Oh and freelunch tried this with the similar schoeps tubes and has working active cables for his schoeps mics. Maybe he could give it a try?
My schoeps actives are working perfectly.. Way on the back burner is an active MG project. But I really like to record more than futz with circuits. And who wants to screw up a pair pristine $2k matched mics? So I'm not sure that will happen. Especially once spring hits.
These projects are very time consuming and their is risk. If you buy one gooseneck for $350 and can't make it work, you have blown the money. Or if you short the body and mess it up, etc. Then, if you get it working, maybe there are hours of testing and tuning of the circuit for sound quality.
It sounds like some folks are thinking they can just attach the cap to the body with an extension cable. Nice thought but it won't work. You need a powered buffer circuit at each end. It is my impression that some AKGs have a FET in the capsule which is capable of driving the cable. It sounds like this series of caps does not. So that would need to be a part of the design.
Exactly. CK9x series are electrets with the FET built in. Just run three wires out to a battery box. You don't even need the bodies! I've built two sets, one CK91 and one CK93. Now all I need is CK92
The CK6x are just bare *externally polarized* capsules, so they need: 1) polarization voltage (62V), 2) FET near the capsule. Both these come from the 460/480 body, or from an "active" connector.
Richard
To be clear, the VR61 and VR62 work with either the 460 or 480 bodies. The VR61 is discontinued and is 12" long. The VR62 is still made and is 3 feet long. The bodies are presumably providing the polzrization voltage the caps need and the tube must have a FET somewhere along the 3 feet.
Why does the tube need to be rigid? Whatever electrical purpose the metal tube is serving should be able to be replaced in the design by something else. For me, even a 3 foot length of flexible material would be great! What is the maximum distance to separate the body from the cap? My A61 angle adapters have no room for electronics, but perhaps they don't need any because the distance the cap is separated from the body is only an inch. I would be willing to chip in money to buy a used 460 body, capsule and tube if someone with the proper background can answer these questions. The VR61 tubes come up all the time on Ebay - a pair just sold for around $100 a week ago. They guy I bought my mics from in 2004 had a ton of VR61s that he was trying to get rid of for $75. I've seen body + cap go for less than $250. In fact there is one on ebay right now that probably won't bring $200 given the cosmetic condition. I'd guess plenty of AKG owners would be interested in finding an answer that explains why you can separate the ck61/62/63 capsule from the 460/480 body with a rigid tube by up to 3 feet, but not with the exact same components in the tube and flexible wiring.
Hey, if you send me any parts I will investigate and report back to you.
I'm *most* interested in a bare CK6x capsule, even an imperfect or broken one, just to see what kind of physical and electrical interface is necessary. I've actually got all the parts I need to play with except the capsule.
The other things I could use are anything that connects to the 460/480 body, including tubes, angle brackets, actives for the CK1x (electret) capsules, etc. If it connects to the 460/480 body, then it must have the same threads as the CK6x capsule, so I can use this information.
Please don't spend any serious money on this though. I would rather just borrow some busted or partially busted gear from someone.
I was thinking of buying a pair of CK63's (I can get them for just under $200 apiece new), but I'm hesitant to spend the money until I know if I can get something working.
Richard