FAQ
Why buy a NUDE Microphone?
NUDE Microphones are designed in South Australia for people who love sound: recording musicians, producers, engineers, creatives, podcasters, schools and studios who want superb sonic quality without paying for logo tax.
Our value proposition is simple: Low Cost, Superb Sonic Quality Microphones.
You’re buying directly from people who love microphones and are committed to delivering exceptional performance at an affordable price point.
Are These Microphones Chinese?
Yes - and proudly so.
Yes, many NUDE Microphones are made in China ... proudly, carefully, and with long-term manufacturing partners we know and trust. NUDE Microphones are designed and developed in South Australia, then produced to our specifications by specialist manufacturers with parts suppliers in Vietnam and Europe.
Today’s question isn’t "where" something is made - it's how well it’s made and who’s behind it. We choose our partners based on good engineering practice, quality control, and passion for sound. Together, we’re creating microphones that rival models retailing at ten times the price – built by people who, like us, actually love microphones.
Will I need a specific preamp for NUDE ribbon Microphones?
No special preamp is required, but ribbon microphones are naturally lower-output than condensers or dynamics, so a clean preamp or audio interface with around 60dB of gain is a good starting point. Most contemporary audio interfaces now typically provide this amount of gain and when recording louder sources like drums, brass, or guitar amps, you’re unlikely to even approach needing this as the sources are acoustically very loud. If you’d like to add a touch more clean gain, Cloudlifters are a great low-cost option – they’re transparent, easy to use, and can give your NUDE ribbon microphone an extra boost of clean, transparent gain. If you want “flavour,” you’ll find many engineers swear by the Neve 1073, LA Audio, or Avalon preamps and there are specialist Ribbon microphone peramps. At the more affordable end, the FMR RNP8380 – the “Really Nice Preamp” – remains one of our favourites for its clarity and warmth. (Tip) we're also great wraps for their really nice compressor which is probably one of the nicest sounding, transparent operating compressors around especially in "super nice mode"! When considering preamps – check our Matching Mics and Preamps page here: https://www.nudemicrophones.com/pages/matching-microphones-and-preamps complete with online calculator!
Do NUDE Microphones ship with spare ribbons?
No. NUDE ribbon microphones do not ship with spare ribbons, because ribbon replacement is not a simple DIY part swap. Our ribbons are optimally tensioned at the factory and field-tested in studios world-wide for over eight years. The feedback? Consistently glowing reviews on both build quality and sonic performance. Checkout our User Reviews & Videos
Are Ribbon Mics safe to use with Phantom Power?
The short answer is NO! Switch phantom power off when using passive ribbon microphones as a rule of thumb.
All use transformer-isolated, balanced output stages, so in ideal conditions they should not see phantom power across the ribbon. But real studios are full of patchbays, older desks, global phantom switches and mystery cables. A miswired or unbalanced connection can put 48V DC where it should never go. There are a couple of fault conditions that exist with certain wiring topologies (mis-wired balanced to unbalanced leads) that can expose a ribbon to having +48v DC applied directly to the ribbon motor. If this happens, your finely tuned ribbon is being put into service as a little heater element! So try and avoid this at all costs. Disable individual channel phantom and if using a desk with a global supply, turn it off.
For anyone wanting to roll their own lead, the 5-pin XLR pin-out is:
- Pin 1: Right +
- Pin 2: Right -
- Pin 3: Ground
- Pin 4: Left +
- Pin 5: Left -
How can I tell which is the front of my NUDE Microphone?
We get asked this a lot! So much so that we're looking at adding an indicator "dot" to our Stereo Ribbon microphone. We believe that – Your Ears are the Great Arbiter – Trust them. If it sounds good, chances are it is! For NUDE condensers, speak or play into each side and listen. The front will sound clear, open and full; the rear will sound more distant or darker when set to cardioid.
For the Stereo Ribbon Microphone, here’s our rule of thumb:👉 Point the XLR latch at your source, then rotate the mic L/R gently to adjust your stereo image – that’s a solid starting point. Everyone’s looking for a magic bullet, but trust your ears; they’ll tell you what’s right in your room.
Many folks find this short video super helpful: How rotating the NUDE Swiss Army Microphone changes the stereo panorama.
How will my microphones be protected during shipping?
Every NUDE Microphone order is packed for real-world freight. Each microphone is protectively wrapped, boxed in a strong recycled corrugated carton, sealed securely, and shipped with tracking, insurance and signature on delivery. Our packaging strategy provides the most effective functional outcome at the lowest price point. It is not luxury packaging theatre. It is practical, protective packaging designed to get superb microphones safely from our place to yours while keeping costs sensible.
By keeping the cost low across every aspect of the product lifecycle from manufacturing through to delivery to NUDE users we support our core commitment to providing – Low cost, Superb Sonic Quality Microphones – while tipping our hats to environmentally responsible business practices.
Do NUDE Microphones come with a warranty?
Yes. All NUDE Microphones are covered by a 1 year warranty against manufacturing defects. If something fails that shouldn’t, we’ll make it right.
If it’s dropped, dented, or used to mic a jet engine – that’s on you (but we’ll still try to help).
What if I drop my microphone?
Stuff happens.
If your mic takes a tumble and you think it’s not sounding right, reach out – we’ll try to help. We've got networks world-wide, we love chatting mics with folks.
Do NUDE Microphones work well for podcasting or voice-over?
Absolutely. Many podcasters and voice artists use NUDE ribbons microphones for their warm, natural tone and our vacuum tube microphones are also a very populat choice. Ribbons in particular take EQ beautifully and smooth out sibilance without sounding dull. With NUDE you’ll get broadcast-ready results straight into your interface.
Can I use NUDE microphones live on stage?
Yes – but with care. We have a swathe of audio engineers using their NUDE microphones in live, field recording and OB contexts. Ribbons are more delicate than dynamic mics and don’t love wind blasts or being dropped. If you’re using them live, keep them shielded from direct airflow (kick drums, brass bells, or outdoor gusts). For controlled environments – jazz, acoustic, or orchestral settings – they sound spectacular.
How long will my NUDE microphone last?
With normal care, NUDE microphones can last decades. For Ribbons avoid moisture, phantom power, and blasts of air, and your mic will perform beautifully for years. We have NUDE mics from our very first production runs still in daily use and sounding as good as the day they were unboxed.
Where can I hear NUDE microphones in action?
We do not have any distributions or bricks & mortar premises, but, reachout and let us know where you are, chances are there's a NUDE owner close-by we can connect you with. Check out our YouTube channel and user shootouts for real-world recordings from studios around the world. If you’ve got your own demo to share – send it to us! We love hearing what people are creating with NUDE kit.