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2. Re: Best way to build simply DIY stereo mics.

Subject: 2. Re: Best way to build simply DIY stereo mics.
From: "Paul Willison" wolfen49508
Date: Sat May 5, 2012 6:52 pm ((PDT))
The way the reply was written, every indication was that it was attached to=
 an RCA plug so as to make the mic's detachable(in the same sense that norm=
ally, one has the ability with professional mic's from the main cable). =A0=
 That said...I'm leaning toward a straight up test, build a set attached to=
 RCA's and one direct to the cables. =A0 =A0What really threw me with the p=
ost on that other list was the reference to "gluing". =A0 I have no idea wh=
at he meant by that, if he was actually using glue in some way to connect t=
he wires(obviously after twisting together).
The cables I have used so far are split "shielded" 3.5 to duo RCA's, purcha=
sed from either Radio Shack or Guitar center. =A0Price was about the same, =
and honestly the overall quality of components(such as gold plated plugs vs=
 steel/nickle) appears better on the radio shack ones....but I don't know i=
f there is any real world difference. =A0 The cables are rather thick, much=
 more so than ear bud or headphone cables(which is normally what DIY's onli=
ne have indicated they use for mic's...which didn't seem to make much sense=
 to me!), so I assume they are shielded. =A0 I have a mic built by a guy ou=
t of Canada(Church Audio) and the cables on the RCA unit's I mentioned are =
again, 2-3 times heavier then those. =A0Since I've not cut one yet, I don't=
 know if they are wrapped with woven shielding, but I'm assuming that's lik=
ely the case. =A0I'm hoping those are shielded well enough to avoid the kin=
d of problems you =A0had(I do recall that thread, and followed it as it
 did pertain to what I'm doing as well). =A0=A0


From: Peter Shute <>
To: "" <>=

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 12:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Best way to build simply DIY stereo mics.


=A0
Perhaps they're just using the RCA shells as a handy cover for the capsule.=
 I just measured one at about 8 or 9mm across. I know the EM172s are about =
Message: 12.
Subject: 5 across in their rubber covers, so I would have thought they'd be 
bigge=
r than 9 without them, but maybe not.

Otherwise I'm not sure what it can achieve.

If you can twist the pre attached wires to your cable then it should be qui=
te safe to solder them as well. It's only when you get close to the capsule=
 that you need to be quick.

You need to be very careful not to put any strain on the pre attached wires=
, as they're thin and can break off. I had to take the plunge and re solder=
 one of mine.

I initially used a cheap 3.5mm-3.5mm cable I had lying around after cutting=
 one plug off, but found that it wasn't well shielded. I started a thread a=
 while back to try to work out why I was getting bands of harmonics on my s=
pectrograms. The source was the Sony M10's display, made very obvious becau=
se I initially had it too close to the mics.

But even a metre away, the bands were still faintly visible. After I replac=
ed it with thick braided cable and plugs with metal shells, it was fixed. I=
 suspect the interference may have been entering the cable near the plug at=
 the recorder end, or maybe even via the probably unshielded wires inside t=
he plug itself.

Peter Shute


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