How to build a microphone...Anyone Tried This?

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Robertt8

Robertt8

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I've come across this link, and it looks too good to be true. Anyone tried this?...

For decades condenser microphones have been the staple for high-quality recording and live sound assignments. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to own a good one. Well that’s about to change. I’ve written this article so that anyone who wants a great condenser mic (or those who just want more of them) can have their wish.

For around $20 (US) anyone can build an extremely accurate, life-like condenser microphone. DO NOT let the cost fool you, this mic’s frighteningly good performance will blow your mind—and it’s easy to build! -Joel Cameron

See link for the how to...

http://prosoundweb.com/recording/tapeop/buildmic/buildmic_16_1.shtml
 
Robertt8 said:
I've come across this link, and it looks too good to be true. Anyone tried this?...

"For decades condenser microphones have been the staple for high-quality recording and live sound assignments. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to own a good one. Well that?s about to change. I?ve written this article so that anyone who wants a great condenser mic (or those who just want more of them) can have their wish.

For around $20 (US) anyone can build an extremely accurate, life-like condenser microphone. DO NOT let the cost fool you, this mic?s frighteningly good performance will blow your mind?and it?s easy to build! -Joel Cameron

See link for the how to...

http://prosoundweb.com/recording/tapeop/buildmic/buildmic_16_1.shtml"
Click to expand...
That article has kinda been made obsolete when Behringer dropped the price on their ECM8000 to under $40.
 
I built 2 of them but used a RatShack Mic capsule.
I used it as a H-Hat mike. It worked OK.
I was going to use them with my minidics recorder but I still need to build a pre for them.

Timbo
 
I built them about a month ago. They were fun to build and sound pretty good. They actually sound pretty nice on acoustic guitar (assuming the room sounds decent) and I'm going to try them out as drum overheads sometime soon. The one advantage they have to the Behringer mics is that they don't need phantom power (since they have they're own external power supplies) so they would be great for fieldwork or anything where phantom power is not possible.
 
OneRoomStudios said:
I built them about a month ago. They were fun to build and sound pretty good. They actually sound pretty nice on acoustic guitar (assuming the room sounds decent) and I'm going to try them out as drum overheads sometime soon. The one advantage they have to the Behringer mics is that they don't need phantom power (since they have they're own external power supplies) so they would be great for fieldwork or anything where phantom power is not possible.
Click to expand...
Not much of an advantage, since the Behringer will also work from a 9V battery in an external power supply, with two resistors, a couple of capacitors, and the same XLR's in the same box.
 
I thought the electret cartridge for this microphone had been discontinued. Is there an equivalent replacement? This is part of the email I received from Digi-key:

"You have purchased the following part number(s) from Digi-Key within the last two years.
The manufacturer has announced this part(s) will become obsolete.

PANASONIC - ECG
Description: MICROPHONE CARTRIDGE 6MM X 5MM
Manufacturer Part No: WM-60AY
Digi-Key Part No: P9959-ND"
 
How's that Behringer ECM8000?

I'd like to get my hands on a couple omni room mics...speaking of which...how would that be with capturing a live acoustic performance (or in other words...two acoustic guitars, vocal, bass and drums all playing un-miced(save the bass player) in a room)?

Also what is a measurement mic? it sounds more like it would be a tool or something...not a mic you'd use to record with (just based on the "measurement" in the name). Can someone explain this?

Thanks guys... :p
 
Roybot said:
I thought the electret cartridge for this microphone had been discontinued. Is there an equivalent replacement?
Click to expand...

I used Digi-Key part# P9925-ND (Panasonic WM-61A)

It works perfectly fine as a replacement.

And Harvey..

Good point, I didn't think of that. But in any case, this project is a fun one and a great learning expirience, not to mention the fact that you end up with some decent mics...
 
i just picked up two ecm8000's. they are my first small diaphrams, so i do not have much to compare them to in that category. i only got a chance to test them through my monitor mixer (beh ub1202) with cheap audio technica headphones (acoustic mic'ed at the 12th fret and bridge, with varried distances).
my initial experience with them left the impression that they are pretty accurate to the source, but noisy. it seems this is mostly from the room. they would be best with higher level sources (overheads), but be carefull as they have a relatively low spl handling. i got some pretty decent acoustic sounds with some tweaking, but again... the noise could be a problem for a home studio user. i would not use them near your computer, and would guess that they wouldn't be very flattering to a not so great room due to being omni and so damn sensetive.

summary of rambling: accurate to space and instrument, noisy (especially if mixing in same room), and cheap.

by the way, i've lurked around here for awhile, but this is only my second post on here, so figured i'd introduce myself... my name is ryan crawford, and i am from beautiful cleveland, ohio. i'm in a band, and got into recording about a year ago to work on a side project. thats about the extent of my life, haha.
 
welcome! and thanks for the heads up on the mics! There's a lot of good info rolling around here as you probably know!

Thanks!
Tait
 
I have quite a few electret capsules so would love to have a go at building this circuit, however there are a few problems:

The Capsules I have are 3 wire, two of the wires are together in one sleeve and there is a third wire. I don't know how to identify the wires or how this would really affect this circuit. From trying to read up and understand, it seems like the extra wire might be for bias voltage? I don't really understand.

The other problem I have is availability of parts. I live in the u.k. and availability of parts is low and I'm luckier than some people! The two capacitors needed do not seem to be available in the type and values listed!

As far as the disc capacitor goes I can get resin dipped capacitors instead of the ceramic discs but I'm not sure if that would be suitable.

As far as the Mylar capacitors go, the normal ones max out at 2.2uf. There are tantalum bead capacitors available in 10uf but thats all I can find that isn't an electrolytic, and it says not to use an electrolytic but it doesn't say why!

Does anyone know anything about electronics here who might he able to help me and / or give me some tips?

love

Freya
 
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