Beyerdynamic M130

The M130 uses a pure aluminum ribbon transducer, which provides a natural, smooth high-frequency roll-off and a warm character that condensers often lack. It is particularly effective at taming harsh transients on instruments like cymbals or electric guitar cabinets.

Yes, the M130 is an excellent choice for the 'Side' component of an M/S setup. Because it features a figure-eight polar pattern, it pairs perfectly with a hypercardioid or supercardioid microphone to create a wide, phase-coherent stereo image.

No, the M130 is a passive dynamic ribbon microphone and does not require phantom power. In fact, you should ensure phantom power is switched off on your preamp or interface to avoid any risk of damaging the ribbon element.

The figure-eight pattern captures sound from the front and back while rejecting sound from the sides. This is highly useful for isolating specific instruments in a room or for capturing the natural ambience of a space while keeping the off-axis bleed to a minimum.

While ribbon microphones are traditionally delicate, the M130 is built with a robust brass housing and designed for professional environments. However, it should still be handled with care and protected from direct blasts of air, such as from a kick drum or a vocal pop filter.

Because the M130 has a relatively low output sensitivity of 1.3mV/Pa, it performs best with a high-quality, low-noise preamp that offers plenty of clean gain. This ensures you can capture quiet sources without introducing excessive hiss into your signal.