While I have been used to modifying and fabricating dynamic capsules, condensers, and ribbon motors to tyre iron them in.
Between labour costs and machine time for the fabrication, made them one off pieces and not really that cost effective, and even on occasion sacrificing a perfectly good microphone as a donor.
Which brought me to the question - if only someone could produce an off the shelf kit ?
A way of redeeming these iconic looking mics and getting them to sound as great as they look without costing the earth.
The Basic Kit
1- 1" Ribbon Motor - fitted with a 1.8micron thick 99% pure aluminum - rca style corrugated
1- 1:34 Ribbon Microphone Transformer
£100 g.b.p [plus shipping
- coupled together create a microphone with output impedance of 600 ohms
alternate wiring options - build your mic, your way
Parts bespoke to microphone shell
- Keeping stress /drilling gluing to a minimum / to get the best results by optium parts positioning
motor mount - to hold that ribbon motor safley
Kits currently available
Mini Rca looking Pill microphone
badged Kent / Eagle / Realistic / Crown / Argonne and manny many more
Centralised and symmetrical [full fig 8] pick up pattern
The original grill works well ; in functionality acousicaly
Turns the mic from a 'look alike' to a sound alike!
Kit Includes
1 - 1" Ribbon Motor
1 - ni34 transformer
1 - ribbon mount holder [included screw bolts to fix motor to the mount]
£130 gbp [plus shipping]
Fitting time around 60 to 90 minutes [soldering experience necessary] ; not supplied mic cable or xlr plug , motor mount is designed to be fixed via existing holes and screws in the original mic - so no need for damage [or modification] to the shell
Realistic 33-999 – Aret DM120
The ribbon motor and mount sit well secured in the top half of the head and gives the mic a true figure 8 pattern. Along with this the transformer is secured adequate distance away from the motor and mounted 90 degrees off axis of the magnetic field. The combo creates a microphone that sound like it belongs. The fine holed grill is usable and functional and ideal even for close mic'ing.
Kit Includes
1 - 1" Ribbon Motor
1 - ni34 transformer
1 - ribbon mount holder [included screw bolts to fix motor to the mount]
1 - transformer locator
£130 gpb [plus shipping]
Fitting time around 60 to 90 minutes [soldering experience necessary] ; not supplied mic cable or xlr plug , motor mount is designed to be fixed via existing holes and screws in the original mic - so no need for damage [or modification] to the shell
Calrad DM-16 [chrome 50's style]
Cardioid pick up patern ; ribbon motor mount has custom designed rear acoustic labyrinth to deal with rear axis rejection.
With zero compromise to higher mid's / high frequency’s as the motor still maintains good [short distance] front to back distance. Keeping a fairly high set roll off frequency, so no need to artificially boost within the transformer [like some very will known cardioid ribbon mics available]
conjunction with this the Transformer is held in a good location ; as far away from the ribbon motor as is possible within the mic shell – keeping magnetic interference at a minimum
if a Beyer m260 and a Shure 330 had a child ; it would grow up wanting to be this mic!
kit incudes :
1 - 1" Ribbon Motor
1 - ni34 transformer
1 - ribbon mount holder [included screw bolts to fix motor to the mount] / acoustic labyrinth
£140 gbp [plus shipping]
With all the above 'kits' - support via email /phone available & if needed xlr plugs and cables
