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DIY Electric Condenser Microphones

Traditional condenser microphones can offer superior detail and sonic fidelity to music recordings, but can be expensive devices prices out of reach for many recording enthusiasts. Many available microphone circuits and schematics are also complex and require costly assembly equipment and testing tools, placing the construction of a condenser microphone even further out of reach. A DIY electric condenser microphone can be made, however with a small parts count and a very inexpensive bill of materials.

Things You'll Need

  • Electronics project enclosure
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Fine tip marker
  • Drill
  • Drill bits
  • WM-61a Panasonic microphone cartridge
  • Super glue
  • XLR male chassis mount audio connector
  • 10uF metalized poly capacitor
  • 2.2k ohm metal film resistor
  • 1000 pF ceramic disc capacitor
  • Low wattage soldering iron
  • Electronics solder
  • Wire clippers
  • Wire strippers
  • Hookup wire
  • 9-volt battery clip
  • 9-volt battery
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Instructions

  1. Prepare the Electronics Enclosure

    • 1

      Open the electronics enclosure with the Phillips screwdriver, revealing its interior. Mark the center of each end of the enclosure with the fine tip marker.

    • 2

      Drill one hole at each marked location with the drill and drill bits, one matching the diameter of the WM-61a Panasonic microphone cartridge and the other matching the diameter of the XLR male chassis mount audio connector.

    • 3

      Install the WM-61a Panasonic microphone cartridge into the project enclosure with one drop of super glue.

    • 4

      Install the XLR male chassis mount audio connector into the project enclosure with the included mounting screws and Phillips screwdriver.

    Wiring the Electronics

    • 5

      Connect the WM-61a Panasonic microphone cartridge's ground solder tab with the 1000 pF ceramic disc capacitor, 10uF metalized poly capacitor and 2.2k ohm metal film resistor in parallel using the low wattage soldering iron, electronics solder and wire clippers. Be sure to use a low heat setting on the soldering iron to avoid damage to the microphone cartridge.

    • 6

      Connect the microphone cartridge's output solder tab to the 9-volt battery clip's positive lead, the 1000 pF ceramic disc capacitor and the XLR male chassis mount audio connector's third pin in parallel using the soldering iron, electronics solder, wire clippers, wire strippers and hookup wire.

    • 7

      Solder the unterminated end of the 2.2k ohm metal film resistor to the 9-volt battery clip's negative lead wire.

    • 8

      Solder the unterminated end of the 10uF metalized poly capacitor to the XLR male chassis mount audio connector's second pin.

    • 9

      Connect the 9-volt battery to the 9-volt battery clip. Close the electronic project enclosure with the included screws and Phillips screwdriver.

Recording Music

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