Radio Shack PZM Mods

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scooter B
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Scooter B

Scooter B

Member
I know we don't use Radio Crap around here....no flames please.

I have read several positve comments about a published modification of Radioshack PZM's. Tape OP had one and another home Recording Magazine had one but they are in back issues and everyone seems shockingly suprised with the results. Does anyone hear have the plans or info on this DIY modification?

It seems I read someone else say that a certain "good" version of these were no longer made.
I would be intersted in getting a copy of the plans but I don't want to play the inflated price of ordering a back issue.

Thanks in advance.
 
Thank You Tom,

I have not heard about that site. I will check it out.
 
Wow,

There is a lot of stuff there! I found the aticle Under Recording Tips in case anyone else goes looking.
 
Scooter, just note that the current Radio Shack "Boundary" mic is not the model listed in the article. Apperantly, you can't mod this one, and any case, this model is very voice oriented (conference recording, etc.), and won't be any good for any serious recordings.

Oren
 
Yeah I recall back around '87 a sound guy at state fair got incredible sound from the drums in a band I was in using just one of those modified radio shack pzm's stuck on a piece of pexiglass placed on the floor facing the drums about 8' away.
 
Thanks Aren,

That was going to be my second question. I thought I had heard the "semi-good" modifiable ones had been discontinued but could be found used sometimes.

So how do you tell the two apart? I would like to keep my eyes open for a used modifiable one.

PS to Aren,

Just noticed you hail from Israel. Are you familiar with ESTA? They are a incredible band from Isreal that play what they call "mediteranian fusion". A blend of ethnic mediteranian, jazz and rock. I caught them here in the states and they are just awesome!
 
The old Rat Shack PZMs can be had on e-bay from time to time. They're basicly about a 4" square metal plate with the mic element in the middle of it. The new Boundry mics look like the front end of an extra-tarrestrial vehical with a mesh screen. Bad. Very bad.
 
I have 4 of these older PZM's and have used them for piano, drum overheads, and acoustic guitars as well as room mics. Two of them are mounted on 15" by 15" pieces of plexi glass with a mic stand adapter on the back side. The ones I use for Piano are mounted on a 5 foot long piece of mahogany that gets wider at one end. Two PZM's mounted about 2 foot apart. I set this board across the top of the Grand in my studio and pan 60-40. Works nice. I did have any mods to the mic's except the XLR ballanced connection.
 
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wow, so the old ones show up on ebay now and then? I'll have to start looking. As I recall there was a third wire coming out of it that Radio Shack just clipped and covered with insulation. So you just hooked it up and went to LoZ and everything was fine.
 
This is true. Also rigging in a higher voltage battery increased there SPL handling capability.
 
Thge Boundary Mic that RS sells is NOT The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) PZM that was licensed to Radio Shack.
The PZM was made by Crown.
It was developed by the same guy that designed the Bag End ELF Sound System, as well as helped design Alembic basses and guitars. I can't think of his name offhand, but he's a genius. He was also involved in the development of The Dead's sound system.


YOu do NOT need the "Mod" for the PZM. What the Mod does, is allow you to use Phantom Power on the PZM. All you really need to do, is to insert a certain battery that is half the lenght of the AA, giving you twice the power as the single AA (It's a Camera battery). This increases your Headroom. I've used the RS PZM's for years, and I love them.
If you want a kick ass drumsound, Tune the kit well, and stick a PZM on a sheet of Plywood. You effectively turn that sheet of plywood into a giant microphone, and you'll have a killer drumsound from one mic.
Send that signal through a 31-band EQ, and you could create virtually any type of drumsound.
I prefer individual mic'ing just for separation, but if I have to use 1 mic on the kit - it's the PZM.

Tim
 
Thank You one and all for your responses.

Now to keep my eyes out for some used PZM's....
 
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