Topic: Sony PCM-A10 without stock microphones

[neutrino]

I have worked in component level electronic repair since the early 90's. After doing a bunch of reading here and elsewhere I thought of the idea of both removing the microphone capsules from a Sony PCM-A10 and installing a 12 volt battery in the area previously occupying that space. Unfortunately, due to a spinal cord injury I was unable to complete the mod which would have put a 12v battery with modifications in place of the removed microphones, enabling a person to plug in a pair of CA14's and have an onboard battery box.

I will be adding some additional internal pictures of the circuit boards and where and how the microphones are wired and mounted as soon as i can do a proper search of my hard drives.

[Pieteker]

Cool idea!

[vibrioidxire]

Very cool! I know RyanJ did a chop mod a while back that removed just the mics and the plastic mic cage so that it was more compact.

Would the battery have gone into the empty space where the mics were mounted or into the system itself?

[neutrino]

Very cool! I know RyanJ did a chop mod a while back that removed just the mics and the plastic mic cage so that it was more compact.

Would the battery have gone into the empty space where the mics were mounted or into the system itself?

The battery would go where the mics were and if I remember correctly, there is enough room internally to add the necessary components for a battery box.

[beroti_music]

Nice idea!

[pillowman]

Curious

[ballerusk]

Always looking for a smaller rig, a recorder without mics would be great. PR-2 looks intriguing, but apparently it has a high noise floor.

[neutrino]

Just to add. This mod is completely reversible. No parts or any part of the housing need be damaged or altered to complete this.

[TheJez]

I have worked in component level electronic repair since the early 90's. After doing a bunch of reading here and elsewhere I thought of the idea of both removing the microphone capsules from a Sony PCM-A10 and installing a 12 volt battery in the area previously occupying that space. Unfortunately, due to a spinal cord injury I was unable to complete the mod which would have put a 12v battery with modifications in place of the removed microphones, enabling a person to plug in a pair of CA14's and have an onboard battery box.

I will be adding some additional internal pictures of the circuit boards and where and how the microphones are wired and mounted as soon as i can do a proper search of my hard drives.

Hi Neutrino, sorry to hear about your spinal cord injury... I know where you are, I've got the same thing (although impact can be different for everybody) after a neck hernia surgery. I've recovered reasonably well, although taping a non-seated gig is a huge challenge nowadays. Wish you all the best. And... great idea about the PCM-A10!

[vantheman]

Following.

[neutrino]

I have worked in component level electronic repair since the early 90's. After doing a bunch of reading here and elsewhere I thought of the idea of both removing the microphone capsules from a Sony PCM-A10 and installing a 12 volt battery in the area previously occupying that space. Unfortunately, due to a spinal cord injury I was unable to complete the mod which would have put a 12v battery with modifications in place of the removed microphones, enabling a person to plug in a pair of CA14's and have an onboard battery box.

I will be adding some additional internal pictures of the circuit boards and where and how the microphones are wired and mounted as soon as i can do a proper search of my hard drives.

Hi Neutrino, sorry to hear about your spinal cord injury... I know where you are, I've got the same thing (although impact can be different for everybody) after a neck hernia surgery. I've recovered reasonably well, although taping a non-seated gig is a huge challenge nowadays. Wish you all the best. And... great idea about the PCM-A10!

Thanks Jez, much appreciated. I blew out the disc between C5&C6 after a month long battle with covid. There were no previous symptoms relative to any neck damage. I literally woke up one morning and couldn't even make it out of bed to get to the bathroom. After the ACDF surgery i spent 2 months in the rehab hospital learning how to walk again. The doctor told me before the surgery that more then 50% of people that have this kind of injury are usually left paralyzed, so I was happy to fall outside the norm. 

[illconditioned]

I have worked in component level electronic repair since the early 90's. After doing a bunch of reading here and elsewhere I thought of the idea of both removing the microphone capsules from a Sony PCM-A10 and installing a 12 volt battery in the area previously occupying that space. Unfortunately, due to a spinal cord injury I was unable to complete the mod which would have put a 12v battery with modifications in place of the removed microphones, enabling a person to plug in a pair of CA14's and have an onboard battery box.

I will be adding some additional internal pictures of the circuit boards and where and how the microphones are wired and mounted as soon as i can do a proper search of my hard drives.

Hello, thanks for showing us the insides.Would like to see the mic capsules if you can get a view.I suspect these will be Primo electret capsules, a low noise offering.