OT:Condenser mic, anyone could help me buying the material?

[nooneknows]

Hi,

I've found this page:
http://prosoundweb.com/recording/tapeop/buildmic/buildmic_16_1.shtml

I think it's really interesting, but here, in Italy, I'm not able to find the needed mic and I've not found anyone that can send it here.
Is there anyone who could buy these two mic capsules and then could send them to me? I can send you back, in advance, the price + postal tax directly with cash.
Or is there any internet shop that you know which can have these particular panasonic mics with paypal?
You can contact me privately, thank you so much

Marcello

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I saw on another forum that the Panasonic WM66AY is no longer made, people say they have used the (less sensitive) WM60AY successfully.
You may need to search for a similar capsule. Fortunately, the design will work with any similar capsule.

[nosamiam]

Sorry I can't offer any help, but that looks like a great project!  Thanks for pointing it out.

[nooneknows]

I saw on another forum that the Panasonic WM66AY is no longer made, people say they have used the (less sensitive) WM60AY successfully.

aaaaargh! what a bad news!
I read about the original mic and it was closer to 20KHz almost flat, the other ones, if I remember correctly, were about 16Khz, not higher.
I'll take a look at the wm60, thank you,
M.

[petemoore]

I've made cheepo RS Mics, they 'worked'...
 Making a Nice Condenser Mic...That IS something I'd be interested in.
 I recently acquired my first Sennheiser Condenser [phantom power] Mic, and use it All the Time...[the 'offer' was for two lesser mics, I said you keep those and give me 1 'better' mic [250$ list]...the brand new Guitar Centers here adapted]...I have no real use for cheep Mics !!! [yet].
 Cradles and pretty grilles aside, if I could get a 'High Speed' condenser mic I could build, on the less expensive side, oh, I'd be a buildin'.
 Mostly I'm in the studio using one mic and track at a time, but soon I have plans to do some 'simul' recording of bands 'n stuff...could use some high speed mics.

[nooneknows]

Finding out the Good mic capsule is the very first step, so, please, I'm interested in any information you could obtain.
Then there is the mechanical problem (the capsule have to be mounted in an optimal way, no vibrations, maybe a windshield, etc.), but we're used in doing great things about that with our pedals...

[petemoore]

If I could get a P.D. Good 'element', I'd love to take a shot at giving my take on mounting and wiring it. Getting the element certainly seems to be the impediment to Mic Projects.
 Maybe commercial Mic's are priced right, I don't really know.
 I love using the condenser mic and would like to have 'clones' of it.

[MartyMart]

Companies like "studio Projects" make great condensers for around
80-90 bucks !!
I wouldn't waste your time, unless you're desparate to make a DIY one !!

Marty.

[transient]

You might also be interested in this one:
http://www.paia.com/msmic.htm

...
emre

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Companies like "studio Projects" make great condensers for around 80-90 bucks !!I wouldn't waste your time, unless you're desparate to make a DIY one !!

Well Marty, DIY microphones is exactly like DIY-Stompbox!
Sometimes it is worth it... if you want something 'special' or 'unique' or if you are searching for somethng you just cant get otherwise..

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Companies like "studio Projects" make great condensers for around 80-90 bucks !!I wouldn't waste your time, unless you're desparate to make a DIY one !!

Well Marty, DIY microphones is exactly like DIY-Stompbox!
Sometimes it is worth it... if you want something 'special' or 'unique' or if you are searching for somethng you just cant get otherwise..

[aaronkessman]

any update from folks involved? i'm interested in this project, has anyone done it? success? failure?

much thanks for advice

[John Lyons]

There was an article in TAPE OP magazine a few years ago, probably the same or similar project. I made a few of the mics and they are very decent.
If you have a studio and need a few mics you can't go wrong with these. They come out to about $20 each and can ne addapted to a minidisk or mobile setup easily. Powered by a 9 volt battery so it's super portable...no phantom power needed.
You can use the unidirectional mic elements as well. Make your own stereo mic!  I just made separate stereo mics (two mics connected to a stereo cable that terminated to a stereo mini plug) for field recording and shows. The mic elements are about the size of a pencil eraser. You can mount the mic in the end of an XLR connector and the whole mic is the size of the XLR connector. Use a Neutrik brand connector, they have a sosft rubber boot and are easier to work with.

If you need the article just ask and I can dig it up!

John

[aaronkessman]

cool, glad to hear it! no, i found the article all right, looks great. mouser has several comparable condensers for dirt cheap. I think I'll do one or two in small junction boxes like shown in the article. that's pretty damn sweet. though i wouldnt mind it being phantom powerable either....

thanks again,
aaron

[bwanasonic]

Giant Squid makes some nice mics from those little electret condenser elements. Don't know if he stocked up on those Panasonic ones, or if those are even the ones he uses, but you might want to contact them:

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/

I made a couple of DIY mics from Ratshack condenser elements, and I was pleaseantly suprised how much they didn't suck!  :lol: I found the info I used on sites devoted to minidisc recording.

Kerry M

[petemoore]

These guys are Mic building Gurus, some great history articles there too.
 http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/index.php
 Use search for "Alice', I'm considering heavily purchasing an 'alice Kit'.
 They have higher end stuff in there too...great site !!1

[aaronkessman]

in the article on prosound (http://prosoundweb.com/recording/tapeop/buildmic/buildmic_16_1.shtml)

it says to use a 10uF cap, "mylar or metalized polypropylene capacitor (DO NOT substitute an electrolytic!)"

any reason I couldnt use a tantalum cap here?

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

in the article on prosound (http://prosoundweb.com/recording/tapeop/buildmic/buildmic_16_1.shtml)
it says to use a 10uF cap, "mylar or metalized polypropylene capacitor (DO NOT substitute an electrolytic!)"any reason I couldnt use a tantalum cap here?

I wouldn't hesitate to put an electro or tant there myself.
If there is any leakage thru it, you might get some noise, but try it & if you can't hear the noise, then that's cool..

[aaronkessman]

cool. 10uF is an awfully big metallized poly cap, and pretty pricey, compared to the few cents for a tant.