Topic: 5 Dollar mics... up from 99.

[bdasilva]

http://www.karmaaudio.com/mini.html

[muj]

they have a special on the k55. 

[run_run_run]

how do they sound?

[dorrcoq]

Total newbie question - what kind of power supply would you need for those?

[JasonSobel]

Total newbie question - what kind of power supply would you need for those?

it says that it takes phantom power (+48V)

[poorlyconditioned]

Hey, I just bought a pair of these (at $5 each, plus $8 shipping, so really $18 a pair).

It looks similar to MSHilarious' design, a single transistor and a few resistors, etc.  Probably a Panasonic WM55A cardioid element.

Anyway, I'll play with them, then probably do a 3-wire mod of the capsule!

  Richard

[jasonw]

What is a 3-wire mod???

[poorlyconditioned]

What is a 3-wire mod???

Check some of my previous threads I guess.

Run the mics on three wires: +9V, ground, audio, instead of the usual (two wire) audio + ground.

  Richard

[bdasilva]

Richard... Did you do the mod to  the omnis...?  I saw the brass tubing extention to do to them also in the yard sale a few weeks ago... 4 mics and a pelican case 100$

[dorrcoq]

Total newbie question - what kind of power supply would you need for those?

it says that it takes phantom power (+48V)

Sorry, I guess I should have been more specific.  What model of +48V power supplies should I look for?  I've got an Edirol R-09.

[uglybassplayer]

Sorry, I guess I should have been more specific.  What model of +48V power supplies should I look for?  I've got an Edirol R-09.

There are several that I'm aware of.  Of course none of them are what I'd call cheap, so in some ways it may negate the savings you were hoping for by purchasing two $5 mics.  Here are some of the ones I'm familiar with...

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=DEN-PS2-MINI (NOTE: terminates to a stereo 1/8" plug that can connect directly to your R-09)
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/DEN-PS2  (NOTE: Cheaper, but terminates to 2 XLR plugs... You'll need an adapter to connect to your R-09)
http://www.music123.com/Rolls-PB224-Dual--Phantom-Power--Adaptor-i11829.music  (NOTE: Terminates to 2 XLR Jacks, you'll need an adapter to connect to your R-09)
http://www.core-sound.com/2Phant/1.php  (NOTE:  Really expensive, but claims phenominal battery life)

Another route you may want to consider is buying one of the so called "stealth" stereo mic solutions that terminate in a stereo 1/8" plug.  These mics require something called "plug-in" power, usually between 1.5volts - 9volts.  The R-09 has the capability of supplying 2.5volts through it's mic input, so you can plug these mics directly into the R-09 without anything else.  To add to your confusion however, these stealth mics usually perform better (i.e. higher SPL handling) if they receive the full 9volts, so you can buy a battery box that goes in between the mics and your R-09 that will supply the full 9volts to these types of mics.  If you visit www.soundprofessionals.com, you'll see various options for mics, battery boxes, etc.

Hope that helps.

- Frank.

[dorrcoq]

Thanks, Frank.  I already have a battery box from Sound Professionals, so I guess I was kind of hoping that would be adequate to power the mics.  HAHAHAHA  You're certainly right about the savings on the mics being negated.  I guess this is one of those "too good to be true" offers. 

[Ryan Sims]

These mics can't be nearly as good as the Naiant mics, considering they only have FR up to 13 Khz.

[rdflash]

These mics can't be nearly as good as the Naiant mics, considering they only have FR up to 13 Khz.

wow, thats low.

yah, you get what you pay for, and a .99 mic to begin with is a signal to me.

I mean seriously, how fast can they make them?

Lets say minimum wage is 6 bucks and they are paying somebody to make these, if they push out one every 10 minutes.

They break even (assuming they sell them  )

[melontracks]

I've made suitable matched pairs of microphones from panasonic capsules that I ordered 20 to 30 at a time and matched myself and those cost less than $3 per pair.  Not the greatest, but I have two or three stealth rigs that are almost completely undetectable that return great recordings, plus about 10 pairs of omni and cardioid capules at my disposal.  I wouldn't bother with these. If you're going cheap, do it yourself and know that you're at least using the same capsules that the "pros" use in modified form as the foundation of their mid-range mini omni pairs.

And what's with the "very directional" quote associated with these mics on Karma's website?  I thought they were omnis?

?

You can buy the capsules from http://digikey.com/ I really love the WM-61A omni capsule, though they vary widely in sound profile, so buy a number of them to ensure a good match.  I also use the WM-56A103 cardioid cap, but have had only limited success with it, so you may want to try something else.

[bdasilva]

No.. These are not omnis... These look like the WM-55 series panasonic caps... which also have similer specs. With the connector and the p48 circuit... you can't do better.

[melontracks]

No.. These are not omnis... These look like the WM-55 series panasonic caps... which also have similer specs. With the connector and the p48 circuit... you can't do better.

I guess I forgot about the circuitry, though I have to plead ignorance on what it does between the mic and the battery box/recording device to improve the sound.  I was under the impression that most of the capsules (at least the ones that can run on phantom power) had all the necessary circuitry inside the capsule...?  Again, I only know what my own experience has taught me, though I know it's a pretty common mod to remove or bypass the circuitry in the stock capsules to substitute your own, I've never gone that far myself.