Ohma Motif Ribbon
$699.00 Was $799.00
Build: Black / Stainless Steel
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Build your
own instead.
Start with a blank Ohma and choose every detail, from mic type to color, screens, and more.
Open Mic BuilderEach mic comes in a sturdy drawer box with two Ohma 1.21 mm guitar picks for screen swapping and a shock mount clip.
Frequently Asked Questions
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They’re two different microphone designs, both built and tuned by us in East Los Angeles. The Ohmie is a transformerless condenser with our Dual Voltage system. You shape its sound by switching the capsule between 48V and 80V.
The Ohma is a transformer-coupled condenser built around our original Debby capsule, or an active ribbon. You shape its sound with modular magnetic screens that physically change its acoustic response, and you can customize its colors, finishes, and logo.
Compare them side by side → -
Think of your screen like a lens for your mic. Each one shapes your tone just a bit differently. Swapping screens lets you shape the mic’s response at the source.
Some folks stick to one, others swap them like guitar pedals. Most people end up collecting a few.
Here’s a feel-based breakdown to help you decide:
- Motif – If you want the version of an Ohma mic that feels complete the moment you press record, this is it. Motif is the screen we tuned our Debby condenser capsule around. It represents the core balance of the system. Great for vocals, VO, and all-around use.
- Stripes – Stripes is about control before the signal ever reaches your preamp. By slightly reducing low-end energy and tapering the upper top end, Stripes emphasizes the midrange. Its geometry physically bisects the center of the ribbon and condenser capsule, altering how energy reaches the diaphragm. Built for amps, drums, and helps vocals cut through.
- Windows – Windows is for capturing the environment as much as the source. It is the most open geometry in the system, designed to interfere as little as possible with the ribbon or condenser capsule. Ideal for rooms, overheads, and acoustic instruments.
Still not sure? Trust your ears. You can always start with one and explore more later. - Motif – If you want the version of an Ohma mic that feels complete the moment you press record, this is it. Motif is the screen we tuned our Debby condenser capsule around. It represents the core balance of the system. Great for vocals, VO, and all-around use.
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The Ohma condenser is forward without being hyped. The top end is articulate and open, but it remains warm and controlled rather than artificially bright. Many condensers build brightness directly into the voicing. When that brightness turns harsh, it can be difficult to tame. We chose a different philosophy.
Ribbon microphones are loved for their smooth, classic top end, and the Ohma Ribbon keeps that character intact without feeling dull or closed off. Instead of hyping brightness, it gives you a grounded, controlled sound with a natural sense of weight. The highs stay smooth and pleasant, so you can add air or presence with EQ without fighting harshness. That makes the Ohma Ribbon especially useful when you want a source to feel full, musical, and finished, but still easy to shape in the mix. -
Right here.
We made a library full of raw, unprocessed recordings so you can hear exactly how each mic and screen sounds on real voices, amps, drums, strings, and more. -
Each Ohma mic ships with:
- 1x Ribbon or Condenser mic (your chosen body color)
- 1x Pre-installed screen set (front and back)
- 1x Magnetic screen swap tool (thick guitar pick!)
- 1x Shock Mount Clip
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Yep. This mic ships out in 2–3 business days. You’ll get a tracking number the moment it leaves our bench.
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Most microphones ask you to choose one sound and one look. Ohma gives you a mic system.
Every Ohma is built in-house in East LA, from capsules and ribbons to paint, assembly, and testing, so we can keep the price lower without farming out the expensive parts. You get a serious studio microphone, but with way more control over how it looks and how it fits into your workflow.
The Ohma Condenser is not a U47, 251, or C12 copy. It is built around our original Debby capsule and voiced as its own microphone.The biggest difference is our swappable magnetic screens. They change the look of the mic, but they also shape the tone. So instead of buying a completely different microphone every time you want a slightly different response, you can swap screens to match the source, the room, or the session.
In plain English: Ohma is pro sound with more personality, more flexibility, and less “mystery black tube in a shock mount” energy.
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It changes the shape of what the microphone captures before you reach for EQ.
A more open screen allows air to move more freely across the ribbon or capsule. That can result in greater low-end development, more room information, and a sense of openness around the source.
A more controlled geometry introduces slightly more resistance. That can tighten proximity effect, focus the midrange, manage plosives, and center the image when working close to a vocal or amp.
These differences are not extreme redesigns of the mic. They are structural refinements. Subtle shifts in airflow create measurable shifts in frequency balance and transient behavior, which means you can adjust how the mic responds to the source rather than correcting it later.
In practice, that means you can track a vocal that feels more open and dimensional, tighten a guitar without over-EQing, or prevent stacked midrange buildup when recording multiple layers with the same mic.
The goal is not to replace mixing. It is to shape the capture so the sound starts closer to where you want it.
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Absolutely. Ohma was built around modularity. Screens can be swapped in seconds, giving you the ability to fine-tune the sound or change the aesthetic of your mic. Different screens influence the tone in subtle but meaningful ways, and many artists keep multiple sets to adapt to different sessions.
Your mic does not have to stay fixed. It can grow with you.
We also make custom logo screens if you want something truly personal. Contact sammy@ohmaworld.com to get your free mock up. -
You will need an audio interface or preamp that supplies 48V phantom power. Both our condenser and active ribbon microphones are designed to run on phantom power, so most modern recording setups are fully compatible. Unlike vintage passive ribbons, our active ribbon is built for this, so no special handling is required.
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30 days from delivery, on every mic, the Ohmie and bundles included. There’s no restocking fee; you pay return shipping. International returns: you pay return shipping, and duties aren’t refunded by us; your local customs office handles those.
Final sale: B-Stock mics, custom-painted screens, custom logo screens, and accessories bought on their own. A pop filter in a mic bundle comes back with the mic like any other return.
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Yes, and it's free. Every mic needs a signature on delivery, so it isn't left at the door. International orders ship FedEx. If there's an Ohma dealer near you, you can also buy from them, and they'll handle support. Any dealer can order the Ohmie for you, even if it isn't in stock.
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You do. International orders may be subject to local taxes, VAT, import duties and customs or brokerage fees, payable by the recipient. Your country sets these, not us, so we can’t tell you the exact amount ahead of time. FedEx usually collects them before or at delivery.
They aren’t included in your order total, and we don’t refund them if you return your mic. Your local customs office can tell you what to expect, and whether any of it can be reclaimed.
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The package comes back to us. Once it arrives, we refund your order minus the return shipping and a 20% restocking fee.
Reviews
In their own words
Mic
Used on
“I'm obsessed with this microphone. It sounds SO good with my voice!!! You've gained an Ohma stan for life.”
“Seriously your mic is sensational, kills on everything.”
“As a bassist and singer, I love how it's great for bass AND vocals. I use this mic every day.”
“I was also surprised at how good the rejection is on the nulls. I barely hear any of the other instruments, and blended in the mix the bleed is negligible.”
“It has replaced my AKG 414 as my go to writing mic in my studio. It captures acoustic guitar, vocals and fiddle beautifully, with just the right balance of warmth, openness and smoothness.”
“It can be so very colored or very crisp depending on positioning. It's the best sounding mic I've used on vocals. I had no idea I could get the sound in my head so easily and without fussing with it.”
“Using the Ohma Ribbons both on stage and in the studio, I've been so pleased with their balance of detail, openness and warmth.”
“I have never in my life found a microphone more honest and transparent as this Ohma Ribbon Microphone. For clean tones, I can't imagine using anything else.”
“I've used them in-studio on percussion and on stage for a medium sized string section and they excelled in both cases.”
“These are true works of art both in appearance and where it counts, in the sound. Whether it is the flagship ribbon microphone or their truly unique condenser, the Ohma mics are ones you should have not only in your collection, but within arm's reach on a session.”
“It's made a huge difference and feels like a big upgrade from my previous setup. I love how smooth and warm the strings sound through the ribbon.”
“Stripes on the condenser is my new favorite electric guitar mic. These microphones are serious tools and I can see them being classics (especially in my studio) for years to come.”
“I love the mics! In fact, I would like to buy a couple more, that's how much I like them.”
“It's an amazing microphone!! Awesome sound. My vocals were sounding perfect without EQ right away.”
“I've tried it with my guitar, my bass, my drums, and just my voice and so far it's been able to handle anything I've thrown at it with ease. The tone has been clear and it sounds almost finished out of the box.”
“From my first playback with these microphones, the impact was pure. Seriously, my heart felt hot. I'm over here mic'ing amps. Over here mic'ing lamps.”
“The mic sounds amazing!!! Really cool on drum rooms and guitars, I also like it on vocals!!!”
“I'm very happy with the mic's performance (especially for recording in larger rooms, the breadth of the sound it captured there was really impressive!)”
“Everything I've sent through the mic sounds true to the source, but better somehow. It's even replaced my usual go-to setup for acoustic guitar.”
“It's beautiful and works perfectly! I've used it on vocals and overheads on drums and I love it.”
“With the 2 screen options for both condenser and ribbon, I was easily able to get a good sound on any source with the right combination. Brilliant work, I love these mics!”
“The Ohma outperformed the U87 clone for this artist's voice.”
“Dude! I literally use this mic on everything lol. It's the "I always end up using this mic" whenever I try out different mics for sessions.”
“I love this mic! Sounds great man! ... I did a shoot out with a Royer, and I found this one to have more headroom and a bit more hi-fi.”
“The mic was incredible on piano. I have an upright piano at home and I was blown away with how it sounded raw on that mic.”
“We put it in a shootout against some other condensers and SM57s, and it outperformed or matched every mic we put it up against. The piano was amazing, it was incredibly accurate as to how the piano sounded in the room.”
“Really loving the ribbons on guitar - right out of the gate just gives me the sound / capture I'm looking for without having to hack the EQs.”
“I have needed this mic upgrade for eons. I just can't get over how wonderful it sounds. The bandmates and I are just floored.”
“The ribbon stands up to any other ribbon in my collection and often outperforms, with a rich low frequency response and a surprisingly natural high end extension uncommon to most ribbon mics.”
“I have a big collection of mics with my fanciest ones being around $2,000, but the one I reach for the most is my Ohma condenser.”
“As someone who often records music on-location, there's only so many microphones I can carry to the gig. With a variety of their screens in my arsenal, I am able to adapt my Ohma mic to a number of different situations.”
“It's too good to be true! The sound quality is fantastic. The low end is nice, and the top end is so smooth.”
“Across the board the Ohma World ribbon mic exceeded expectations, and probably outperformed every other mic in my locker. It captured everything in perfect detail, takes EQ beautifully, and does an amazing job smoothing out transients.”
“The mic has been a big hit here at our little studio since we got it and has been muscling out the Neumann as our most requested microphone.”
“Threw it in front of my drums and messed around for a bit and I am blown away. Sounds so warm, round, more even, less harsh, all the buzzwords, even with no processing.”
“I really like it! I especially loved how it performed on piano and guitars.”
“Really been loving these on drum overheads. The cymbal wash is perfect.”
“The Ohma ribbon microphone has an instantly classic sound while being uniquely versatile for a ribbon. It's naturally smooth and deep, but each screen gives it a different character and flavor.”
“The Windows screen is super great and I was surprised to hear the difference in the timbre from screen to screen.”
“We tried the sE VR2 and the Royer R12 as well and your mic was the best sounding for us in our space. We especially noticed the difference between the screens.”
“I've been using it as a knee mic for my drumset and now I can't live without it. I really love the darker character of the ribbon on sources like vocals.”
“I've used my Ohma World ribbon on erhu, shinobue flutes, oud, guzheng, guitars and vocals. It's one of the most versatile and usable mics I own.”
“The mic is amazing on guitar cab! Whew! Man, used it as a room mic for tracking drums today. She sounds sooo pretty and clear.”
“I've been using these microphones to record vocals and guitar at home and this exact mic is on my amp on the road on tour.”
“You guys have smashed the look and the tech. You're killing it.”
“After the session, I got home and pulled up the files for a listen, instantly decided I was keeping the mics and gave them a new home in my mic case.”
“I just love the ribbons... Love them on drums both as overheads and rooms.”
“The design of this microphone is on another level. It's so beautiful, practical and well built!”
“There is something very charming to the way my Ohma Ribbon records. Specifically recording it on my small spinet piano is incredible.”
“It sounds fantastic. When I saw you were creating them in East Los Angeles, that sold me.”
“We used this gorgeous beast on Looner vocals today. I put up a bunch of mics but we landed on this and there was no reason to go further!”
“I threw it on his vocal (with a pop filter of course) and it blew me away. It was one of the first times I captured a source and felt like it was "affecting" it the least.”
“I used them primarily as overheads. They really created a rounded sound in the upper frequency range, softening some of the more brittle highs.”
“Ohma World make an incredible ribbon mic, paired perfect with this beautiful vintage Deluxe Reverb.”
“What an incredible microphone sound. I think Windows is the best utilization for my purposes, they pair perfectly with my B&Ks.”
“The condensers are great but the ribbons rocked me. Exactly what you want out of a ribbon mic, warm, full, but still with perfect amount of clarity and presence.”
“The Windows screen version I received sounds very natural. On my voice it actually comes across more natural than my N22, which was a very pleasant surprise.”
“I'm absolutely LOVING the microphone. I've been using it on my vocals and a variety of acoustic instruments, and it's just butter.”
Hear it in your own room first
Try an Ohma Ribbon or Condenser at home on a free demo. Spots are limited each month. Already own one? Send us a note and tell us what you've been recording.