Buzzing Microphones

[succeedingly]

Hello all!

I like using really cheap microphones in my recordings sometimes, things I get at yard sales, or thrift stores, take apart old telephones or CB radios, etc. Most of these mics have two wires attached to them and I'll usually solder them to a 1/4" connector.

Sometimes, often in the case of telephone mics, there's an awful buzz. Can anyone suggest quick and dirty ways I can try to alleviate this? I'm not looking to get too heavy into electronics, or buy expensive gear, I'm just messing around for fun.

Thanks for any ideas you might have!

 

[LazerBeakShiek]

My V Synth XT has a CB's hand mic , instead of the gooseneck people use.

Try a capacitor, try different values. That can isolate the issue.



Is there a ground lift situation?

 

[rob aylestone]

¼" connector? What kind of gear are you plugging the mic into? Your cheapo mics will happily connect to pins 2 and 3 of an XLR mic socket. Unbalanced connections such as ¼" on guitar amps really do need shielding to be hum free - look at the hassle guitarists have with their unshielded pickups sometimes, and all that6 faffing around with copper tape!

 

[witzendoz]

Wire the 2 wires to an xlr (3pin) The center wire to pin 2 and the shield to both pins 3 and 1.
Try that and see if it fixes the noise problem.
That way it can be plugged into a proper mic preamp.
Alan