Mic & Preamp Mods I Have Done...

  • Thread starter Thread starter kidvybes
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kidvybes

kidvybes

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...I thought, since we have a fair number of talented DIY members (Philgood, Flatpicker, Marik to name a few) on this site, that it would be beneficial to the rest of us who may be interested in trying some of these tricks, to list some of the modding procedures, instructional links, and first-hand experiences with the newly modded gear...

...being somewhat clumsy with a soldering iron, I have limited experience myself (other than replacing the tube sockets in a few microphones to facilitate simple tube swapping)...I have done op-amp upgrades on my preamps (Burr-Brown freebies from TI)...

...I know much of these have been discussed in other threads, but it may be beneficial to some of the newbies (as well as us veterans that have a mic or two to "experiment" with) to organize the options under one heading...

...pics and sound-clips would be exceptional!...anyone want to kick it off?...
 
I'll get some of my stuff together! Just haven't had time. Most of the mods I've done have had to do with info I've gathered here. Some lately are just branching off by using schematics and research.
 
I'm in the process of building a modified version of the green pre from prodigypro. I'm doing it on perf board with point to point wiring. I got side-tracked with the Holidays and some new gear and a new drumset, lol. I swear I'll get to it one of these days.
I've done some pretty simple stuff on a couple mics too, no topology changes just component upgrades.
On my list is to mod a Behri MIC200 pre. Gotta trace the schematic and decide if it's worth tweaking or if it's going to be completely gutted.

EDIT: Just looked over at prodigy for the schemo on a whim and found a thread about the MIC200. Looks like a lot of SMD parts. Not really an issue I guess, except I don't have any SMD opamps on hand. Damn, it'll make a nice housing and maybe powersupply for my green pre though. :D.
 
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Anyone done anything to SM-81s? I've seen a guy who mods them, but can't get hold of him, and wonder why and how you would anyway.
 
easychair said:
Anyone done anything to SM-81s? I've seen a guy who mods them, but can't get hold of him, and wonder why and how you would anyway.
Click to expand...
I've been wondering about the SM-81s myself. It'd be interesting to know what he does to them.
 
easychair said:
Anyone done anything to SM-81s? I've seen a guy who mods them, but can't get hold of him, and wonder why and how you would anyway.
Click to expand...

Very tiny surface mount stuff in there. There's a transformer that could be swapped, I suppose, if there was a likely replacement that would fit.
 
reshp1 said:
...it'll make a nice housing and maybe powersupply for my green pre though...
Click to expand...
I recently did an op amp and tube upgrade to a Bellari RP503. Although that quietened it down considerably, you could still hear 60hz buzz at high gain settings because of the crappy power supply transformer. I don't know about the MIC200, but if it doesn't use a toroidal, I'd toss the stock transformer and put one in there. You also may need to beef up the filter capacitors with some higher values as well, plus be sure all the opamps are de-coupled at their supply pins.
 
mshilarious said:
...There's a transformer that could be swapped...
Click to expand...
It's probably fine - I wouldn't touch it. I'd be more concerned about the capacitors, but that's just me. ;)
 
kidvybes said:
...I thought, since we have a fair number of talented DIY members (Philgood, Flatpicker, Marik...
Click to expand...
Where is Marik? Haven't heard from him in a while... :confused:
 
Flatpicker said:
It's probably fine - I wouldn't touch it. I'd be more concerned about the capacitors, but that's just me. ;)
Click to expand...

There is one easily accessible cap, right off the capsule. It looks like it goes to the lead that connects to the -10dB pad which is not a pot despite appearances, it's a switch. The cap is 120pF, I believe it's a ceramic. It would not be in the circuit unless the pad was on.
 
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