Topic: Identify the mic capsule? (Third Beyerdyamic Mic Added)

[mblindsey]

Can anyone ID the manufacturer of the mic capsule?  Wondering if this is off the shelf parts...

--Michael

[Church-Audio]

Can anyone ID the manufacturer of the mic capsule?  Wondering if this is off the shelf parts...

--Michael

Let me see a close up of the back and side and front of the capsule use your macro on your camera and use the best resolution and re size it to 1024x768

[mblindsey]

I was afraid the pics in the first post were too small.  Do the new ones tell the story? 

Thanks for your help,
Michael

[Church-Audio]

Can anyone ID the manufacturer of the mic capsule?  Wondering if this is off the shelf parts...

--Michael

Panasonic wm-55 in a brass housing of some kind. I would like to see what is under the felt on the front of the capsule. It is electronically unmodified but the brass housing might be an attempt to increase the mass of the capsule thus increasing the bottom end and also some kind of wave guide to increase top end and or directionality.





Chris

[mblindsey]

Can anyone ID the manufacturer of the mic capsule?  Wondering if this is off the shelf parts...

--Michael

Panasonic wm-55 in a brass housing of some kind. I would like to see what is under the felt on the front of the capsule. It is electronically unmodified but the brass housing might be an attempt to increase the mass of the capsule thus increasing the bottom end and also some kind of wave guide to increase top end and or directionality.


Chris

Thanks +T!  It is actually a Beyerdynamic MPC 65 boundary microphone.

I'm too chicken to try to peel off the felt.  I wouldn't know what to glue it back on with.

--Michael

[Church-Audio]

Can anyone ID the manufacturer of the mic capsule?  Wondering if this is off the shelf parts...

--Michael

Panasonic wm-55 in a brass housing of some kind. I would like to see what is under the felt on the front of the capsule. It is electronically unmodified but the brass housing might be an attempt to increase the mass of the capsule thus increasing the bottom end and also some kind of wave guide to increase top end and or directionality.


Chris

Thanks +T!  It is actually a Beyerdynamic MPC 65 boundary microphone.

I'm too chicken to try to peel off the felt.  I wouldn't know what to glue it back on with.

--Michael

Its a $2.88 capsule. It will not damage the mic at all, if you take it off carefully and you can put it back on because they use a rubber cement to stick it on and it can be stuck back on if you can peel the felt with the glue at the same time. I will even send you a new felt if you mess it up.
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=P9961-ND

[mblindsey]

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there is anyway to get the felt off without ripping it.  It is very taught and thin...almost like a really thin piece of construction paper.  I gave it a good try.  I decided to stop, since I haven't listened to it yet. 

I bought this model and the omni version on eBay for about $20 (omni hasn't arrived yet).  There are some up there for sale right now.

I'll pop the omni open with it gets here.

Thanks again for the lightening fast response.

--Michael

[illconditioned]

Can anyone ID the manufacturer of the mic capsule?  Wondering if this is off the shelf parts...

--Michael

That is what is inside the boundary mic, right?

It looks like a Panasonic WM55A stuffed inside a brass tube.

  Richard

PS: Let me know what is inside the Guns when you get them!

[mblindsey]

Can anyone ID the manufacturer of the mic capsule?  Wondering if this is off the shelf parts...

--Michael

That is what is inside the boundary mic, right?

It looks like a Panasonic WM55A stuffed inside a brass tube.

  Richard

PS: Let me know what is inside the Guns when you get them!

Yes sir.  That is inside the one they call "half-cardioid".  I plan on opening the "half-spherical" boundary mic & the shotguns when they get here (9/15/2008, according to UPS tracking).

--Michael

[mblindsey]

I just received my Beyerdynamic MEM86 shotguns in the mail.  Pictures attached.  It's hard to get a good shot of the capsule, as it is glued in a tight spot.  Another Panasonic, perhaps?

--Michael

[illconditioned]

MEM86: cool.

What is the diameter of that capsule?  Same as the Panasonic or bigger?  Are there two or three wires going to it? (There are two wires to the center pins, yellow and orange, but is there a black wire as well, eg., to the case of the capsule.)

If the capsule is bigger than 9.7mm, it is not a Panasonic.  That means it is probably better.

 Richard

[mblindsey]

MEM86: cool.

What is the diameter of that capsule?  Same as the Panasonic or bigger?  Are there two or three wires going to it? (There are two wires to the center pins, yellow and orange, but is there a black wire as well, eg., to the case of the capsule.)

If the capsule is bigger than 9.7mm, it is not a Panasonic.  That means it is probably better.

 Richard

I think the capsules are the same size, leading me to believe it is the Panasonic.  In fact, side by side, the shotgun capsule looks a tiny little bit smaller.  But, I think this is just an optical illusion produced by the housing.  There are three wires.  Two go to the center of the cap.  The third comes from the shielding of of the cable and is split.  One short wire is soldered to the screw thread that hold the mic together, and the other seems to go to the side of the cap (??).

All of the numbers on the spec sheet that came with it match the MCE 86 II.  Seems to be the same mic in a different configuration.

--Michael

[mblindsey]

Lastly, the Beyerdynamic MPC 66 "half spherical" boundary mic came today.  The capsule in this one is identical in size to my Core Sound Binaurals.  Anyone recognize it?

--Michael

[illconditioned]

Lastly, the Beyerdynamic MPC 66 "half spherical" boundary mic came today.  The capsule in this one is identical in size to my Core Sound Binaurals.  Anyone recognize it?

--Michael

I've got both boundary mic types.  That capsule is similar to the Panasonic WM60, but I think it is a nicer sounding capsule.

So, it looks like most of the "low end" Beyerdynamic mics are made from standard capsule types.  Unlike Shure, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, etc, there appear to be no gems here.

  Richard

[mblindsey]

So, it looks like most of the "low end" Beyerdynamic mics are made from standard capsule types.  Unlike Shure, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, etc, there appear to be no gems here.

  Richard

I think that is accurate.  However, at the prices I paid for these on eBay, I don't feel totally ripped off.  I wonder what is inside my MC930's.  If it's a Panasonic, I'll feel I paid too much.

I've only actually listened to the MPC 65's, as drum OH's, and I thought they were pleasing (better than some MXL's I used to have).  When I get some time, I plan on doing a drum OH comp between MPC 65/MPC 66/MEM 86/MC 930.  It will not be scientific by any means, but it helps me understand what I've got in the mic closet.

--Michael