¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

ctrl + shift + ? for shortcuts
© 2025 ¿ªÔÆÌåÓý
Date   
Cheap USB powered condenser microphone. Need advice on design. 11
Hello, I've drafted up a DIY design that I think could work to drive an electret capsule like the TSB-2555B through the use of a DC-DC converter (IEB0105S12) to derive a stepped up voltage from the 5V supply rail of a USB soundcard. The generated voltage of the microphone is fed into an amplification circuit from the OPA-Alice circuit. Presented below is the proposed amplification scheme: Similar to the aforementioned OPA-Alice circuit, the amplifier to be used is planned to be the OPA1642. The USB soundcard to be integrated to the design utilizes a CM108 IC with an input range of 2.88 V pk-to-pk and a default input signal gain stage of 20dB (gain of 10). I am relatively new to the design of microphone circuitry and this design is heavily inspired the by videos and instructables from DIY Perkz and DJJules. I would like to ask for advice regarding the design choices made and the validity/viability of the proposed design.
Started by Timothy Aguana @ · Most recent @
Rode VXLR+ noise 4
I purchased a Rode VXLR+ recently and was very disappointed by the noise introduced by this adapter. I compared a Rode SmartLav+ connected via a TRRS to TRS adapter to the VXLR+ versus a SM58 dynamic mic. With the gains set so that both mics had the same response to a sound source, the SmartLav+ via the VXLR+ had a much higher background hiss, to the point of being unusable. I got a similar noise level when I connected a 2.2k resistor to the VXLR+ instead of the SmartLav+. This SmartLav+ works fine plugged directly into a Zoom H1N. I have read several good reviews of this adapter and a few who have found it very noisy as well. Zach Poff has published the schematics for the VXLR+ here https://www.zachpoff.com/resources/testing-xlr-adapters-with-plug-in-power/ I assume the noise is coming from the zener D1. I measured the capacitance of C1 and it did measure 10uF. I have not tried to measure its esr. I changed C1 to a low esr 100uF tantalum capacitor (KEMET Part Number: T520B107M010ATE070). This has a wider body than the original, so you need to offset it towards the center of the PCB so it does not touch the side of the case. The noise level of my modified VXLR+ is now below the self noise of the SmartLav+. I have also since made some recordings of birds with this adapter connected to a AOM-5024L. Perhaps my VXLR+ was just a bad one due to variability in zener self noise and capacitor esr. However I am surprised how little effort has been made to filter noise from D1. A simple additional RC filter could make a big difference without making any significant difference to the cost. David Walton
Started by David Walton @ · Most recent @
Another weird idea 15
Ever since I built a few pairs of Jules' hydrophones, I have been interested in new ways to make recordings with things other than traditional diaphragm microphones. I have been thinking about building a set of contact mics using Jules' circuit and a flat piezo disk. One of the things I want to record is a passing train. Then I got to thinking...I also having been tinkering with electric guitar builds and I have a few cheap pickups from kit guitars where I replaced them with better ones. Rails are steel. Like guitar strings. What about putting a pickup on each rail. Run them through direct boxes and into my Mixpre and record a passing train?
Started by Mark Day @ · Most recent @
Cheap electrets that go up to 40kHz? 6
Hi all - Any recommendations for cheap-ish electret elements that go up to 40kHz? Thanks!
Started by cx b @ · Most recent @
Micbuilders group annual funding 4
Welcome to the annual beg-a-thon for funding our space on ¿ªÔÆÌåÓý! The yearly cost is $220 USD. Every year we've gotten more than enough from members to pay that bill... and usually a little surplus. The surplus from last year is $28.73. So a few of you very kind folks kind of jumped the queue and already sent me money... right now we are at a total of $149.39, including last year's surplus. So there's another ~$70 to go. Thanks, -Scott -- ---- Scott Helmke ---- scott@... ---- (734) 604-9340 ---- "I have ceased distinguishing between the religious and the secular, for everything is holy" - Joe Henry
Started by Scott Helmke @ · Most recent @
Annual fundraising 5
Hey, it's that time of year again! I'm out of town for a couple more days, so I don't have access to my usual pitch and all that stuff. But basically the group costs a couple hundred dollars a year to run, and usually it's paid for by donations. So it's on your radar now... when I get home I'll look up the amount, see if there's any surplus from last year, and all that stuff. As always thanks, not just for the support but for the fantastic content we have on this group. Thanks, -Scott -- ---- Scott Helmke ---- scott@... ---- (734) 604-9340 ---- "I have ceased distinguishing between the religious and the secular, for everything is holy" - Joe Henry
Started by Scott Helmke @ · Most recent @
ESD protection for HiZ inputs? 26
I hope this is OK to ask here as it isn't exclusively a mic question but a general electronic question that might be applicable to some mics. Consider a fet input with a high impedance, that is connected to a exposed bare wire or RCA type plug, because it needs to be unplugged from the source. This could be for a piezo pickup with an input impedance of 5-10M or it could be for a condenser mic with an impedance of 1G Do I need to protect that bare fet gate from ESD it might encounter in the world? here's a schem to illustrate: https://halfshavedyaks.xyz/forumimages/fetbuffersm.png I have naively added diodes but I'm not sure if they will actually lower the input impedance which obv I don't want. The real-life behaviour of diodes at high impedances is beyond my current level of understanding. I'm also not sure if 1N4148 are big enough to offer much protection. Nor am I sure if R1 offers any protection. Could any of the experts here talk me through what would be wrong with the attempts at ESD protection in this schematic?
Started by thet @ · Most recent @
Specs for old Transsound capsules? 8
Two decades ago I was an active DIYer and built a couple binaural heads, some PZMs, and other projects. About the time Panasonic was discontinuing the WMxx (61? See, it's been that long), I ordered a bunch of capsules to play with, I think from JMI, but it might have been a group buy that Bob Cain put together. Now I have a use for a 9mm electret capsule, and I've got this package with some TS-94A capsules, and also some TSB-9445A and TS-52B. What I don't have (at least not on any hard drives I have spinning, or useful results from that once search engine, now ad flyer Google) are spec sheets for those capsules. I remember enough to put together a 9v battery, a ??K resistor, and a DC blocking cap, but I'd like to get the resistor value close on the 1st try. Does anyone have spec sheets for this old Transsound capsules, or a link to them? Thanks much, Mike
Started by Mike Feldman @ · Most recent @
alix dynamic mics as donors? 3
Has anyone here tried either of these dynamic mics from AliExpress? Fifine K669D Maono PD100 They look like solid bodies, I'm curious if they come apart easily and how good they would be as donor bodies. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005510482582.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004887926822.html
Started by thet @ · Most recent @
choosing SimpleP48 resistors 14
Pondering how to choose SimpleP48 resistors, it suddenly occurred to me that we can use the techniques in FETbias.doc so I've updated that in my Files/Ricardo directory. It's so obvious with hindsight that I beg yus guy's pardon for my stupidity. Measuring at 9V is perfect cos we want 5 - 10V Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Started by Richard Lee @ · Most recent @
Learning about amplifiers 11
I¡¯ve been looking around to try to find some sources of material to enable me to learn about how amplifiers work. I¡¯ve only got the most rudimentary electronics knowledge so end up floundering very quickly. I bought The Art of Electronics a while ago and have had a cursory browse through it. I was also recommended this paper by an old work colleague. https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap5IR9dQ9eMPgfxAOWdiIkU-1cGvcQ "Audio power amplifier design" has also been recommended to me. What do you guys think / recommend to enable learning about these things? It seems that a lot of you are well versed in the ways of coercing electrons
Started by Adrian Hicks @ · Most recent @
Linkwitz to ground/source/drain 5
Is there a way to connect a 3 pad electret (ground/source/drain) to the Linkwitz 2 wire solution? Thank you!
Started by A Van Der Reijden @ · Most recent @
P48 Omni enclosure 13
Hi all, I've built several simple P48 AOM5024 microphones for field recording and recently designed and 3D printed a large blimp cage (180mm OD, 400mm long). I'm now at the stage where I want to use commercial mounts inside the blimp. I¡¯ve noticed that many microphones tend to be around 20mm in outer diameter, which seems to align with the size of XLR connectors. I'm considering 3D printing the microphone enclosures myself and wanted to ask for advice on a few points: Size and Length: Does the size or length of the enclosure significantly impact the microphone's performance or characteristics? Material Density: I have access to both PLA (rigid) and TPU (flexible) for printing. Does the material density or rigidity play a role in how the microphone performs, particularly in field recording environments? Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help. Best regards, Matt
Started by Matt Joyce @ · Most recent @
Electret cap question. 11
I discovered the electret the other day, whilst browsing online. It appears to have reasonable specs from what I can tell. However it doesn't publish a self-noise figure. Is there a way to derice this from other specs (SNR?). Alternatively, how would you go about measuring the self noise of a cap? Spec sheet is below. https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:3a195572-c2a4-4148-a10d-02f4e8759d85
Started by Adrian Hicks @ · Most recent @
Senheiser? wireless mic identification 3
Hi all, I haven't posted here before, but I've been monitoring your posts for a while. I have a bunch of the omnidirectional wireless mics shown in the pics below - these were used with Senheiser ew100 G2 transmitters. I'm looking for help identifying what these mics are and also figuring out how to connect them into a preamplification circuit to provide a line level output. I looked at them under a microscope and there are no identifying marks. They may be an older Countryman model. Most of these have intermittent connections in the cords, but I'm sure the mics are fine, so my idea is to cut the cords and repurpose these mics for other uses, perhaps for field recording. Is this a boondoggle?
Started by DF @ · Most recent @
Homebrew AT BP4025 ideas? 12
I'm looking at creating an XY mic for some field recording. I have seen that the Audio Technica BP4035 is a popular choice in this regard. I've started to think about trying to create something of a replica to this. I have been looking at Primo capsules, as being in the UK I find it limiting getting hold of supplies that I often see on here. I have been drawn to the Primo EM204, as it seems to be sensitive for a cardioid. EM204 Cardioid -31 dB sensitivity 16 dB self noise 78 dB SNR Does anyone have experience of this cap and are you able to chime in with any observations or advice for this or other caps? Or for that matter advice in general for an XY mic build? Cheers Adrian
Started by Adrian Hicks @ · Most recent @
Does anyone have any ideas on how to secure a capsule inside the enclosure and not have the capsule stay inside? (similar to lom usi) 12
(hi, this is my first post :) ) (picture taken from the internet for reference) just gluing it around the circumference of the capsule? or on the back of the capsule a rubber ring that presses against the enclosure? any other ideas?
Started by fabricadoresmicrofonos @ · Most recent @
Sunlight is lowering the sensibility of PUI 5024 electret mic capsules - feels like magic... 8
Hey, i've researched a lot about this, but i cant seem to find any explanation to what i'm dealing with... I'm using the simple P48 circuit and the PIU 5024 electret mic capsules, and i'm super impressed by their sensibility. I'm a fan. Just one thing is making my head hurt, when in direct contact with sunlight, the sensibility drops instantaneously, and if i get them back to shadow, the signal gain goes back to normal.... Is this normal? Even with the sponge windscreen on! Is this magic? Should I just make them little sunshades? Thank you for any info! <3
Started by ²õ¨¦°ù²µ¾±´Ç³å³¦²¹³¦³ó¾±²ú²¹³¦³ó±ð @ · Most recent @
New Ultrasonic USB microphone 13
Hi all, a new ultrasonic microphone is now available on: https://www.dodotronic.com/product/ultramic-384k-evo High sensitivity and double MEMS sensor Cheers Ivano Pelicella
Started by Ivano Pelicella @ · Most recent @
Stretched Alice 5
(First post) Hi, I have been experimenting with small electret microphones (from Primo) mounted on goosenecks as violin pickups for busking (including classical repertoire). Visibly similar to a DPA 4099 but orders of magnitude cheaper.... Results are quite good: not as nice as my external SDC in the optimal position (and probably not as nice as the DPA!) but way better than any piezo I've tried. I'm considering a next version with a slightly larger, FET-less capsule and an Alice circuit. The circuit would likely be too big to fit immediately next to the capsule, so would be distanced by around 15-20cm (6-8"). I am wondering how this separation of capsule and preamp would impact performance (e.g. noise, stability). Would it be better to stretch Alice by putting the 1G resistor and first FET with the capsule and the rest of the circuit downstream? I've seen the discussion on FET availability and the resulting OPA Alice. Are the 2N4416 and 2N 5087 still available (September 2024)? Would it be better to switch to an OPA circuit after the initial FET? For this application, it's a balance of sound quality (trying to amplify a good quality violin), directivity (to minimise feedback from amplifier), and practicalities (not getting in the way of the violin bow). Thanks for any comments! Jeremy
Started by jeremy@... @ · Most recent @
Current Image
Image Name
Sat 8:39am