Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
I bought 2 cheap Russian ribbon mics some time ago, updated the transformers to Lundahls, and noticed that the ribbons weren¡¯t fully tensioned I was not up for the job of experimenting with that on my own, so I sent them the Clarence Kane at ENAK to be re-ribboned. Mr Kane was the last head of mics at RCA when they closed down, and has some 70 years of experience maintaining and repairing ribbon mics. When he finished them and wrote back, he told me that they had the highest output of ay ribbons he¡¯d ever seen. Got them back, and the sound is terrific. I could not be happier, and well worth the expense.
I might mention that the magnets in the mics are of some import, so having a real expert look them over would be well worth it all around.
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
Here's a test of a standard Chinese of a different sort and upgraded? which demonstrates any improvement. Here's essentially yours not upgraded? and the same motor in a smaller diameter case? which since I've upgraded and sounds better.
Best wishes
David P
Yes, If I decide to pay someone to do it, he's the best (only?) option.
He's relatively close to me too.
His price to re-ribbon is similar to a new one of these mics though.
(not counting the lundahl transformer which could be transferred)
However i imagine after re-ribboning by an expert they will be better
than new ones. Can anyone confirm that?
Is the consensus that it is worth the cost of getting Stewart to do
them, even though they are cheap to begin with? Or should I consider
doing it myself or buying something else entirely?
On 30/06/2022 19:19, Chris (SoundLock) wrote:
> Send them to Stewart at Xaudia he is the ribbon man! Knows exactly
> what he is doing and is the best person to advise you
> Best,
> Chris
>
-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+44 1342 850594
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
In my opinion, these are the questions best asked to Stewart. He is honest and frank about the advice he will give.
There is no guarantee they can be made better unless there is something specifically wrong that can be altered.
On 1 Jul 2022 12:08, thet <parenthetical@...> wrote: Yes, If I decide to pay someone to do it, he's the best (only?) option.
He's relatively close to me too.
His price to re-ribbon is similar to a new one of these mics though.
(not counting the lundahl transformer which could be transferred)
However i imagine after re-ribboning by an expert they will be better
than new ones. Can anyone confirm that?
Is the consensus that it is worth the cost of getting Stewart to do
them, even though they are cheap to begin with? Or should I consider
doing it myself or buying something else entirely?
On 30/06/2022 19:19, Chris (SoundLock) wrote:
> Send them to Stewart at Xaudia he is the ribbon man! Knows exactly
> what he is doing and is the best person to advise you
> Best,
> Chris
>
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
Yes, If I decide to pay someone to do it, he's the best (only?) option. He's relatively close to me too.
His price to re-ribbon is similar to a new one of these mics though. (not counting the lundahl transformer which could be transferred)
However i imagine after re-ribboning by an expert they will be better than new ones. Can anyone confirm that?
Is the consensus that it is worth the cost of getting Stewart to do them, even though they are cheap to begin with? Or should I consider doing it myself or buying something else entirely?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 30/06/2022 19:19, Chris (SoundLock) wrote: Send them to Stewart at Xaudia he is the ribbon man! Knows exactly what he is doing and is the best person to advise you
Best,
Chris
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
Contact Stewart Tavener at
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Le 30/06/2022 ¨¤ 16:39, thet a ¨¦crit?: I have a pair of ca 15yr old ribbon mics that look approx like this:
They have been upgraded with Lundahl transformers and an XLR socket instead of a fixed cable.
I have retensioned the ribbons in the past with positive results - but I think there's something not quite right.
They now seem to sound even duller/darker than one would expect. Also one is worse than the other.
So my question is - what the best thing to do with them without spending too much?
Should I reribbon and if so where is the best place to get materials in the UK?
Are there now better options? Is it worth replacing the whole ribbon motor?
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
These are the standard long ribbon short path mics which are exceptionally good value.
It's important to use foil near to 1um thick -? and the result is well worthwhile. I used the FAB XL transformer.?
However, the job was more difficult to do than other ribbons I've refurbished.
Best wishes
David P
I have a pair of ca 15yr old ribbon mics that look approx like this:
They have been upgraded with Lundahl transformers and an XLR socket
instead of a fixed cable.
I have retensioned the ribbons in the past with positive results - but I
think there's something not quite right.
They now seem to sound even duller/darker than one would expect. Also
one is worse than the other.
So my question is - what the best thing to do with them without spending
too much?
Should I reribbon and if so where is the best place to get materials in
the UK?
Are there now better options? Is it worth replacing the whole ribbon motor?
-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+44 1342 850594
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
yes I was aware of that article when I bought them.
they are the long ribbon type with the narrow centre to the
motor.
On 30/06/2022 20:06, Migs wrote:
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A bit of reading on the subject, by Michael Joly.
Demystifies a few things:
_._,_._,_
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
A bit of reading on the subject, by Michael Joly.
Demystifies a few things:
http://recordinghacks.com/2008/11/01/chinese-ribbon-microphone-designs/
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Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
Send them to Stewart at Xaudia he is the ribbon man! Knows exactly what he is doing and is the best person to advise you Best, Chris
On 30 Jun 2022 15:39, thet <parenthetical@...> wrote: I have a pair of ca 15yr old ribbon mics that look approx like this:
https://www.long-mcquade.com/files/70693/lg_362d3cde46e33974bbe1f370719a0cbd.jpg
They have been upgraded with Lundahl transformers and an XLR socket
instead of a fixed cable.
I have retensioned the ribbons in the past with positive results - but I
think there's something not quite right.
They now seem to sound even duller/darker than one would expect. Also
one is worse than the other.
So my question is - what the best thing to do with them without spending
too much?
Should I reribbon and if so where is the best place to get materials in
the UK?
Are there now better options? Is it worth replacing the whole ribbon motor?
|
Re: ribbon mic refurb in UK
Hi thet,
Your long lost pal here (I swear I'm not stalking you).
Just seems like we gravitate around the same topics/interests or maybe there's only two of us on this forum for now???
I nearly bought the same mic from a friend. T-bone, Apex etc distribute the same, same mic/body, just different colour and brand, all Made in China.
From what I remember this one has a longer and/or wider motor than the other Chinese Ribbon Mics or the British ones I have. I have read that resonance problems affect them a lot. At the end I passed on buying it. Instead, I re-ribboned my old Reslos (in the pic).
If they already have the Lundahl transfos, which are supposed to be really good, the only upgrade I see is re-ribbon them.
I just done it on two of mine. A real pain in the neck. Just cutting the foil straight is a skill in itself, then the tensioning etc.
You have to avoid breathing on it or put on a mask etc etc. Then the ribbing etc
If you want to go that way, e-mail me your address in UK. I think I still have foil left (which came from e-bay).
Im off to Croatia for work tomorrow, when I'm back next week I can post some to you. If you wish.
I think I have a Doc. somewhere, with all steps to re-ribbon a mic (useful).
M
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I have a pair of ca 15yr old ribbon mics that look approx like this:
They have been upgraded with Lundahl transformers and an XLR socket instead of a fixed cable.
I have retensioned the ribbons in the past with positive results - but I think there's something not quite right.
They now seem to sound even duller/darker than one would expect. Also one is worse than the other.
So my question is - what the best thing to do with them without spending too much?
Should I reribbon and if so where is the best place to get materials in the UK?
Are there now better options? Is it worth replacing the whole ribbon motor?
|
Re: tiny neutrik transformers
Hi thet , I used the NEUTRIK NTE10-3 in U87 copies, tube and IC based pre-amps (wired the "other way around"). But the most successful build so far is in the Cascode Fet Mic, that we discussed briefly in your "cascode in schoeps"? #33012???thread. That circuit, I'm still trying to fine tune. After trying a couple of transfos, the NEUTRIK, seemed to suit the circuit better. Someone on GDIY mentioned they are actually made by PiKATRON. But no solid proof, might just be tech. myth talk (or B.S.)? Or maybe not? I'm tempted to try the canned version from NEUTRIK on Tube Pre-Amps etc. Bit more expensive though & bigger.
M
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Re: tiny neutrik transformers
Great! The mic I made with the NTE1 I certainly have no
complaints so far.
What circuit did you use the NTE10/3 for?
On 29/06/2022 14:02, Migs wrote:
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Hi there,
I have used Neutrik NTE10-3. and NTE4 on various recent mic
builds.
The ones on the pic below are in a "copy" of the KM-84, from PCB's
sold by a member of the GDIY forum.
I have tried the said transfos on other recent builds & have
no complains about sound quality etc.
I used some of the mics as Overheads-Ac. Guitar-Piano and even
Snare drum (with added capacitor in parallel,acting as a pad).
In live and studio settings, they seem to perform well. If
colouration there is, it sounds rather pleasing to my ear.
M
_._,_._,_
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Re: tiny neutrik transformers
Hi there,
I have used Neutrik NTE10-3. and NTE4 on various recent mic builds.
The ones on the pic below are in a "copy" of the KM-84, from PCB's sold by a member of the GDIY forum.
I have tried the said transfos on other recent builds & have no complains about sound quality etc.
I used some of the mics as Overheads-Ac. Guitar-Piano and even Snare drum (with added capacitor in parallel,acting as a pad).
In live and studio settings, they seem to perform well. If colouration there is, it sounds rather pleasing to my ear.
M
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Re: Passing phantom power through an active high shelf
Hi all! Just thought I'd post an update. I've been doing prototyping over the last 8 or so months, and I've put together my first PCB for this mic, which is working as intended! Since my last post, I've made a bunch of small adjustments, as well as adding a low cut. The spectrum chart below is a shoot-out between just an em258 capsule (blue line) and my new circuit (white line). I recorded a burst of computer duster gas to get this, so it's probably not a perfectly flat broadband noise source. For my next steps, I want to start looking into body design, and doing proper benchmarking and measurements. Someone also suggested using multiple capsules in series to give a better signal-to-noise ratio, but I'm concerned that I won't be able to get the capsules close enough together to avoid phasing issues at high frequencies. If anyone has advice on measuring the self-noise, frequency response, or dynamic range of a mic I'd appreciate it! Thanks again for everyone's help through the early stages of this, you really helped me take this from a pipe dream to a functioning ultrasonic mic! Lastly, I might start a new topic for this mic going forward, since the original topic name doesn't have anything to do with the project in its current state.  
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Read the paper. You will see that the laser imagery is used to
synthesize sounds.
Le 28/06/2022 ¨¤ 18:52, Conrad Hoffman a
¨¦crit?:
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Have those people never seen a laser vibrometer??
Just point it and record the signal. Capable of hundreds of kHz.
Unfortunately, not cheap.
I think they've been used by spy agencies to pick up voices from
window panes.
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Have those people never seen a laser vibrometer??
Just point it and record the signal. Capable of hundreds of kHz. Unfortunately, not cheap.
I think they've been used by spy agencies to pick up voices from window panes.
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Re: Voltage vs capsule size, type, etc.
Welcome to the Club!
Best Regards,
Jules Ryckebusch
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On Jun 27, 2022, at 19:18, Richards <jrichards@...> wrote:
?Good Day, Gentlemen.
Whew! This discussion quickly evolved into a complex shotgun situation and there is a LOT of buckshot in the last few shells (replies.)
I GET and follow all points raised therein. Once again, a little knowledge has proved a dangerous thing!
It appears I need to research the differences between different capsules, especially between permanently charged and externally charged capsules. It appears I conflated FET-less electret capsules (with permanently charged back plates,) with capsules requiring external polarization. It further appears my circuit boards are for electret capsules and not for capsules that require external polarization voltage.
It also appears neither the board which is the subject of my opening question, nor the OPA Alice board, work with condenser capsules requiring external polarization voltage - at least not alone. The TGMZ branded board may or may not do so, but you guys cannot tell for sure from the photo. I will have to experiment to resolve the uncertainty.
I TRULY APPRECIATE the several replies to my questions. I GET what you guys are saying, and I am persuaded to step back and study the matter before moving forward. I also appreciate the Paul's link to the book on the Neumann site (although, unfortunately, it contains a mathematics, and math hurts my head!) :-)
And, I APPRECIATE reading Henry's web site, Jules's articles on www.Indesctructibles.comm, and the www.recordinghacks.com data base, which motivated me to play the microphone modification game.
So ... back to the good ol' drawing board !
________________
PS -- The GOOD NEWS is all is not lost, as I have successfully:
* Upgraded a Behringer B-1 with a better capsule, which I think sounds good.
* Completely re-built a broken Behringer C-1 with a new board and bigger, better capsule,
* Built a pleasing model with new board and 25mm capsule in a generic BM-800-style body,
* Repaired and upgraded a broken old RadioShack Optimus 33-3017 pencil-style small condenser microphone, and
* Had fun doing it - so I am making progress.
Thank you and happy trails to you.
/ James - k8JHR /
__________________________________________
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Re: Voltage vs capsule size, type, etc.
Good Day, Gentlemen.
Whew! This discussion quickly evolved into a complex shotgun situation and there is a LOT of buckshot in the last few shells (replies.)
I GET and follow all points raised therein. Once again, a little knowledge has proved a dangerous thing!
It appears I need to research the differences between different capsules, especially between permanently charged and externally charged capsules. It appears I conflated FET-less electret capsules (with permanently charged back plates,) with capsules requiring external polarization. It further appears my circuit boards are for electret capsules and not for capsules that require external polarization voltage.
It also appears neither the board which is the subject of my opening question, nor the OPA Alice board, work with condenser capsules requiring external polarization voltage - at least not alone. The TGMZ branded board may or may not do so, but you guys cannot tell for sure from the photo. I will have to experiment to resolve the uncertainty.
I TRULY APPRECIATE the several replies to my questions. I GET what you guys are saying, and I am persuaded to step back and study the matter before moving forward. I also appreciate the Paul's link to the book on the Neumann site (although, unfortunately, it contains a mathematics, and math hurts my head!) :-)
And, I APPRECIATE reading Henry's web site, Jules's articles on www.Indesctructibles.comm, and the www.recordinghacks.com data base, which motivated me to play the microphone modification game.
So ... back to the good ol' drawing board !
________________
PS -- The GOOD NEWS is all is not lost, as I have successfully:
* Upgraded a Behringer B-1 with a better capsule, which I think sounds good.
* Completely re-built a broken Behringer C-1 with a new board and bigger, better capsule,
* Built a pleasing model with new board and 25mm capsule in a generic BM-800-style body,
* Repaired and upgraded a broken old RadioShack Optimus 33-3017 pencil-style small condenser microphone, and
* Had fun doing it - so I am making progress.
Thank you and happy trails to you.
/ James - k8JHR /
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Zander
Conrad Hoffman