Topic: HELP!! Anyone ever seen a Fairchild Syncron AU7A Condenser? (Read 23575 times)

Glenn (Jakeandthephatman) · « **on:** October 08, 2006, 12:58:38 PM »

Hey All- here is my ordeal...

I acquired this mic about 3 months ago. It's a Fairchild Syncron AU7A. I never knew that Fairchild produced a condenser, so I was more than excited to get it. (It's in mint condition mind you, looks brand new.)

The only issue is that it takes batteries? AA batteries wont fit, and AAA are too small...

After doing some research on my own I found out that a few of the first solid state microphones (pre-phantom power) used batteries; there are a few Neumann models, however I'm not sure exactly which ones.
At any rate, does anyone have an idea of whom I can get to modify the mic and get it working (with a power supply?)
Thanks in advance guys!

Mike Cleaver · « **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2006, 07:53:24 PM »

The Neumann U87 (original version) uses two Eveready 505 or equivalent batteries, which I believe are 22.5 volts.
These still can be obtained from some photo stores or specialized battery dealers. I am almost certain your mic would use similar batteries of a similar voltage. I have seen the Fairchild mics before but not for many, many years. A qualified mic tech should be able to convert the mic to operate from 48 volt phantom power or it may already be capable of being run this way. Is there an internal switch? The Neumann U87 uses a (spring loaded brass pin between) the Cannon connector pins to activate a switch to turn on the battery power.

Check to see if your Fairchild uses the same system and do a Google search. It may turn up some documentation.

Glenn (Jakeandthephatman) · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2006, 11:47:57 AM »

Thanks for the heads-up. I am going crazy trying to hear what this mic sounds like! Anyhow any recommendations on who can build the power supply for it?

compasspnt · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2006, 01:12:50 PM »

I think Fairchild just rebranded these, did they not?

Was it perhaps made by Sanken?

I was always under the impression that these mics were Japanese.

Glenn (Jakeandthephatman) · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2006, 11:39:19 PM »

terry you ever hear them? Its killing me! The conctruction on the inside looks cheap.. definitely not german quality..

New Orleans Steve · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2006, 12:40:11 AM »

I think I remember seeing this one in the E.Q. column ‘microphily’, or something like that. It was a column where they would profile an odd ball mic, one each month. If I remember it can be converted. It may have had some fatal flaw, like the diaphragm was way too thick. Again, it has been a while, but I think the particular one pictured was Dan Kennedy, the gear designer.

Steve

Dominick · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2006, 12:04:53 PM »

Oh Lordy! First place I worked had 2 of them. They were our 2nd line (after we deployed the U47, U48 and U87). Often used them as overheads and occasionaly on piano. I remember they sounded pretty good in those apps, having a less forward upper-mid then the Neumanns.

They have a miniature multipin amphenol-like connector that turned battery power on when connected to the mic body. If you forgot to unplug the connector from the mic, you'd have a dead battery the next morning.

jeffrudisill · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2007, 02:25:05 AM »

A few months late, but I just acquired a couple of these beauties, and I'm also looking for a solution to the power supply issue.
There's a more complete history of the mics my neighbor and friend just posted at http://www.coutant.org/syncron/index.html.

I've found a replacement for the 4.2 volt bias batteries, and I'm hoping I can use regular phantom power to charge the capsule in place of the pair of 21 volt mercury batteries they originally used.

Anyone have a schematic of the mic?

Jeff Rudisill

PS - I was able to learn that the mics were made in Wallingford, Conn.
An interesting interview with Doc Cavalier can be read at http://tinyurl.com/2xs6e6. Apparently the Syncron mic company was in the same building as his studios. I'm guessing Fairchild became the West Coast distributor for the brand?

bushwick · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2007, 03:20:01 AM »

I am really going out on a limb but I think I recall that Dan Zellman had a hand in these. Not sure but I would try to ask him.

bushwick · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2007, 05:45:54 PM »

Hey there-

Ok. I called Dan Zellman and he did indeed have a hand in the creation of these mics. He also said that he has built a tube pre amp for these. Give the guy a call. He is deeply knowledgeable about all things audio and certainly these.

DANIEL ZELLMAN:

zeltec@worldnet.att.net

Best,
josh

djosephson · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2007, 04:41:46 PM »

Since there hasn't been a response with Dan Zellman's comments, I'll add what I know. The Syncron AU7/AU7A aka Fairchild F22 were made by Syncron in Wallingford, Connecticut. They also made the S10 cardioid, which is the subject of an article in the Journal of the AES. I've seen two versions of the AU7 capsule; one looks like a CK12 but with only the front diaphragm connected, the other uses half a CK12 capsule with a perforated plate replacing the other half. In each case I've seen, the diaphragm is 25 micron polyester, 3 to 4x as thick as it should be, with predictable results.

Jeff's information on the 21 volt mercury batteries is right -- they are no longer available. The circuit is very simple and adapting it to 48 volt phantom is not difficult. But Jeff, would you post the original link to Doc Cavalier's interview? tinyurl links go away, just like ebay ones do, and this one is 404.

The connector seems to be a homemade hybrid using small Tuchel/DIN threads and an Amphenol multi-pin insert. The Amphenol types are still available from WPI (www.wpi-interconnecto.com) but the threaded ring and cable clamp seems not to be.

At some point the wireless microphone maker Vega, in Santa Clara, California began selling the Stanford-Omega omni and the S10 cardioid as Vega/Syncron mics, but the AU7 was available only from Fairchild. If someone has more information on this, it would be good to know (Klaus, you don't need an archivist, it happens here automagically, as long as people don't post tinyurl's!)

NATE352 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2007, 10:13:34 AM »

Recently I acquired a Farichild F22, in good shape, and dead batteries. The batteries total up to around the 48VDC supply you would expect. Someone screwed up the connector, but I'll just put an XLR in it's place.
I plan to fix it, but have no actual use for it. Are they of any value? I have photos if you have interest in seeing what this capsule looks like. It appears to be a copy of a C12, with an aluminum coating, not gold.

Rod Affleck · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2007, 01:46:12 PM »

djosephson wrote on Fri, 27 July 2007 17:41

But Jeff, would you post the original link to Doc Cavalier's interview? tinyurl links go away, just like ebay ones do, and this one is 404.

David,

the tinyurl is still active, but you have to remove the stray period at the end of the link. Here's the original url:

http://www.doccavalier.com/interviews/prm_int.html

cheers,
Rod Affleck

Raster. · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2008, 12:05:49 AM »

Hi, I was Googling Syncron mics, wondering if the company still existed.

The years 1963-68 I worked for Natec Sound Studios here in Sydney as an engineer, we had Syncrons and here's what I remember about them.

They came from California new, looked like a small electric shaver with a light tan body and dark grey grill. They were side address cardioids and had a small socket on the lower back for their own power supply. It recharged an internal battery in the mic.

We used a pair of them spaced over the strings on our Marshall grand piano. They were popular with the jazz, and classical pianists. HTH.

compasspnt · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2008, 01:34:32 AM »

Sadly, Doc passed away a couple of years ago, so some of that information may now be lost.

KarlH · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2008, 02:21:14 PM »

Back in the 80s we bought about 8 syncrons and a dozen AKG451s from a local studio. The Syncrons had been modded to run on 48V but still had that annoying connector. A run to the tap and die shop with the mic bases and some Switchcraft XLR bodies and we were in business.

The 2 that I still have are currently kaput, one day working, a month later, nada. Nothing obviously broken and, as the amp is set in some epoxy/ silicon, a pita to get into, so there they sit, superceded by nicer mics.

If I remember right ( from the old r.a.p. usegroup),Dan Kennedy has some info on these.

Karl Hoffmann

TylerMW · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2008, 08:38:06 PM »

Hey All,

In case anyone's interested, Doc's studio still exists in the same location. In 1966 he bought Syncron Sound Studios where they designed, manufactured, and tested the Syncron mics. In 1968, I believe, he changed the name to Trod Nossel Studios which it is still named today.

There's some neat stuff about Doc and Syncron on the current Trod Nossel site: www.trodnossel.com

-Tyler

mark lynch · « **Reply #17 on:** October 30, 2008, 11:54:20 AM »

I have two AU7A's with sequential serial numbers 904 and 905. Both are in immaculate condition. I also have a power supply for them. I have had them in my mic collection since the 60's.

Mark

compasspnt · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2008, 01:04:28 PM »

mark lynch wrote on Thu, 30 October 2008 11:54

I have two AU7A's with sequential serial numbers 904 and 905. Both are in immaculate condition. I also have a power supply for them. I have had them in my mic collection since the 60's.

Mark

Do you use them?

What is your report about the sound?

rodabod · « **Reply #19 on:** November 03, 2008, 02:22:37 PM »

There is some handy information about Syncron mics here which may be a useful technical reference should anyone ever need it:

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30014&

Roddy

star-studios · « **Reply #20 on:** January 14, 2009, 12:52:12 AM »

I have some more information about these mics. It started when I found this site:
www.coutant.org/syncron/index.html

The missing link is John Frechette, a friend of mine, who hand built ALL of the original Syncron AU-7a mics. He estimates that he built about 150-200 of them before he made the deal with Fairchild who took over production.

I met John about 8 years ago and he told me the whole Syncron story. He even showed me all of his test materials he used in the development of the mic.

I am a video producer so I will be interviewing John in a few weeks to document the Syncron story as well as the many other interesting things that he has been involved in.

Sean Thomas
www.Star-Studios.com

star-studios · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2009, 12:55:09 AM »

BTW - he doesn't have any of the mics, His last one was stolen from his studio in LA back in the late 80's.

We are trying to find one so we can hear it, it would also be cool to have it for the video taped interview we do.

If someone has one for sell or know how we could get one, please let me know.

Thanks Again.

Ol'Codger · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:59:45 PM »

The first time I heard the LIVE sound in binaural, I realized the Syncron AU7a was truly amazing. Were it not for erratic battery connections, it would have been perfect.
In case you need to ask, the master tapes are well-kept at ETSU, in the Archives of Appalachia. Google: Collection 1957-1988
BR

daniel · « **Reply #23 on:** April 16, 2009, 09:41:50 PM »

any more info on these mics? i'm wondering if anyone has any documentation for the phantom power modification? i just picked up a pair of these syncrons and really want to get them up and running.
d

Ol'Codger · « **Reply #24 on:** May 27, 2009, 02:11:04 AM »

OK, Daniel...........Did you get them running?
What do you think of the clarity, transparency?

"daniel ...any more info on these mics? i'm wondering if anyone has any documentation for the phantom power modification? i just picked up a pair of these syncrons and really want to get them up and running. "

J. Mike Perkins · « **Reply #25 on:** August 05, 2010, 02:00:44 PM »

According to Richard Podolor of American Recording Company in Los Angeles, where the band Steppenwolf cut their first record, Syncron mics were used on the hit "Born to be Wild"

“Back then, we'd use a Shure 556 on the kick and a Syncron ST — the first solid-state cardoid mic — on the rest of kit. The Syncron ST had a tremendous amount of rejection on the back side so it let us get a great amount of seperation when we were recording a band like Steppenwolf live. We'd put somebody else behind the drums. A total of four or five STs were used on the Steppenwolf sessions — drums, guitars, even vocals.

http://mixonline.com/recording/mixing/audio_steppenwolfs_bor n_wild/

hamradio · « **Reply #26 on:** August 06, 2010, 12:01:43 AM »

I remember the microphone from the advertising flyers I used to receive from a firm called Boynton Pro Audio in upstate NY (I know the name exists today, don't know if it's the same company or not). This would have been when I was in high school in the mid-late 60's. I believe Boynton sold it for around $150 dollars or so. To a very wet behind the ears young "recordist" I thought it was an inexpensive way to get what I believed to be a "professional" quality microphone. I never had the funds back then to find out for myself.

Great thread!

fivestarstudios · « **Reply #27 on:** August 06, 2010, 12:21:41 AM »

Love that swivel on these mics!
Handsome pieces, these

Tim Campbell · « **Reply #28 on:** August 06, 2010, 01:56:53 AM »

Here's a good link about these mics
http://www.coutant.org/syncron/index.html

R/E/P Community

Author Topic: HELP!! Anyone ever seen a Fairchild Syncron AU7A Condenser? (Read 23575 times)