Topic: Microphone housing suppliers?

[wipeman]

Please excuse me if the answer to this is already common knowledge on the forum (I'm new here).

I'm making some stereo omni mics in a binaural arrangement (i.e. both attached to a stereo cable and powered by plug-in power). What I would like are some empty metal / rubber / other exterior 'housings' to put the microphone elements into. I have seen people cut lengths of metal tubing and / or use heat shrink cable. What I would like ideally is to get something looking quite professional and wondered whether there were any suppliers of this sort of thing.

The capsules are 10mm diameter, 4.5mm think and can be mounted into a 13mm (I think) diameter rubber housing.

A couple of examples of what I mean (taken at random from ebay listings for binaural mics):

Metal example:  http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/82/85/c9f2_3.JPG (though without the clips)
Rubber example:  http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/b5/5a/8d_1_b.JPG

Anyone know of any specialist suppliers, or any experience of e.g. cannibalising cheapo ebay mics to replace their elements?

I'm okay with the building / wiring etc and have all the other parts. Just sourcing a pair of "nice" looking mic housing now.

I'd be grateful for any pointers.
(I'm UK-based)

[Church-Audio]

Please excuse me if the answer to this is already common knowledge on the forum (I'm new here).

I'm making some stereo omni mics in a binaural arrangement (i.e. both attached to a stereo cable and powered by plug-in power). What I would like are some empty metal / rubber / other exterior 'housings' to put the microphone elements into. I have seen people cut lengths of metal tubing and / or use heat shrink cable. What I would like ideally is to get something looking quite professional and wondered whether there were any suppliers of this sort of thing.

The capsules are 10mm diameter, 4.5mm think and can be mounted into a 13mm (I think) diameter rubber housing.

A couple of examples of what I mean (taken at random from ebay listings for binaural mics):

Metal example:  http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/82/85/c9f2_3.JPG (though without the clips)
Rubber example:  http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/b5/5a/8d_1_b.JPG

Anyone know of any specialist suppliers, or any experience of e.g. cannibalising cheapo ebay mics to replace their elements?

I'm okay with the building / wiring etc and have all the other parts. Just sourcing a pair of "nice" looking mic housing now.

I'd be grateful for any pointers.
(I'm UK-based)

Since these are both my mics lol I can tell you that most of the housing is made from epoxy. The rubber mic is made from a rg58 boot. The capsule is 10mm not 6. And the metal mic is a capsule that is made for me its not an off the shelf product. Not anymore at least. It might be cheaper to just buy a pair of mics from me since I also match the capsules I use before I build them into a pair and since these are not capsules you can buy off the shelf. You can make some very nice mics from brass tube if you know what your doing.. That is how I started making mics.

Chris

[OOK]

Please excuse me if the answer to this is already common knowledge on the forum (I'm new here).

I'm making some stereo omni mics in a binaural arrangement (i.e. both attached to a stereo cable and powered by plug-in power). What I would like are some empty metal / rubber / other exterior 'housings' to put the microphone elements into. I have seen people cut lengths of metal tubing and / or use heat shrink cable. What I would like ideally is to get something looking quite professional and wondered whether there were any suppliers of this sort of thing.

The capsules are 10mm diameter, 4.5mm think and can be mounted into a 13mm (I think) diameter rubber housing.

A couple of examples of what I mean (taken at random from ebay listings for binaural mics):

Metal example:  http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/82/85/c9f2_3.JPG (though without the clips)
Rubber example:  http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/b5/5a/8d_1_b.JPG

Anyone know of any specialist suppliers, or any experience of e.g. cannibalising cheapo ebay mics to replace their elements?

I'm okay with the building / wiring etc and have all the other parts. Just sourcing a pair of "nice" looking mic housing now.

I'd be grateful for any pointers.
(I'm UK-based)

Since these are both my mics lol I can tell you that most of the housing is made from epoxy. The rubber mic is made from a rg58 boot. The capsule is 10mm not 6. And the metal mic is a capsule that is made for me its not an off the shelf product. Not anymore at least. It might be cheaper to just buy a pair of mics from me since I also match the capsules I use before I build them into a pair and since these are not capsules you can buy off the shelf. You can make some very nice mics from brass tube if you know what your doing.. That is how I started making mics.

Chris

LOL priceless......

[wipeman]

Please excuse me if the answer to this is already common knowledge on the forum (I'm new here).

I'm making some stereo omni mics in a binaural arrangement (i.e. both attached to a stereo cable and powered by plug-in power). What I would like are some empty metal / rubber / other exterior 'housings' to put the microphone elements into. I have seen people cut lengths of metal tubing and / or use heat shrink cable. What I would like ideally is to get something looking quite professional and wondered whether there were any suppliers of this sort of thing.

The capsules are 10mm diameter, 4.5mm think and can be mounted into a 13mm (I think) diameter rubber housing.

A couple of examples of what I mean (taken at random from ebay listings for binaural mics):

Metal example:  http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/82/85/c9f2_3.JPG (though without the clips)
Rubber example:  http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/b5/5a/8d_1_b.JPG

Anyone know of any specialist suppliers, or any experience of e.g. cannibalising cheapo ebay mics to replace their elements?

I'm okay with the building / wiring etc and have all the other parts. Just sourcing a pair of "nice" looking mic housing now.

I'd be grateful for any pointers.
(I'm UK-based)

Since these are both my mics lol I can tell you that most of the housing is made from epoxy. The rubber mic is made from a rg58 boot. The capsule is 10mm not 6. And the metal mic is a capsule that is made for me its not an off the shelf product. Not anymore at least. It might be cheaper to just buy a pair of mics from me since I also match the capsules I use before I build them into a pair and since these are not capsules you can buy off the shelf. You can make some very nice mics from brass tube if you know what your doing.. That is how I started making mics.

Chris

I see. Call it an inadvertent compliment!

Thanks for the info and advice. I probably have an RG58 knocking around somewhere so I'll take a look if that matches a 10mm capsule well.
Can't really afford to buy a ready-made mic from you I'm afraid but thanks for the offer. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the challenge of building my own...

Can I ask one final question: does the choice of surround (e.g. using metal tubing as opposed to a rubber coating) affect / improve the capsule sound at all?

[Church-Audio]

Please excuse me if the answer to this is already common knowledge on the forum (I'm new here).

I'm making some stereo omni mics in a binaural arrangement (i.e. both attached to a stereo cable and powered by plug-in power). What I would like are some empty metal / rubber / other exterior 'housings' to put the microphone elements into. I have seen people cut lengths of metal tubing and / or use heat shrink cable. What I would like ideally is to get something looking quite professional and wondered whether there were any suppliers of this sort of thing.

The capsules are 10mm diameter, 4.5mm think and can be mounted into a 13mm (I think) diameter rubber housing.

A couple of examples of what I mean (taken at random from ebay listings for binaural mics):

Metal example:  http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/82/85/c9f2_3.JPG (though without the clips)
Rubber example:  http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/b5/5a/8d_1_b.JPG

Anyone know of any specialist suppliers, or any experience of e.g. cannibalising cheapo ebay mics to replace their elements?

I'm okay with the building / wiring etc and have all the other parts. Just sourcing a pair of "nice" looking mic housing now.

I'd be grateful for any pointers.
(I'm UK-based)

Since these are both my mics lol I can tell you that most of the housing is made from epoxy. The rubber mic is made from a rg58 boot. The capsule is 10mm not 6. And the metal mic is a capsule that is made for me its not an off the shelf product. Not anymore at least. It might be cheaper to just buy a pair of mics from me since I also match the capsules I use before I build them into a pair and since these are not capsules you can buy off the shelf. You can make some very nice mics from brass tube if you know what your doing.. That is how I started making mics.

Chris

I see. Call it an inadvertent compliment!

Thanks for the info and advice. I probably have an RG58 knocking around somewhere so I'll take a look if that matches a 10mm capsule well.
Can't really afford to buy a ready-made mic from you I'm afraid but thanks for the offer. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the challenge of building my own...

Can I ask one final question: does the choice of surround (e.g. using metal tubing as opposed to a rubber coating) affect / improve the capsule sound at all?

Metal plastic for sound does not matter. But for shielding... it does.. I use brass because its a conductor and provides a better shield. I think there are lots of ways to build something you have to remember if you are using omni capsules use epoxy to seal up the capsule so it does not leak from behind. The capsules I use for the reporter mic I make are made by Knowles electronics.. They are very flat from 100hz to 20k but below 100hz they drop off. I can send you a matched pair for $10 if you are interested.

Chris
 

[wipeman]

Thanks for your help Chris,

> ... use epoxy to seal up the capsule so it does not leak from behind.

I think you mean to avoid sound entering the back of the capsule. So do I fill the up to the back of the capsule with epoxy? I was going to use foam or something easily removable.
BTW I will be using omnis (when they arrive).

> The capsules I use for the reporter mic I make are made by Knowles electronics.. They are very flat from 100hz to 20k but below 100hz they drop off. I can send you a matched pair for $10 if you are > interested.

Are these cardioid or omnis? Do you have self noise and/or other specs for them? Thanks.

[Church-Audio]

Thanks for your help Chris,

> ... use epoxy to seal up the capsule so it does not leak from behind.

I think you mean to avoid sound entering the back of the capsule. So do I fill the up to the back of the capsule with epoxy? I was going to use foam or something easily removable.
BTW I will be using omnis (when they arrive).

Dont use foam it wont do anything behind an omni capsule. USE epoxy..... But make sure the mics work first lol or you end up with a paperweight!


> The capsules I use for the reporter mic I make are made by Knowles electronics.. They are very flat from 100hz to 20k but below 100hz they drop off. I can send you a matched pair for $10 if you are > interested.

Are these cardioid or omnis? Do you have self noise and/or other specs for them? Thanks.

They are omni, I dont have the specs handy sorry.

[wipeman]

Thanks for all the advice on this thread. Built my mics and thought I'd share some images as I'm rather pleased with the result!

I used a couple of Neutrik RCA connectors for the housings. The housings have red and white rings for the L and R mic channels.
Cannibalised an old 3.5mm cable for the strain relief which happened to screw in nicely into the thread on one end of the connector. Sealed the capsule backs with epoxy as advised.
Each mic is on a 0.75m lead giving 1.5 max separation which is plenty for my purposes. The capsules are Primo EM-172s (10mm).

 

[Neilyboy]

damn nice man! lookin good!

Neil