and A/B’d them with some LDCs. The BM9’s had a larger soundstage, and a really beautiful low end, while actually sounding more open than the condensers!… They absolutely SLAY on piano – seemingly adding 2 feet (and a suboctave) to my Baldwin Grand. Huge but tight bass, with a clear and extended top end." Dave Mallen, Innovation Station Music, Annadale, Virginia, USA

"I want at least 6 of them now!" Nigel Pepper, FOH engineer, Snow Patrol

"It sounds wonderful. Looks fantastic too! The bottom end on these mics is rich and deep with a clear top end just like you promised. I really like it’s smaller size for a ribbon mic which makes it great for combining with other mics and getting close to source on acoustic instruments without crowding the performer. Great value for money. " Russell Pay, London, UK