Topic: Stereo Miniature Microphone and Battery Module DIY

[sml42]

Courtesy of the minidisc.org forums. A friend recently brought this to my attention, and I think it deserves a wider audience.

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=11254

best regards,
stephen

[cmoorevt]

Interesting.  Thanks for the link +T.  Audio Technica will sell just mic caps, so I might give this a try.

[lordbelial]

Interesting.  Thanks for the link +T.  Audio Technica will sell just mic caps, so I might give this a try.

I guess those panasonic WM60-A can be modded. The Panasonic caps are the same used in the CSB low cost mics (I think)

[poorlyconditioned]

Interesting.  Thanks for the link +T.  Audio Technica will sell just mic caps, so I might give this a try.

Be careful.  If you're talking about AT853 (cardioid, hyper, omni, etc), then those are just the electret mic element.  You need a FET (field effect transistor) behind them, and that is in the mic body that the capsule screws on to.

That said, it is possible to get really cheap buys on AT853 bodies+capsules on ebay.  Other ones too, like Shure MX18{3,4,5} have the same form.  You can power these from a battery box without the phantom XLR adapter.  Oh yeah AKG "blueline", CK91,92,93 capsules are an exception.  Those have both the mic element and FET built into the capsule, so you can power these without the SE300 body.  That is what I'm doing...

Anyway, happy hacking!
  Richard

[cmoorevt]

Thanks for the tips Richard.  I was actually thinking of using the Audio Technica ATM 35.  How would I know if the cap contained both the element and FET?

Should I just ask AT(their site seems to be down, or I'd link to the page)?

FWIW, this guy seems to have a way to solder ATM31A.  Not sure if this is a similar cap to th ATM35 or not.

http://www.eclectic-web.co.uk/index.php?jump=http://www.eclectic-web.co.uk/mike/electret_a.htm

[poorlyconditioned]

Thanks for the tips Richard.  I was actually thinking of using the Audio Technica ATM 35.  How would I know if the cap contained both the element and FET?

Should I just ask AT(their site seems to be down, or I'd link to the page)?

FWIW, this guy seems to have a way to solder ATM31A.  Not sure if this is a similar cap to th ATM35 or not.

http://www.eclectic-web.co.uk/index.php?jump=http://www.eclectic-web.co.uk/mike/electret_a.htm

AFAIK ATM 35 is the same thing as AT853, with a cardiod cap, a miniXLR 3F connector on it, and a little clip to hold it on an instrument.  What is the price for these?  $50 or so would be a good deal.
$100 would be too much (since regular AT853Rx, with the phantom adapter, is near that).

  Richard

[cmoorevt]

AFAIK ATM 35 is the same thing as AT853, with a cardiod cap, a miniXLR 3F connector on it, and a little clip to hold it on an instrument.  What is the price for these?  $50 or so would be a good deal.
$100 would be too much (since regular AT853Rx, with the phantom adapter, is near that).

  Richard

BH has them(the whole mic) for $222 each.  AT was going to sell me the cap for $39each, which I was going try to solder like that ATM31A link, but if I also need to FET, I may pass.

[poorlyconditioned]

AFAIK ATM 35 is the same thing as AT853, with a cardiod cap, a miniXLR 3F connector on it, and a little clip to hold it on an instrument.  What is the price for these?  $50 or so would be a good deal.
$100 would be too much (since regular AT853Rx, with the phantom adapter, is near that).

  Richard

BH has them(the whole mic) for $222 each.  AT was going to sell me the cap for $39each, which I was going try to solder like that ATM31A link, but if I also need to FET, I may pass.

The best (new) prices are: $145 for AT853Rx (cardioid caps, bodies, 25' cable, XLR adapter), $28 for just the caps.  This is alphasoundandlighting.com (western US branch).  I've seen refurbed ones for $100-120 at Full Compass (ebay adverts).

  Richard

[hydrobud]

talk about step by step instructions.thanks for the link. once i get my rig together i think ill try an make those mics,im very ambitious for a newbie.

[lordbelial]

talk about step by step instructions.thanks for the link. once i get my rig together i think ill try an make those mics,im very ambitious for a newbie.

Learning is a continous training. I'm gonna build a pair of microphones too.

[Weazel]

i was thinking also about making a pair. with transsound elements TSB-165A

these needs a fet i believe. and the sound comes close to audio technica.

http://www.transsound.com/product_condenser_e.htm

http://jlielectronics.com/transsound/

[lordbelial]

i was thinking also about making a pair. with transsound elements TSB-165A

these needs a fet i believe. and the sound comes close to audio technica.

http://www.transsound.com/product_condenser_e.htm

http://jlielectronics.com/transsound/

Mmm. I think those come with the fet. I'm not 100% really sure. I've been looking to the schematic



The fet impedance converter seems to be the FET inself. It has got gate, D and S...

Seems interesting!

[poorlyconditioned]

i was thinking also about making a pair. with transsound elements TSB-165A

these needs a fet i believe. and the sound comes close to audio technica.

http://www.transsound.com/product_condenser_e.htm

http://jlielectronics.com/transsound/

TSB-160 and 165 have *no fet*.

TSB-140, 120, etc, do have FETS.

I think TSB-140 is a nice choice.  I've used them succesfully.  They sound good and have pretty low noise.  They are not quite as good as AT853 IMO, but are a reasonable choice.

  Richard

[cmoorevt]

I noticed on that minidisc forum thread and some others, that it is necessary to find a matched pair of caps because the tolerances can vary widely from one to another.  How do I match capsules?  Is there some radio shack tool that can be used?

[lordbelial]

I noticed on that minidisc forum thread and some others, that it is necessary to find a matched pair of caps because the tolerances can vary widely from one to another.  How do I match capsules?  Is there some radio shack tool that can be used?

That's a good question.