The RCA PB-144 is a lesser-known broadcast and public address microphone developed by RCA during the mid-century expansion of institutional and commercial sound systems.
Unlike RCA’s flagship studio ribbon microphones, the PB-144 was designed as a practical, rugged microphone for speech-focused applications, often supplied to schools, auditoriums, churches, and industrial facilities.
The “PB” designation used by RCA commonly referred to public address and program broadcast equipment, distinguishing these models from:
Studio ribbon microphones (44, 77 series)
BK-series broadcast ribbons
The PB-144 fits into RCA’s effort to standardize dependable audio equipment for non-studio environments.
This listing is for ONE MANUAL newly printed of the digitally remastered version of the 1936, 2nd Edition, RCA ribbon microphone manual only, Microphone not included.RCA (Photophone div.) and Western Electric owned the motion picture sound business during the 30s and 40s. They each had their own patents and variations of the recording process. Although RCA ribbon (velocity) mics were the standard for phonograph recording and radio broadcast, Western Electric dynamic (pressure) mics were the standard for the film industry. RCA was anxious to adapt their ribbon mic technology for film use, and to also dominate that field. The PB-144 was one of their Photophone mics for this purpose, and is similar to a 44 model.
When I started restoring this manual, I realized that it had much more application information than a typical RCA manual. I think that RCA was trying to be especially helpful to the film sound engineers, by using the directionality of the ribbon mic to solve problems of noise pickup on the set (the early WE dynamic mics were omnidirectional). They wanted to educate the engineers on the advantage of directional mics.
Because this manual contains information, including photos and diagrams, of using the PB-144 to record piano soloists, dance orchestras, symphony orchestras, and film talent on studio sets, I would recommend this manual to anyone who uses 44-series or similar bi-directional ribbon microphones.
The manual has 20 pages. There are a total of 7 photos (each separately, painstakingly restored) and 6 detailed illustrations/drawings. There is a great detail photo of the RCA MI-4056 DeLuxe Studio Floor Stand.
Original RCA documentation for PB-series microphones is often:
A digitally remastered manual provides:
For collectors and technicians, this documentation supports:
The time-consuming remastering process involves carefully scanning the original manual and spending hours processing each page to produce a manual that looks better-than-new. All photos are stripped out and processed separately. All tears, marks, stains, etc. are removed from the original manual, even printing defects were corrected. The text is brought back to original sharpness and detail, as are all of the illustrations.
We use heavy stock matte or premium glossy photo paper for the front and back covers, and heavy paper for the inside pages. The outside covers are protected by 10 mil thick, clear plastic sheets. It is then bound with plastic ring comb binding so the manual will open flat and be very durable.
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REVIEWS: "Absolutely gorgeous item." "Super Professional Work." "America Needs More Like You!":
Please see our store for other items you may want. We have produced:
Protective Covers: For both a desk stand and boom mic. Models 74, 77, 44 + Western Electric 639A/B
Manuals (digitally restored) ** see list below**
Supplements (remastered articles & info for the avid RCA fan)
Artwork - digitally restored advertisements AND a unique commissioned 44/77 microphone print
T-Shirts - unique graphic artist design onto high quality 100% cotton material that lasts for years
Other logo'd special items.
RCAmic.com Digitally Remastered Manuals: BK-1A; BK-4A; BK-5A; BK-5B; BK-6B; BK-11 (BOTH VERSIONS); SK-46; SK-50; PB-144; AEROPRESSURE; VARACOUSTIC (6204, 6204); 1933 JR VELOCITY; 44-A; 44-B; 44BX-(-B, -D); 44BX-G, 44BX-(-H, -J, -K, -L); 50A; 74-A JR VELOCITY; 74-B 1937 jr VELOCITY) ; 77-B1; 77-D; 77-DX; 88A. We also have digitally remastered the manual for the Western Electric / Altec the 618 and a separate manual for the 639A/639B.