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Red Microphones Type B

Detachable-Capsule Condenser Microphone

The Red’s Type B was an inexpensive Class A discrete solid state (FET) mic designed for Red by Blue Microphones as a foundation for interchangeable capsules.

The mic was packaged with a neutrally-voiced capsule initially known as the Red Lollipop Capsule, later renamed the R8, still later relaunched as the Blue B8 Bottlecap. Its non-colored sound was recommended for “applications ranging from vocals to electric and acoustic guitars, close-miking of drums, drum overheads, percussion, piano, horns, strings and any other applications where crystal-clear sound quality and detail is of the upmost concern.”

The Type B kit also included the Type B Accessory Pak, with Blue’s 20-AWG Cranberry mic cable and Type B Shockmount.

The Type B head amp has a bayonet mount that can accommodate a variety of capsules, from BLUE (branded either BLUE or RED), from Violet Design, and vintage Neumann/Gefell capsules.

Compared to similar microphones, The Type B has a very low self noise specification (<7.5dB) and high output level (+12dBV). The Type B employs a transformerless Class A discrete amplifier circuit; the output employs three transistors in lieu of a transformer.

Note: the Red Type B does not need an external power supply — just phantom power.

What color is your microphone?

In 2008, the Red Type B was relaunched as the Blue Bottle Rocket Stage One; the nine Red R0-R8 capsules, including the Red Lollipop Capsule (which became the R8), have been rebranded as the Blue Bottle Caps, B0-B8.

To add to the rainbow, some of Violet Designs’ VIN series of “Vintage” capsules are likely identical to some of the Blue capsules. The B2 appears to be a VIN44; the B3 appears to be a VIN89; the B5 appears to be a VIN55, although in all cases, construction and sound may well differ.

EQ Magazine

The mic amplifier body is based loosely on the original Neumann CMV condenser microphone…

Using a cardioid capsule, there is a certain immediacy to the midrange that makes instruments sound pleasant and present. The highs are exceptionally clear without being annoyingly detailed. The low end is amazing — very round and extended.

The Type B … really surpassed all expectations.

As of late 2007, pricing on the Type B was as follows:

• $999 MSRP, $699 street for the Type B body and a single capsule (e.g. the R8)
• ~$600 for each additional capsule

The Red Microphones Type B is also known as: typeb.

Specifications

Compatible Capsules

Blue Microphones B0 Large Diaphragm Bottlecap 24mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20-20,000 Hz MSRP: $649 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B1 Small Diaphragm Bottlecap 18mm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 35 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $649 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B2 Figure-of-8 Lg Diaphragm Bottlecap 24mm large diaphragm Bidirectional capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 35 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $649.95 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B3 Cardioid Mid-Size Diaphragm Bottlecap 22mm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $649 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B4 Perspex Sphere Pressure Omni Small Diaphragm Bottlecap 18mm Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $849 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B5 Pressure Omni Large Diaphragm Bottlecap 25mm large diaphragm Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 35 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $649 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B6 Cardioid Large Diaphragm Dual Backplate Bottlecap 24mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 18,000 Hz MSRP: $649.95 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B7 Cardioid Large Diaphragm Single Backplate Bottlecap 24mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $649.95 | Still In Production Blue Microphones B8 Edge-Terminated Large-diaphragm 25mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $595 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN12 26mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $1027 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN26 26mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $1027 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN27 27mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 22 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $1027 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN44 26mm large diaphragm Bidirectional capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 28 - 10,000 Hz MSRP: $1027 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN47 26mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $1068 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN55 26mm large diaphragm Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 24 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $1027 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN67 26mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $1068 | Still In Production Violet Design Ltd. VIN89 22mm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $1068 | Still In Production

Pads & Filters	Impedance	SPL/Noise
n/a	50 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 138 dB Self-noise: 7.5 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
472g (16.65oz)	200mm (7.87'')	45mm (1.77'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 35-48v

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