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Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

As I said I would get back with updates. I insulated both pcbs (bias- high impedance) using tape around them and I cover all the inside of the mic body with copper tape. Good signal and healthy signal? initially with phantom. No noise.??All my testing setup is good with any other mic.?
But.... after a couple of minutes (on a shockmount) a "squeeking" pitch raising sound starts and then the sound starts coming and going.
Can't blame the OPA IC? since with the simple electret it works really well - same pcb . And the capsule seems like it's working, since initially is functioning absolutelly properly.
Maybe a problem with any of the larger electrolytic caps on the high impedance pcb or the 2 small 20nf around the xlr pin 2-3?(for noise reduction)? or maybe the 1gohm resistor (which could be sensitive since its value is huge)?
I can't blame the bias pcb since it's providing constant 65V.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

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Le 10/05/2022 ¨¤ 10:51, tedsorvino via groups.io a ¨¦crit?:
As I suspected from the start, I believe your capsules are good and the problems you had are elsewhere.

Thanks Jerry. To start with while I was reducing cabling length I shorted either the bias IC or a cap - diode around it. When I sort that out I will try all the meters you suggested.
Just a couple of quick questions
Is it ok to leave one side of the dual capsule disconnected with it's lead on? Is it a possible cause of interference and lack of signal sensitivity?
It should be OK as long as the unconnected wire is properly dressed as not to pick up interference.
Does it matter if I connect the center of the capsule on the bias pcb and the backplate on the high impedance one or vice versa? Does it affect the microphone output?
Well, it does matter, since the stray capacitance of the backplate is higher than that of the center termination, so the output level and distortion may suffer a little. In addition, applying bias to the backplate makes it attract dust instead of the diaphragm.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

As I suspected from the start, I believe your capsules are good and the problems you had are elsewhere.

Thanks Jerry. To start with while I was reducing cabling length I shorted either the bias IC or a cap - diode around it. When I sort that out I will try all the meters you suggested.
Just a couple of quick questions
Is it ok to leave one side of the dual capsule disconnected with it's lead on? Is it a possible cause of interference and lack of signal sensitivity?
Does it matter if I connect the center of the capsule on the bias pcb and the backplate on the high impedance one or vice versa? Does it affect the microphone output?


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

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Le 10/05/2022 ¨¤ 10:02, tedsorvino via groups.io a ¨¦crit?:
You can start with checking with the mulimeter that the capsules are not shorted
Without being sure I just used the continuity mode on my DMM. No continuity between capsules and between capsules and backplate (common backplate cable).
As I suspected from the start, I believe your capsules are good and the problems you had are elsewhere.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

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Le 10/05/2022 ¨¤ 09:54, tedsorvino via groups.io a ¨¦crit?:
I would try to make a PCB that holds all the high impedance circuits for two capsules, and put the rest, included the bias generators on a separate PCB.
Thanks Jerry. Is it necessary the bias PCBs being in the same enclosure with the high impedance circuits?
No. It can be separate.

As I wrote earlier, using shielded wire is not adequate. You have to make sure that all the high impedance circuitry is in a shielded enclosure, which must also be acoustically transparent, such as mesh.
True. Sorry for that. I read it later. The capsule is in a mesh - the normal faraday BM 800 microphone top . Can I use copper foil around? the mic enclosure on the inside - like I'm using on my guitars- to reduce EMI noise, or does it affect sensitivity?
Copper foil is OK.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

You can start with checking with the mulimeter that the capsules are not shorted
Without being sure I just used the continuity mode on my DMM. No continuity between capsules and between capsules and backplate (common backplate cable).


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

I would try to make a PCB that holds all the high impedance circuits for two capsules, and put the rest, included the bias generators on a separate PCB.
Thanks Jerry. Is it necessary the bias PCBs being in the same enclosure with the high impedance circuits??

As I wrote earlier, using shielded wire is not adequate. You have to make sure that all the high impedance circuitry is in a shielded enclosure, which must also be acoustically transparent, such as mesh.
True. Sorry for that. I read it later. The capsule is in a mesh - the normal faraday BM 800 microphone top . Can I use copper foil around? the mic enclosure on the inside - like I'm using on my guitars- to reduce EMI noise, or does it affect sensitivity?


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 


Le 09/05/2022 ¨¤ 19:51, tedsorvino via groups.io a ¨¦crit?:
Thanks Jerrt Lee Marcel.
That's a really good advice. By head I guess you mean the pcb outs (signal and voltage polarity). Am I correct?

Head is the circuitry that receives the capsule and transforms the very high impedance into a more manageable impedance.


Is there shielded wire of such small gauge (or could I create one by "knitting" 2 wires)?

As I wrote earlier, using shielded wire is not adequate. You have to make sure that all the high impedance circuitry is in a shielded enclosure, which must also be acoustically transparent, such as mesh.


In my case what would you do to achieve my goal?
I would try to make a PCB that holds all the high impedance circuits for two capsules, and put the rest, included the bias generators on a separate PCB.


Re: How to test...

 

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Le 09/05/2022 ¨¤ 19:51, tedsorvino via groups.io a ¨¦crit?:

Thanks Jerrt Lee Marcel.
That's a really good advice. By head I guess you mean the pcb outs (signal and voltage polarity). Am I correct?

Head is the circuitry that receives the capsule and transforms the very high impedance into a more manageable impedance.


Is there shielded wire of such small gauge (or could I create one by "knitting" 2 wires)?

As I wrote earlier, using shielded wire is not adequate. You have to make sure that all the high impedance circuitry is in a shielded enclosure, which must also be acoustically transparent, such as mesh.


In my case what would you do to achieve my goal?
I would try to make a PCB that holds all the high impedance circuits for two capsules, and put the rest, included the bias generators on a separate PCB.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

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Le 09/05/2022 ¨¤ 19:52, tedsorvino via groups.io a ¨¦crit?:
Could you please be more specific? How can I do that with a simple multimeter and a small variable DC supply up to 50V? Thanks.
You can start with checking with the mulimeter that the capsules are not shorted.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 
Edited

As a simple first test, measure its capacitance?-Scott

Could you please be more specific,? Scott? How can I do that with a simple multimeter and a small variable DC supply up to 50V? Thanks.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

Thanks Jerrt Lee Marcel.
That's a really good advice. By head I guess you mean the pcb outs (signal and voltage polarity). Am I correct?
Is there shielded wire of such small gauge (or could I create one by "knitting" 2 wires)?
In my case what would you do to achieve my goal?
I mean it's highly improbable to find a donor body capable to host all 4 pcbs. Even 3 of them (and forget about fig. 8.


Re: Pat's Mic (Fetzer Valve Mic)

 

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Hi Homero,

The signal level into the FET is one of the things that will need to be tuned, depending on the capsule output, the use of the mic, what acoustic levels it operates at, and how much distortion and compression you want out of it. Think of a guitar amplifier or sustain pedal. The harder you hit the FET, the more color it will introduce, and that is a matter of personal taste.

Old tube mics were not intended to distort. They were designed as linear and clean as possible, but engineers found that a rock singer screaming into a mic at 3 inches sounded much louder than the actual level on disk, as the tube was pushed slightly into clipping.

400mV is a reasonable level for 0.5% 2nd harmonic with a LDC. It should sound like a good tube mic. If it is too clean, then you can experiment. Large capsules I have measured are more than 56pF, around 80pF out of circuit, and just over 100pF in circuit with 60V bias. As for sensitivity, feeding a transformer-less charge amp with a 100pF dummy capsule:
Gain vs feedback cap, no cap = 0dB;?
10pF = -3.4dB; 25pF = -5.9dB; 48pF = -8.7dB; 68pF = -10.7dB; 115pF = -13.4dB.
@100mV RMS (280mV p/p) out w/10pF, 2nd harmonic = 0.5%; @ 10mV out, 2nd = 0.05%

It will be interesting to see if P@t¡¯s mic measures similarly to mine, which is like a KM-84 with a Schoeps PNP output stage instead of a transformer. I have no idea how much of the distortion in my mic is due to the charge amp and how much is FET since the FET is also the charge amp. Your mic has the two circuits separate, so you can experiment if you want. Bypass the FET and see how different ratios of feedback work. Try different bias points and load resistors on the FET while keeping the input stage fixed. Try different FETs.?

Or just find something which sounds good and go with it. I¡¯d build one if I didn¡¯t have 3 or 4 circuits ahead of it to try out.

Regards,
Henry

On May 9, 2022, at 9:37 AM, Homero Leal <homero.leal@...> wrote:

What is the signal level (either input or output)??
@William Spragens, just checked and the Input level is approx?400mVpp. Testing cap is 56p and charge?amp cap is 82p, so the signal going to JFet gate should be about 273mVpp.

Do you think if we amplify the input signal before going to the JFET (use a lower value charge amp capacitor), it will be better for the circuit? If so, we should also put a signal reduction stage before?taking the signal out of the circuit.

Any ideas?

Kind regards!

HL


Re: Pat's Mic (Fetzer Valve Mic)

 

Thank you for getting back to us, this looks great!? I was reminded of something while reading your write up.? I've attached a page from Henry at Audio Improv as additional research material for you(.? He used the J305 in a charge amp setting and included some notes on it.? Granted in could have been the circuit it was plugged into.? Have you noticed any variations when using other JFETs?

What kind of distortions are closer to the "Triode" setting you and P@T were looking for?? I'm still unsure what amount of 2nd and 3rd levels make something sound good/better.? There seems to be so much conflicting documentation on this subject :P

On Monday, May 9, 2022, 07:37:43 AM PDT, Homero Leal <homero.leal@...> wrote:


What is the signal level (either input or output)??
@William Spragens, just checked and the Input level is approx?400mVpp. Testing cap is 56p and charge?amp cap is 82p, so the signal going to JFet gate should be about 273mVpp.

Do you think if we amplify the input signal before going to the JFET (use a lower value charge amp capacitor), it will be better for the circuit? If so, we should also put a signal reduction stage before?taking the signal out of the circuit.

Any ideas?

Kind regards!

HL







El s¨¢b, 7 may 2022 a la(s) 22:00, henryspragens@... (henryspragens@...) escribi¨®:
What is the signal level (either input or output)? Distortion in a common-source JFET or triode is normally very sensitive to level. The 2nd harmonic at 46dB roughly (0.5%) below the 1KHz signal and 3rd harmonic roughly 30dB lower looks like a pretty good tube or JFET as it approaches saturation. This should sound pleasant. I would expect distortion to drop significantly at lower levels, and 3rd harmonic to rise rapidly above this level.

The OPA Alice is remarkably clean, as expected. (Yay Jules!)

A K596 or other JFET with diode input has additional distortion mechanisms which make it unsuited for this circuit. It will have too much 3rd harmonic. It is possible to get similar percentages of distortion using different circuitry, though. Whether it sounds like a triode is a matter of opinion. Some will maintain you need a real vacuum state amplifier and transformer for a true triode sound. Which triode? Any tube guy will tell you they sound different. Others will say as long as the harmonic structure is the same, it makes no difference what's inside the mic. Build 'em and see if you can hear the difference. If I take 2 of my mics with the same capsules and transistors, one with a clean Schoeps circuit, and one with a Transformer-Less Charge amp which has around 0.5% 2nd harmonic, they sound ALMOST identical. The Schoeps will have more fine inner detail. The TL/C will have more "body" or "richness" or "warmth". Without doing an A-B comparison though, I wouldn't hear enough difference to choose one over the other.


Re: Pat's Mic (Fetzer Valve Mic)

 

What is the signal level (either input or output)??
@William Spragens, just checked and the Input level is approx?400mVpp. Testing cap is 56p and charge?amp cap is 82p, so the signal going to JFet gate should be about 273mVpp.

Do you think if we amplify the input signal before going to the JFET (use a lower value charge amp capacitor), it will be better for the circuit? If so, we should also put a signal reduction stage before?taking the signal out of the circuit.

Any ideas?

Kind regards!

HL







El s¨¢b, 7 may 2022 a la(s) 22:00, henryspragens@... (henryspragens@...) escribi¨®:
What is the signal level (either input or output)? Distortion in a common-source JFET or triode is normally very sensitive to level. The 2nd harmonic at 46dB roughly (0.5%) below the 1KHz signal and 3rd harmonic roughly 30dB lower looks like a pretty good tube or JFET as it approaches saturation. This should sound pleasant. I would expect distortion to drop significantly at lower levels, and 3rd harmonic to rise rapidly above this level.

The OPA Alice is remarkably clean, as expected. (Yay Jules!)

A K596 or other JFET with diode input has additional distortion mechanisms which make it unsuited for this circuit. It will have too much 3rd harmonic. It is possible to get similar percentages of distortion using different circuitry, though. Whether it sounds like a triode is a matter of opinion. Some will maintain you need a real vacuum state amplifier and transformer for a true triode sound. Which triode? Any tube guy will tell you they sound different. Others will say as long as the harmonic structure is the same, it makes no difference what's inside the mic. Build 'em and see if you can hear the difference. If I take 2 of my mics with the same capsules and transistors, one with a clean Schoeps circuit, and one with a Transformer-Less Charge amp which has around 0.5% 2nd harmonic, they sound ALMOST identical. The Schoeps will have more fine inner detail. The TL/C will have more "body" or "richness" or "warmth". Without doing an A-B comparison though, I wouldn't hear enough difference to choose one over the other.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

Le 09/05/2022 ¨¤ 14:37, tedsorvino via groups.io a ¨¦crit?:
For "real estate purposes" I'm using an external box for the pcbs and then leads to the mic and leads to the xlr of the pre amp.
Wires between capsule and head must be kept as short as possible and must be shielded for proper operation.

However shielded cable is improper since it adds parasitic capacitance that reduces sensitivity.


Re: How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

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As a simple first test, measure its capacitance?

-Scott

On 5/9/22 07:37, tedsorvino via groups.io wrote:
Hi.
My question is this simple one.
Is there any easy test to make sure that a dual side true condencer capsule is not burnt or shorted or faulty without using it on a mic. No data available. Cheaper- about 30 euros- Ali Express capsule.
Thank you in advance.

Here's my longer story .After experimenting a bit on electret with success using the OPA alice design (all OPA 1642 bought from Ali Express because of the know shortage from known retailers - good results). Used larger Electret capsule bought from Ali Express for 15euros, All good so far with that simple built.
Then I experimented a bit with the Hex Inverter DC - DC CMOS design and I managed to build 2 boards, One providing 65VDC and another one - 65VDC.
So now I 've decided to use a dual side true condenser capsule I've also bought from Ali Express for 30 euros for a more ambitious built,
I'm using 4 pcbs. 2 different single OPA ones for the signal (didn't have dual OPA pcbs around), and two Voltage ones for + and - polarity. For "real estate purposes" I'm using an external box for the pcbs and then leads to the mic and leads to the xlr of the pre amp.
My initial testing with it?(just cardioid, then just omni, then just fig. 8),? was quite all right. All out of the box, really noisy there is signal and appropriate behaviour in accordance to each mode, but it seems to have really low signal and after trying to change the lead and positions and using the box, with some grounding issues, I lost signal alltogether.
Firstly I'm afraid of having burnt or shorted something on the capsule and then I would like to know if this capsule is all right and whatever problem occurs hasn't got to do with it.

That's all.

-- 
---- Scott Helmke ---- scott@... ---- (734) 604-9340 ----
"I have ceased distinguishing between the religious and the secular,
for everything is holy"  - Joe Henry


How to test if dual condenser capsule is working?

 

Hi.
My question is this simple one.
Is there any easy test to make sure that a dual side true condencer capsule is not burnt or shorted or faulty without using it on a mic. No data available. Cheaper- about 30 euros- Ali Express capsule.
Thank you in advance.

Here's my longer story .After experimenting a bit on electret with success using the OPA alice design (all OPA 1642 bought from Ali Express because of the know shortage from known retailers - good results). Used larger Electret capsule bought from Ali Express for 15euros, All good so far with that simple built.
Then I experimented a bit with the Hex Inverter DC - DC CMOS design and I managed to build 2 boards, One providing 65VDC and another one - 65VDC.
So now I 've decided to use a dual side true condenser capsule I've also bought from Ali Express for 30 euros for a more ambitious built,
I'm using 4 pcbs. 2 different single OPA ones for the signal (didn't have dual OPA pcbs around), and two Voltage ones for + and - polarity. For "real estate purposes" I'm using an external box for the pcbs and then leads to the mic and leads to the xlr of the pre amp.
My initial testing with it?(just cardioid, then just omni, then just fig. 8),? was quite all right. All out of the box, really noisy there is signal and appropriate behaviour in accordance to each mode, but it seems to have really low signal and after trying to change the lead and positions and using the box, with some grounding issues, I lost signal alltogether.
Firstly I'm afraid of having burnt or shorted something on the capsule and then I would like to know if this capsule is all right and whatever problem occurs hasn't got to do with it.

That's all.


Re: Phantom Power 6.81K resistors...

 

Triton Audio (Fethead etc) and also based in the Netherlands have been marketing a True Phantom phantom power supply for some time:

https://www.tritonaudio.com/true-phantom


Phantom Power 6.81K resistors...

 

Jerry Lee Marcel,

>It's a very interesting intellectual challenge though. Brilliant piece of design.?

Agreed.

But the price versus gain in performance makes this a curiosity.

>The claimed benefits are at least of second order.

So slight as being of very little interest.

Read this:

https://groupdiy.com/threads/any-thoughts-about-true-phantom.70131/

The AKG A52 shown a bit further downwards I tried out in the 70?s but?
heard no difference... the A52 has similar benefits to True Phantom.

True Phantom png schematic further down:

https://groupdiy.com/threads/any-thoughts-about-true-phantom.70131/page-2

Also the AES paper a bit further down from the above page.

As is the AKG A52 schematic gif.

The A52 also increases the mic loading to 13.6 kohm, as is true of the True Phantom,

If the two 680 ohm resistors are increased to 6800 ohm.


-----------------

Best regards,

Goran Finnberg
The Mastering Room AB
Goteborg
Sweden

E-mail: mastering@...

Learn from the mistakes of others, you can never live long enough to
make them all yourself.??? -?? John Luther

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