somewhat OT: DIY condenser mic

[Gus]

PDF 920 English, PDF 932 German

http://www.neumann.com/download.php?download=docu0002.PDF

if the link does not work go to the download section, select all, and look about 3/4 down.

FWIW the Royer mod for the mxl2001 uses no grid resistor.

[mdh]

Yes, I found that Gus, but it will be good to have the direct link in the thread.  For what it's worth, this is a version of the so-called "Boré booklet," which I gather is a somewhat famous document. I have only taken a cursory look at it so far, but it should be a fun and very informative read.

And thanks for the link to Prodigy Pro, Stephen, I knew I had come across a pro audio forum at some point in the past, but didn't remember where it was.  Lots of good stuff there.

[George Giblet]

> PDF 920 English, PDF 932 German

Thanks for the link Gus.

I couldn't find the docs last night.

Anyone got the link for an106?

[Gus]

Vishay JFETs app notes

http://www.vishay.com/docs/70599/70599.pdf

[George Giblet]

Thanks Gus, I've must have been on another planet yesterday.  I was looking for AN106 on the Nuemann site  .

[bioroids]

Why not a DIY Ribbon mic?

http://make_a_ribbon_mic.tripod.com/

Luck!

Miguel

[Gus]

As posted above check prodigy pro for info on condenser and ribbons.  I am the same gus

[sshrugg]

Sorry if this is a little OT, but this reminded me of a project I've always wanted to do:

http://www.gyraf.dk/gy_pd/g7/gic.htm

It also calls for some Gigaohm resistors.

I've just never built a mic before, and I don't know where to find capsules.  The microphones they list as examples are EXPENSIVE, so I can't just grab a capsule from one of them.  Any ideas?

[Gus]

If you want to build a tube microphone the first one I would try is the Royer 2001 etc mod it sounds OK.  The stock circuit and B+ and transformer work with the stock capsule google etc the Tape Op article might still be on the web somewhere.  Cinemag makes a DI and a 2480 that you can try instead of the jensen.

  With transformers you often get what you pay for.  I have spent $250 for one because of the lam alloy to go with a $1000 capsule in a tube microphone build I made.  IMO sometimes you are better off buying a sm57 or 7 etc than some of the more inexpensive condensers.

If you are going to build a microphone you need to ask yourself what you want.  IMO the capsule and transformer and tube if used are what you design the microphone around.  Good capsules and transformers and tubes cost good money.  FWIW I bought >$1,500 worth of transformers to learn and build from in microphones.

  Don't believe all you read in different forums on modding apex 460s, nady 1050s and 1150s MXLs etc.

Microphones are the sum of the parts.  The capsule and it environment(grill resonating chamber) body shape (sometimes) circuit and transformer and following preamp

Lots of information about the G7 in the proidgy pro metas.
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16013
Lots of stuff on the web google ask etc.

Buy, Borrow, rent a bunch of expensive and less expensive microphones to learn what you are looking for in the sound.  Remember what sounds good solo might get lost in the mix and what does not sound good solo might be just what you want in the mix.

I have built a few tube and solid state microphones and changed parts circuits in other microphone, cleaned capsules for studios and I am still learning things.