Whether you're just joining us, refreshing your tech knowledge, or deep-diving into research before taking the plunge — our manual is here to provide all the essential information and technical specs that will have you set up in no time. If you ever need anything else along the way, don't hesitate to reach out. We'd love to geek out about music and recording with you!
Registration and Warranty
First things first, we strongly recommend you take a quick minute and register your microphone. All Ohma microphones come with a 1 (one) year limited warranty for the original owner, starting from the date of the purchase. To extend your warranty to two years, please register your product online via our registration page.
Getting started
How to start using your Ohma microphone
- Connect your microphone. All Ohma microphones use a balanced XLR cable connecting from the bottom stem of your mic and going into the XLR microphone input of your interface/preamp. Slide your microphone into the Ohma mic clip before connecting your mic cable. The mic clip is almost fully closed and you won’t be able to attach it otherwise.
- Choose your screen set(s) and make sure they are magnetically secured in place.
- Engage +48v phantom power from your interface/preamp/stand-alone power supply —Yes! Both the Ohma condenser and Ohma Ribbon require phantom power. Make sure your microphone cable is connected before engaging phantom power. Please also make sure phantom power is disengaged before removing the cable as well.
- Allow the mic to “heat up” for a few moments, roughly 60 seconds (not literally — just give it a moment to come to life). Verify you have signal and set your desired input level.
Which side is the front?
What's in the box?
Each Ohma microphone package comes with a drawer box, two Ohma 1.21 mm guitar picks, and a black or white microphone clip. The color of the mic clip will correspond to the fabric used inside the microphone. If you bought an extra screen to replace the Ohma logo screen, it can be found underneath the microphone in the box.
Screen sets and custom-branded screens are also available for purchase and come in a separate screen set case along with two additional Ohma guitar picks. Both mic clip colors can be purchased here.
About Ohma Screens
Ohma’s swappable magnetic screens offer an opportunity to further sculpt and customize the sound of your mic in unique ways. To give you an idea of what you can expect from each screen, here is a general overview of their sound and possible use cases. But keep in mind that the way your room and signal chain interacts with these mics will vary greatly. Take this as an inspiration and then have fun experimenting.
About Screen Sets
Ohma screens let you swiftly explore and customize your sound with creative finesse. Think of them each as different colors, shades, and textures on your artist’s palette; tools in a creative toolbox of sound-shaping and problem-solving.
With Ohma screens, the freedom to create is yours for the taking. Swap the front and back screens freely to alter the overall response and tonality of your mic and choose whatever screen suits your needs.
We’ve designed the Ohma Ribbon and Ohma Condenser to have a strong and pleasing character in their natural state — giving you a perfect starting point to shape your own sound.
What are the differences between the Ohma screens?
Motif
Our “flagship” screen. Perfect for a classic full-bodied, round, and rich sound with depth and clarity on any source.
Holes
Full-bodied with more of a lift on the top end. A slightly brighter screen that’s perfect for giving a bit of air to a source.
Stripes
Sonically feels “up-front“; focused, and snappy. We love this screen on electric guitars and amplifiers or any source you want to say “Look at me!“
Scales
A go-to with its bright, crisp sound and balanced low end. Any source will be able to cut through a mix with ease making it a great choice for recording up close.
Windows
Plush, natural, and smooth — the closest thing to not having a screen on the mic. It lets sound come through mostly unaffected. Very neutral, clean, and like a blank canvas.
How to Swap Screens
To remove a screen, insert the supplied Ohma guitar pick into the rectangular slots as deep as the pick will go. Leverage the pick underneath the screen to release it from the magnets. We’ve designed the notch in the mic body to protect against accidental damage to the electronics or transducer.
To place a new screen, first, insert it on a bottom vertical edge. Then, let the magnets grab hold of the other side. You should hear a nice *click* when they’re in place; the screen edges should be flush with the microphone. Remember to replace the top screens as soon as possible so dust or other particles don’t end up in your mic.
The pick we’ve supplied is 1.21mm thick and is made from Derlin material. However, if you need to replace it, any extra thick guitar pick or something similar should do the trick.
CAUTION: We suggest swapping screens when your speakers, headphones, or microphone are muted to avoid any large pops and plosives. Protect those ears and tweeters.
Microphone Types
Ohma Condenser FAQ
The Ohma Condenser microphone features our signature capsule (“The Debby”) and a vintage Cinemag transformer for extra character. It is an edge-terminated construction delivering a timeless sound with detail and clarity.
Ohma Ribbon FAQ
The Ohma Ribbon microphone combines classic ribbon mic characteristics with added clarity and definition, providing smooth, and forgiving transients without sacrificing detail. It requires +48v phantom power and is compatible with all types of recording setups.
Specifications
Download the technical specs and response frequency graphs for our ribbon and condenser mics.
Some gentle reminders
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the exciting “disclaimers” and “what-not-to-do” portion of the manual. What you do with your mic is your own business, but here are some things to avoid to ensure your microphone stays in spec, in warranty, and in good condition.
- Do not plug-in / unplug your mic while phantom power is engaged.
- Mute any speakers and/or headphones, or mute your mic before swapping screens.
- Always use caution when the mic is “screenless” to avoid potential damage internally.
Please cover your microphone when not in use. The magnets in the body and ribbon transducer can attract tiny metal particles if stored incorrectly.
If you are a lucky owner of Brass screen set, know that the raw metal will patina over time if not cleaned periodically. The patina that develops on your brass screen set over time may give it a unique vintage look and feel, but if you want to keep the original shine and gleam, just give it some TLC every now and then.
About Ohma
Our mission at Ohma World is to create beautiful, functional products that allow users to express their distinctive style and sound. We believe that form should never come at the expense of function, and offer a variety of customizability options to make sure our products are as unique as the people using them.
Special Thanks
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by us while we built Ohma World. Your support since 2019 has been essential in helping this project come to fruition. We are especially thankful for the unwavering encouragement of our friends and family, without whom progress would not have been possible.
We owe a great deal of gratitude to our vibrant community of beta testers. Your enthusiasm has been an invaluable asset and your feedback has played an important role in making Ohma World the experience that it is today. We are immensely thankful for having you join us on this journey.
Love,
The Ohma Team 💛
Charlene Gibbs, Sammy Rothman, Nathan Bowers, Marc Kuzio
