braeden's MK47 Build

Hello GroupDIY! I'll try and keep the intro short.

I'll be building 2 of ioaudio's MK47's
I've needed two nice microphones for a while now and so the MK47 seemed to be the best option for me.

I have never built a microphone before so this will be a bit of a learning curve.

Here's a list of the things I've ordered so far (I live in Australia so things may take a while to get here)
I'll try and update these things and fill you in on the costs where I can, I think I'll get really depressed when I finally realise the total cost :

I got a 20% off promotional code from Front Panel Express, the code is IOWAN7WU (quote this code in your shopping basket) first in best dressed, If you use the code PM me please

PSU

• Galaxy Maggiorato GX283 (230x230mm) (modushop.biz) (Received 30th January 2013)
• Front Panel Express Front & Rear Custom Panels (Ordered 22nd January 2013)
• Binder 691 Series Connectors & Sockets (Received 30th January 2013)
• 8 metres of Gotham GAC-7 Cable (Received 4th February 2013)
• All electronic components for MK47 PSU PCB by zayance (mouser.com) (Received 29th January 2013)
  http://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=6b8e5a5d8e
  
• PSU PCB from zayance (Received 4th February 2013)

Microphone

• 2 x EQU-47 Body Tube
• 2 x Beesneez K7 (haven't ordered yet, is it worth the waiting time?)
• 2 x Thiersch M7 Blueline + STS7 58mm Mount
• 2 x Microphone Badges engraved by Prodigy Laser Engraving (http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=43688) (Shipped 2nd February 2013)

Thanks for looking!

Braeden

I'll definitely be following on here with interest - especially as I'm also in Oz [in Melb] and we seem to face our own special challenges with sourcing parts here, don't we..


Figure it's worth sharing my experiences so far in this department in case it's helpful for you..

I got the Mogami '3172' specialised tube mic cable from Serge at AudioOz in Melbourne.
It took some months for him to get in, but eventually it came, and he may still have some of it in stock. 
It was about $9 p/m, so it cost me quite a bit for the two mic's that I'm building. 
I'm hoping this stuff is worth the big bucks!

I believe you can get the Gotham stuff direct from Switzerland with some reasonable shipping, but I can't quite remember what were the figures.

You can get another equivalent, the Belden '8426', from Factory Sound in Melbourne, I believe.

Mmm, what else..

You're at a good time now to buy the Equinox bodies because those BINDER connectors are a biatch to get here, and they are currently offered together with the bodies, I think.  So grab them while you can!

What capsules will you use?
I have an Equinox capsule, and a Dale M7 style capsule from Cathedral Pipes.  I think I'll just try each of them and see which I prefer in the end.
(The second I plan to use in my follow up U47 style build, which I will most likely base on the AMI EF800 tube circuit).

Hey mate,
Glad to see you're stuck in the same boat as I am.

I've already ordered some Gotham Audio GAC-7 from Redco. It cost about $2.00 a foot but apparently it's one of the better cables out there.

As for the capsule, I believe I'll be using a Beesneez K7 capsule. I have heard quite a bit about them so they might be worth the long waiting period (they estimate 6-8 weeks lead time at the moment).

Here's to ridiculous shipping costs from multiple overseas suppliers!

Are you planning on using 8m/cable or 4m/cable? In the States, it is recommended to use no more than 15 ft. of tube mic cable between the mic and power supply. That is a little over 4.5 meters on your side of the planet. My intent is to help save some money on cabling/international shipping.
If you already bought too much, don't worry. You'll find other mics to build up using that cable, and you won't have to wait for it to arrive next time...

-James-

Hi James,
I'll be using 3 metres of cable per microphone, I factored in a few more feet for error 8)

Thanks for the suggestion!
Braeden

I think I have almost 6m of cable per mic.. hmm.
Maybe coulda skimped a bit and saved some bucks by the sound of it!

Check if your frontpanel markings for omni and cardioid have the right spacing. Most rotary switches will have a switching angle of 30° and not 90° as required in your drawing.

Majestic12 said:

Check if your frontpanel markings for omni and cardioid have the right spacing. Most rotary switches will have a switching angle of 30° and not 90° as required in your drawing.

Click to expand...

Yeah the rotary switch is definitely 90 degrees, you had me worried for a second then, heh.

Well I waited the whole day to receive this package from Mouser. The FedEx guy arrived at around 3:30 in the afternoon, I half-assed my signature on his tablet (I don't even know why they bother using this as a method of delivery confirmation, those pens are too slow to keep up with my signature). Anyway! This is what arrived.

A box!



All of the parts out of the box, much to my annoyance, I've ordered the wrong electrolytic caps. They're axial instead of radial. I don't particularly want to use these as they'll just look messy. So I'm sending them back and I've ordered some Panasonic radial caps from Farnell (who absolutely suck and charge a fortune for everything).



I don't know what it is about transformers, but they're always the best part to take out of the box. The two Triad boxes are the choke and the power supply transformers.
I'm building two PSU's so obviously I doubled everything.



Just waiting on zayance's PSU PCB, the radials, the front panels I designed and the enclosures and I'll be set.

By the way, I got a Front Panel Express promotional code in the mail. It's 20% off your first order, so please use it, cause it means I get 20% off my next order too ;-)
(The code is at the top of the first post)

Another courier arrives, more boxes...

One from Binder and one from Modushop, both packaged nicely. I still can't believe 4 connectors can cost $200 all up (Binder 691 series).

In other news, my EQU-47 bodies have been delayed. Here's why (for anyone that's interested)
The message is from Eric at Equinox Systems, who apologised for the delay.

I am unfortunately still resolving unexpected finish imperfections on the mic body. I have had the extruded mic body tubes and endcaps reblasted to reduce streaking introduced during the anodization process and some of the parts returned from refinishing with scratches and surface imperfections, so I am having the flawed parts reblasted once again.

Due to the reworks and finish imperfections, I must revise my original goal of having parts ship out within 10 days from opening orders as I originally planned.

Click to expand...

Anyway, hopefully everyone receives their EQU-47 bodies soon... but until then here are some pictures.



And here are the Binder 691 series connectors, behind them is the Modushop GX283 case (230mm x 230mm x 80mm).



That's all folks! ;-)

Braeden

Just seeing the lovely australian summer daylight in your pictures is a pure joy - can't wait until the mics are starting to come together as well!