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Author Topic: How To make Your Own Condenser Mic  (Read 41733 times)

argibbo

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How To make Your Own Condenser Mic
« on: October 07, 2009, 05:39:11 PM »

Hi Chaps

I'm making my own large capsule condenser mic. It's a one off project for my own use. I won't be going into manufacturing or re-skinning capsules! I have already made the body (pic attached) and am now starting work on the capsule. I intend to make a 1" edge terminated dual diaphragm unit similar to the classic AKG. Once done I can proceed onto the all valve (tube) electronics and PSU.

I'm stuck for gold sputtered mylar film (3 micron?) to use. Please can anyone suggest a source or supply me with some to use. I'm happy to pay. As I said this is not a commercial venture just a hand made mic for use in my own personal studio. I have no wish to step on anyone's toes. This is for my own enlightenment and pleasure only.

Also, is there a reference book regarding mic construction I can buy? It would help me to understand better what I'm trying to do.

If you can help please reply.

Kind regards
Andy
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Analogue rules.

Mike Cleaver

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2009, 06:32:57 PM »

I'm pretty sure most capsule manufacturers simply buy the plastic substrate and sputter the gold themselves.
I've never heard of any for sale "pre-sputtered."
Some of the better known "do it yourselfers" who post here may help you with this
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compasspnt

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2009, 06:52:07 PM »

Indeed, the microphone companies/capsule manufacturers I have been inside had large, very expensive gold sputtering machinery/paraphernalia.

None would ever allow even one photograph to be taken of theirs.

Maybe someone sells it though.


Alternatively, there's always this...

index.php/fa/13462/0/

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Klaus Heyne

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2009, 10:33:30 PM »

...but first, you would need this:
index.php/fa/13463/0/
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Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com

Klaus Heyne

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2009, 12:46:37 AM »

Of course, then you'll need this:
index.php/fa/13465/0/
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Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com

Klaus Heyne

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2009, 12:49:59 AM »

...soon you'll also need this:
index.php/fa/13466/0/
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Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com

Klaus Heyne

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2009, 12:53:01 AM »

...and just in case you went too far, you'll need this:
index.php/fa/13467/0/
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Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com

Klaus Heyne

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2009, 01:00:03 AM »

..but if things don't work out, and you get lots of complaints, you'll need this:
(had to remove the picture of a sports plane, due to the copyright holder's concerns

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Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com

Klaus Heyne

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Re: Gold Sputtered Mylar
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2009, 01:01:52 AM »

... in order to permanently relocate here:

index.php/fa/13469/0/
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Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com

nob turner

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Re: How To make Your Own Condenser Mic
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2009, 02:12:14 AM »

i think we now have proof that the economy has hit rock-bottom: klaus has too much time on his hands!
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Klaus Heyne

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Re: How To make Your Own Condenser Mic
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2009, 02:30:53 AM »

Every schlepp needs a break once in a while. You don't want me to end up here again, do you?:

index.php/fa/13470/0/

(That's me, on the left, during my first stay)
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Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com

argibbo

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Re: How To make Your Own Condenser Mic
« Reply #11 on: October 08, 2009, 03:31:16 AM »

I'll be the patient next to Klaus by the time I find some mylar!

Gold paint? No problem,
oven?  use it for baking Ampex 456 & PEM468,no prob
plain mylar? no prob,
One of those wooden things women use for embroidery but we use covered in tights as a pop filter? no prob. Got one though can't remember if I fancied the girl whose tights we tore off!.
piston engined plane? bloke at work's got one - no prob,
Uruguay, well, not my first choice of holiday...

but..

A HAIRDRYER? I've not seen one of them for ages. My hair left about the same time as my first wife! Guess which one I miss?

Come on, someone's got some. Please?

Andy, un-sputtered.
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Tim Campbell

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Re: How To make Your Own Condenser Mic
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2009, 06:11:45 AM »

Since this is your first attempt at building a capsule don't waste hard to aquire gold sputtered mylar. Simply us aluminum metalized 6 micron mylar from a capacitor.

There are a lot of processes to learn before worrying about the quality of the film.
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Campbell Transmitter
www.timcampbell.dk

Fletcher

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Re: How To make Your Own Condenser Mic
« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2009, 07:20:26 AM »

Klaus, what mental institution would you recommend from personal experience?  

I have a feeling I'm going to need one in the very near future and am looking for expert 1st hand opinions.
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

johnR

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Re: How To make Your Own Condenser Mic
« Reply #14 on: October 08, 2009, 08:10:32 AM »

Andy, there's a lot of interesting stuff here on DIY mic building, including DIY gold evaporation equipment:
http://www.10000cows.com/diyaudio.htm
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