Good beginners guide to audio electronics?

[Disease8]

Hi there, I want to get into some basic audio electronics and start understanding a little more of what is actually happening inside my gear! Particularly microphones! I really want to get into modding but need to learn loads. Any starting tips? Good books?
Your help will be much appreciated, Thanks.
D.

 

[Seidy]

hi!
use google, do a little search yourself
for example google these words:
* condenser microphone
* dynamic microphone
* ad/da converter
* preamp

wikipedia is also your friend

 

[Disease8]

hi!
use google, do a little search yourself
for example google these words:
* condenser microphone
* dynamic microphone
* ad/da converter
* preamp

wikipedia is also your friend

Hey man thanks I am doing some research on Google but its nice to have a book geared towards teaching within a certain context instead of lots of unrelated explanations of individual devices and concepts. A good Audio Electronics book there must be one someone can recommend? I have searched on Amazon but its hard to know which ones will be any good.

 

[yrdbrd]

not a book & not specific to mics... but i've learned a ton from the following site
http://www.diystompboxes.com

check out the DIY_FAQ... it explains a lot of the different components found in most all audio circuits

then go build some of the (pre-amps, compressors, dirt boxes)
and learn by doing... well thats the way i'm doin it anyway

gl in your quest...

 

[Disease8]

not a book & not specific to mics... but i've learned a ton from the following site
http://www.diystompboxes.com

check out the DIY_FAQ... it explains a lot of the different components found most all audio circuits

then go build some of the (pre-amps, compressors, dirt boxes)
and learn by doing... well thats the way i'm doin it anyway

gl in your quest...

Cheers I will check that out man that's the way I have learnt so far and intend on proceeding like that can't wait!
Any good kits I can get? With components I will need and a soldering iron?

 

[johnsuitcase]

There are lots of great kits out there for preamps, compressors, etc. You can learn a lot from existing gear, too.

I really got started into it my racking 4 channels of a PM1000. From there, I have racked some other gear, and added Direct Outs to some vintage mic mixers (like the Yamaha M406, which sounds really good for dirt cheap)and the old Shure one (I forget the model number) with 4 channels, which sound good for certain things. Not transparent, but interesting!

I would recommend messing around with circuit bending, it's a good way to figure out how circuits work without electrocuting yourself. Check out http://www.anti-theory.com/soundart/circuitbend/

He also wrote a good book, which I have and still go back and re-read occasionally! Plus, he answers emails!

You should also check out fivefish: http://fivefishstudios.com/ He has great info, and answers emails, too.

As far as books, there's one by Jim Williams called The Art of Analogue Circuit Design which has some great stuff!

 

[moresound]

At oktavamod.com he shows you for free how to mod a few mics and you'll learn from there. I think you can also purchase from him mod materials to do your own mods to mics.

 

[Erockrazor]

Just wanted to sign in and say that I too have been looking to learn more about the aforementioned subject. I'll have to read some of these suggested sites.

Just letting you know you're not alone!

 

[Erockrazor]

Here's the FAQ yrdbird was referring to. Looks like it can be a great source. I had a little trouble finding it so I figured maybe I could save you a little of the looking..

http://www.diystompboxes.com/wiki/index.php?title=DIY_FAQ

 

[yrdbrd]

thx, Erockrazor... guess i could have linked straight to it.

"Any good kits I can get? With components I will need and a soldering iron?"

as mentioned... there are a bunch of places to get different kits. (google)
i get a lot of my supplies from www.mouser.com then build from schematics.
if you are just starting and havent soldered before, start by practicing on some old broken electronics by desoldering and resoldering parts on the PC board... you really need to get good at making a good solder joint, its key in making somthing that will last.

 

[Disease8]

Here's the FAQ yrdbird was referring to. Looks like it can be a great source. I had a little trouble finding it so I figured maybe I could save you a little of the looking..

http://www.diystompboxes.com/wiki/index.php?title=DIY_FAQ

wow man so helpful than you very much!!!

 

[Erockrazor]

wow man so helpful than you very much!!!

Thank yrdbird.

This is actually need something a little more elementary than the FAQ. The FAQ talks about using the different components while I need to just learn the basic functions of the components before I can dig into that.