Where to find really cheap, really small condensor mics?

[Sean Conolly]

I have a project that I'm kicking around that needs some small mics - not
more than two inches long, and they need to be cheap since I'll probably
destroy a few along the way. Audio quality isn't a big factor, I just need a
usable response down to ~80 Hz, and a cardoid pattern. No output connector,
just bare wires.

I'm sure there's something like this made in bulk in China, but I have no
idea where to start looking.


Thanks in advance for any ideas,

Sean

[Scott Dorsey]

Sean Conolly > wrote:
>I have a project that I'm kicking around that needs some small mics - not
>more than two inches long, and they need to be cheap since I'll probably
>destroy a few along the way. Audio quality isn't a big factor, I just need a
>usable response down to ~80 Hz, and a cardoid pattern. No output connector,
>just bare wires.
>
>I'm sure there's something like this made in bulk in China, but I have no
>idea where to start looking.

Make your own with the Panasonic capsules.

I did an article in Recording magazine a year or two ago about making
phantom powered mikes using the Panasonic omni capsules. The same
design will work with the cardioids.

You should know that the cardioids aren't really all that cardioid,
in part because the distance between the front and rear venting is
so small compared with a wavelength in air at 100 Hz. Also once you
add a grille, you will change the pattern substantially.

It's WAY easier to make a cheap omni than a cheap cardioid.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Arny Krueger]

"Sean Conolly" > wrote in message

> I have a project that I'm kicking around that needs some
> small mics - not more than two inches long, and they need
> to be cheap since I'll probably destroy a few along the
> way. Audio quality isn't a big factor, I just need a
> usable response down to ~80 Hz, and a cardoid pattern. No
> output connector, just bare wires.
> I'm sure there's something like this made in bulk in
> China, but I have no idea where to start looking.

Panasonic makes a number of very good, very inexpensive eletrct capsules.
They were more readily available in the past.

Knowles Research ( check either Digi Key or Mouser) also has a number of
very small capsules for sale.

There are some WM61 capsules up for auction on the UK ebay.

[Sean Conolly]

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> Sean Conolly > wrote:
>>I have a project that I'm kicking around that needs some small mics - not
>>more than two inches long, and they need to be cheap since I'll probably
>>destroy a few along the way. Audio quality isn't a big factor, I just need
>>a
>>usable response down to ~80 Hz, and a cardoid pattern. No output
>>connector,
>>just bare wires.
>>
>>I'm sure there's something like this made in bulk in China, but I have no
>>idea where to start looking.
>
> Make your own with the Panasonic capsules.
>
> I did an article in Recording magazine a year or two ago about making
> phantom powered mikes using the Panasonic omni capsules. The same
> design will work with the cardioids.
>
> You should know that the cardioids aren't really all that cardioid,
> in part because the distance between the front and rear venting is
> so small compared with a wavelength in air at 100 Hz. Also once you
> add a grille, you will change the pattern substantially.
>
> It's WAY easier to make a cheap omni than a cheap cardioid.

I'm sure it is - and probably sounds better too. I may try both.

Any other sources for these in addition to the ones Arny mentioned? Don't
need individual units, a lot of 10 to 12 would be good.

Thanks again,
Sean

[Sean Conolly]

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
> "Sean Conolly" > wrote in message
>
>> I have a project that I'm kicking around that needs some
>> small mics - not more than two inches long, and they need
>> to be cheap since I'll probably destroy a few along the
>> way. Audio quality isn't a big factor, I just need a
>> usable response down to ~80 Hz, and a cardoid pattern. No
>> output connector, just bare wires.
>> I'm sure there's something like this made in bulk in
>> China, but I have no idea where to start looking.
>
> Panasonic makes a number of very good, very inexpensive eletrct capsules.
> They were more readily available in the past.
>
> Knowles Research ( check either Digi Key or Mouser) also has a number of
> very small capsules for sale.
>
> There are some WM61 capsules up for auction on the UK ebay.

Thanks, Arny. I'll check them out.

Sean

[nebulax]

On Sep 6, 1:12*pm, "Sean Conolly" > wrote:
> "Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > Sean Conolly > wrote:
> >>I have a project that I'm kicking around that needs some small mics - not
> >>more than two inches long, and they need to be cheap since I'll probably
> >>destroy a few along the way. Audio quality isn't a big factor, I just need
> >>a
> >>usable response down to ~80 Hz, and a cardoid pattern. No output
> >>connector,
> >>just bare wires.
>
> >>I'm sure there's something like this made in bulk in China, but I have no
> >>idea where to start looking.
>
> > Make your own with the Panasonic capsules.
>
> > I did an article in Recording magazine a year or two ago about making
> > phantom powered mikes using the Panasonic omni capsules. *The same
> > design will work with the cardioids.
>
> > You should know that the cardioids aren't really all that cardioid,
> > in part because the distance between the front and rear venting is
> > so small compared with a wavelength in air at 100 Hz. *Also once you
> > add a grille, you will change the pattern substantially.
>
> > It's WAY easier to make a cheap omni than a cheap cardioid.
>
> I'm sure it is - and probably sounds better too. I may try both.
>
> Any other sources for these in addition to the ones Arny mentioned? Don't
> need individual units, a lot of 10 to 12 would be good.
>
> Thanks again,
> Sean


If you need some ideas for building DIY mics with the Panasonic
WM-61's, try this site - http://www.christianmusicweb.com/microphones/mic_project.html

-Neb

[Jay Ts]

Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Make your own with the Panasonic capsules.

I did this, based on Scott's article in Recording 8 years
ago, and it works great. Total cost of parts was about $20 for
each microphone, and unless you need a very low self noise from
the mic, you'll be very happy with clarity of the sound.

Last I was aware, Panasonic discontinued the electret capsules
that I used, which had a full 20-20KHz response. Somehow I had
enough sense to buy extras.

> I did an article in Recording magazine a year or two ago about making
> phantom powered mikes using the Panasonic omni capsules. The same
> design will work with the cardioids.

I found it on the Recording website: February 2009. Shows how fast time
is passing nowadays, eh, Scott? :)

The article isn't online, and I expect it's worth it to order a copy from
them. But if you can't, there are some notes on using electret mics here:

http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/microphone_powering.html

Jay Ts
--
To contact me, use this web page:
http://www.jayts.com/contact.php

[Scott Dorsey]

Sean Conolly > wrote:
>
>Any other sources for these in addition to the ones Arny mentioned? Don't
>need individual units, a lot of 10 to 12 would be good.

Lots of companies make them. Buy the Panasonics.

Most of the Chinese capsules from outfits like Horn are badly-done copies
of the Panasonic design. Some are better done than others.

The Knowles capsules are a different design. They are substantially
higher quality, and also five to ten times as much.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[nebulax]

On Sep 6, 3:33*pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Sean Conolly > wrote:
>
> >Any other sources for these in addition to the ones Arny mentioned? Don't
> >need individual units, a lot of 10 to 12 would be good.
>
> Lots of companies make them. *Buy the Panasonics.
>
> Most of the Chinese capsules from outfits like Horn are badly-done copies
> of the Panasonic design. *Some are better done than others.
>
> The Knowles capsules are a different design. *They are substantially
> higher quality, and also five to ten times as much.
> --scott



Did I also read that the omni Earthworks mics are built around a
Panasonic capsule? I wouldn't expect a home-brew mic project to sound
like an Earthworks, but it's nice to know you're starting out with
some of the same building blocks.

-Neb

[Scott Dorsey]

nebulax > wrote:
>
>Did I also read that the omni Earthworks mics are built around a
>Panasonic capsule? I wouldn't expect a home-brew mic project to sound
>like an Earthworks, but it's nice to know you're starting out with
>some of the same building blocks.

Some of them are, but it's not the same capsule that you can get at
Digi-Key. It's mechanically very close, but the integral FET and the
way it's pinned out in back is very different.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[[email protected]]

(Scott Dorsey) writes:

> nebulax > wrote:
> >
> >Did I also read that the omni Earthworks mics are built around a
> >Panasonic capsule? I wouldn't expect a home-brew mic project to sound
> >like an Earthworks, but it's nice to know you're starting out with
> >some of the same building blocks.
>
> Some of them are, but it's not the same capsule that you can get at
> Digi-Key. It's mechanically very close, but the integral FET and the
> way it's pinned out in back is very different.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

I'd like to know what capsule the Earthworks cardioids use. I doubt this is a
Panasonic, but it must be available somewhere.

Richard

[drichard]

Hi Sean,

I'm not sure if there's anything here that meets your needs, but it is
probably worth your time to take a look around.

http://www.naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html

Dean


On Sep 6, 11:35*am, "Sean Conolly" > wrote:
> I have a project that I'm kicking around that needs some small mics - not
> more than two inches long, and they need to be cheap since I'll probably
> destroy a few along the way. Audio quality isn't a big factor, I just need a
> usable response down to ~80 Hz, and a cardoid pattern. No output connector,
> just bare wires.
>
> I'm sure there's something like this made in bulk in China, but I have no
> idea where to start looking.
>
> Thanks in advance for any ideas,
>
> Sean

[Arny Krueger]

> wrote in message

> (Scott Dorsey) writes:
>
>> nebulax > wrote:
>>>
>>> Did I also read that the omni Earthworks mics are built
>>> around a Panasonic capsule? I wouldn't expect a
>>> home-brew mic project to sound like an Earthworks, but
>>> it's nice to know you're starting out with some of the
>>> same building blocks.
>>
>> Some of them are, but it's not the same capsule that you
>> can get at Digi-Key. It's mechanically very close, but
>> the integral FET and the way it's pinned out in back is
>> very different. --scott

> I'd like to know what capsule the Earthworks cardioids
> use.

Probably not an off-the-shelf, stock design.

> I doubt this is a Panasonic, but it must be
> available somewhere.

Call Earthworks! ;-)

[Richard Crowley]

drichard wrote:
> Hi Sean,
>
> I'm not sure if there's anything here that meets your needs, but it is
> probably worth your time to take a look around.
>
> http://www.naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html

I was going to recommend them, but they seem to have migrated
"up market" and no longer sell the inexpensive, almost "disposable"
models. Too bad.