AEA (Audio Engineering Associates) has been instrumental in bringing ribbon microphones back into serious modern recording. Founded by Wes Dooley in 1976, the Pasadena-based company builds handcrafted microphones that capture the depth and character of the classic RCA 44 sound, updated with the reliability and output engineers expect today. Alongside their mics, AEA also produces high-quality preamps designed to get the most out of ribbon designs, making them a go-to for engineers who take ribbon mics seriously.