Topic: Building mics

[travelinbeat]

I've finally decided to undertake the task of learning how to build mics.  I am going on the most helpful directions I've been able to find, http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=11254 , but I am having some slight difficulty in finding the heat shrinkable tubing.  I am wondering if anyone here might be able to set me up with a link to that stuff and / or give me any input as to a) whether there are any changes you would make to this 'recipe', b) whether you would recommend getting the TS-60a omni's from here, and c) where I should get cable from (Radioshack perhaps?).  I am not at all electronically inclined, so any input is really appreciated!!!

PS:  Would I need to make a battery box for this?  If so, how do these directions look to you?

Thanks guys!!

[Church-Audio]

I've finally decided to undertake the task of learning how to build mics.  I am going on the most helpful directions I've been able to find, http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=11254 , but I am having some slight difficulty in finding the heat shrinkable tubing.  I am wondering if anyone here might be able to set me up with a link to that stuff and / or give me any input as to a) whether there are any changes you would make to this 'recipe', b) whether you would recommend getting the TS-60a omni's from here, and c) where I should get cable from (Radioshack perhaps?).  I am not at all electronically inclined, so any input is really appreciated!!!

PS:  Would I need to make a battery box for this?  If so, how do these directions look to you?

Thanks guys!!

Go to www.btx.com they sell the cable and the heat shrink you need to get started. You can get some nice panasonic omni caps from www.digikey.com You can do a Google for linkwitz mod here is a link to it this is how you can modify your panasonic caps to handle higher spl. A battery box is a good idea and there are more then a few threads here that show you how to do it properly You will need some nice 10uf caps Mylar or polypropylene and some 10k resistors metal film 1% you can get 3.5 mm jacks from digikey set up an account with both companies I mentioned and get them to send you there catalogs. Here is the link to the linkwitz mod.http://www.mp3forkidz.com/mic/mod.html

This link also shows you how to power the mics.. as well.. good luck and the brass tube we all use to build mics are made by k&s Engineering and you can buy them at most hobby stores. Next thing you need is a good soldering iron and make sure you buy lots of capsules because your going to burn thru a few of them. Also make sure you have plenty of patients and remember to use something to heat sink the capsule when your soldering it I use a pair of large alligator clips to wick away the heat so the capsule does not get damaged. There is also a kit at radio shack I forget what they call it but its got some tools for soldering in it and one of the tools is a nice heat sink that also works great for soldering capsules..

Chris

[travelinbeat]

 

That's exactly the sort of thing which makes no sense to me =(.  Thanks for the leads Chris, I was able to locate some Panasonic WM-64K mic's which I guess look good, but I haven't been able to find the cables / heat shrinkable tubing on the other site you mentioned.  This microphone-making en devour looks very very hard,   is there no relief??  I just want to do this as a hobby and maybe sell a couple at-cost to my personal friends, nothing big.  Of course I'd like them to sound good, but is it really as difficult as it's looking?  At this point I am stuck looking at website I can't navigate with ease and diagrams which may aswell be in Greek.  Please keep the input coming, +t Chris for coming this far (and for selling me awesome mics which I love)

[blindman]

speaking of soldering irons... Anyone ever use this one... the Hakko 936-12 ESD with the 907 Iron?
http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko936-12.html?gclid=CNGC8vDDo44CFQIpFQodCEvhZA

about the heat shrink... I also get mine from digikey.com for small electronics use... for making cables and larger stuff I get it from markertek... I accidently got this from digikey 2 years ago and have found it very useful for small electronic work... http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=FP-KIT-ND

It cost $15 2 years ago and has gone up $1 a year! The description doesn't say what sizes it has, but it ended up being being various  8cm long pieces from say 1mm to 10mm... and it came with a handy plastic orginizer too.

this reminds me, it's almost time to reorder.

another resource for mic building help is http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/micbuilders/

[sanaka]

Travelinbeat:

Really understanding the whys and wherefores of the electronics is indeed difficult. Folks that have this understanding are normally called "electrical engineers." Fortunately, this understanding is not necessary in order to build mics, or other electronic doohickeys. If all the correct parts are correctly connected, the device will work. Read a lot and become able to read simple schematics, practice soldering, and you'll be on your way. Micbuilders is the awesome place if you want to build mics. Look through stuff and follow links. You'll see pictures of circuit boards populated with parts all soldered together and be able to compare those pictures with the schematics for the circuits, and things will start popping in your brain. Actually assembling something ends up way less intimidating than staring at the schematic.

The panasonic omnis are probably the best place to start - easy to get, most information available, and can make a really nice microphone.

http://www.mcmaster.com/  has approximately 7.64 kazillion items on it's website. almost every conceivable mechanical part, including probably every variety of heat shrink tube there is. And there's always  http://www.heatshrink.com/

Peace,
Sanaka

[illconditioned]

I've finally decided to undertake the task of learning how to build mics.  I am going on the most helpful directions I've been able to find, http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=11254 , but I am having some slight difficulty in finding the heat shrinkable tubing.  I am wondering if anyone here might be able to set me up with a link to that stuff and / or give me any input as to a) whether there are any changes you would make to this 'recipe', b) whether you would recommend getting the TS-60a omni's from here, and c) where I should get cable from (Radioshack perhaps?).  I am not at all electronically inclined, so any input is really appreciated!!!

PS:  Would I need to make a battery box for this?  If so, how do these directions look to you?

Thanks guys!!

+T for wanting to DIY.  I suggest learning some basic electronics, though.  It is all well and fine to build from a schematic (like I draw on a blackboard, lol).  But if something doesn't work, you need to be able to "debug" the circuit.  At least poke around with a voltmeter, measure resistances, and so on.

As another poster said, the Yahoo group "MicBuilders" is the place to start.

  Richard

[travelinbeat]

sanka and ill, thanks for the input.  Perhap's I'll look in to getting "Electronics / Circuits for dummies" or something...  I'll look in to that Micbuilder group too, but in the mean time do you guys have any particular books you'd recommend I do / do not read?  Please keep in mind that I am an absolute novice at all of this, I don't know anything about ohms or watts or volts or currents.

Thanks guys, you're all the best =)

[Church-Audio]

sanka and ill, thanks for the input.  Perhap's I'll look in to getting "Electronics / Circuits for dummies" or something...  I'll look in to that Micbuilder group too, but in the mean time do you guys have any particular books you'd recommend I do / do not read?  Please keep in mind that I am an absolute novice at all of this, I don't know anything about ohms or watts or volts or currents.

Thanks guys, you're all the best =)

A basic electronics book would help you get a basic book on how to read schematics as well.. So you know what parts are what. When you look at someones schematic you will understand when things go.. Its not that hard and its actually alot of fun when you get into it. Just remember check your circuit twice power it up once. And you will be fine..

Chris

[sanaka]

The book I still (hehheh ) check back with now and again is Getting Started In Electronics, by Forrest Mims. Used to be the classic rank beginners book, and used to always be right on the shelf at RatShack, so it's worth checking there, even tho RatShack basically just hard sells cell phone these days.

Peace,
Sanaka

[marksk]

do you recommend any particular brand of caps or resistors to use? the people over at head-fi.org's diy forum seem to like black gate and nichicon. one supplier i found of black gates also carries prp resistors. i assume those are geared towards speaker builders (but i could be wrong...again)

[bdasilva]

join the Yahoo group "micbuilders"

[digifish_music]

I've finally decided to undertake the task of learning how to build mics.  I am going on the most helpful directions I've been able to find, http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=11254 , but I am having some slight difficulty in finding the heat shrinkable tubing.  I am wondering if anyone here might be able to set me up with a link to that stuff and / or give me any input as to a) whether there are any changes you would make to this 'recipe', b) whether you would recommend getting the TS-60a omni's from here, and c) where I should get cable from (Radioshack perhaps?).  I am not at all electronically inclined, so any input is really appreciated!!!

PS:  Would I need to make a battery box for this?  If so, how do these directions look to you?

Thanks guys!!

Perhaps you need to start simpler...like this...

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,94446.0.html

digifish

[HarpDoc]

I've built several pairs with the Panasonics using the Linkwitz mod. If you're really poor or just want to have fun, go for it. I've made lots of nice recordings. However, I recently picked up some CA-11s. They're better and I'm done with the homemade mics. First you'll ruin a bunch of the caps doing the mod (they're tiny). Then, out of the many caps you've succeeded in modding, you've got to match them for output and frequency response. They vary quite a bit on both, I'm afraid. I ran a series of tones from low to high, then recorded a bunch of the completed caps using alligator clips, then selected the ones that best matched. By the time you've done all of this, if time equals money, you're better off buying a pair of quality mics off the bat. But if you're in the the learning/hobby of it, it can be cool.

[marksk]

First you'll ruin a bunch of the caps doing the mod (they're tiny). Then, out of the many caps you've succeeded in modding, you've got to match them for output and frequency response. They vary quite a bit on both, I'm afraid.

how many caps did you use before you found a pair that were closely matched?

[Church-Audio]

First you'll ruin a bunch of the caps doing the mod (they're tiny). Then, out of the many caps you've succeeded in modding, you've got to match them for output and frequency response. They vary quite a bit on both, I'm afraid.

how many caps did you use before you found a pair that were closely matched?

If you purchase 100 pcs from Digikey you will find 40 or so good matches. But it really does depend on your source of the capsules. I can sell you a matched pair for $10.00 I have about 1500 WM-61 capsules here at my shop.