BM800 capsule mod

[amir hossain]

In terms of options, I'm looking at the Behringer UMC204HD, which seems to be a pretty decent budget interface based on the videos I've watched, although there's definitely less online commotion about them compared to Scarletts. It seems to have a decent set of features, and it has two XLR inputs which is nice. It's as cheap as a 3rd gen Solo off Amazon.

I'm assuming this is probably difficult, but are there BM800/BM700/U87 clones with serviceable mic circuits (I know, I'm probably being picky about this)? Seems like the CM25 would have been a clean capsule swap over, but the BM800s sometimes have dud circuits inside?
Either way, I think I'm set on the UMC204HD at least.

Quick edit: if anyone knows, would this work at all? I initially discarded it thinking I wouldn't need phantom power, but if I do need 48V, would this work? https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006443484735.html

Get yourself an audio interface or learn about how things work first.

 

[Technotech]

Get yourself an audio interface or learn about how things work first.

I will certainly do that, but at the moment I have nothing to use it with.

 

[pmfalcman]

would this work? https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006443484735.html

Pick most probable answer
A. Yes
B. No
C. Maybe
D. Bloody noisy
E. All of the above

 

[Khron]

Pick most probable answer
A. Yes
B. No
C. Maybe
D. Bloody noisy
E. All of the above

That completely depends on how we define the concept of "to work"...

 

[zawad_tahmid]

That completely depends on how we define the concept of "to work"..

It has to be super clean, no noise with true condenser capabilities, real time monitoring (with negative millisecond mark) and very power efficient that the ic will power itself from thin air.

 

[Technotech]

It has to be super clean, no noise with true condenser capabilities, real time monitoring (with negative millisecond mark) and very power efficient that the ic will power itself from thin air.

You got it!
Anyway, clearly I was not prepared to make one of these in the beginning, but I do still want to make one.

learn about how things work first.

Doing my best! I think I might try and find a donor 'setup' instead of donor body, although if it needs an extra cap like in audioimprov's blog posts, I'll have no idea where to put it.

If you're into headphones as well, I'm still too overjoyed at the KSC75 and though I'd run into something similar here when I saw the JLI 2555.

Pick most probable answer

E (I'm guessing the only way is to try it). Anyhow, I'll still with a 25/26mm capsule, since they seem to be more tested. The first mic build doesn't have to be absolutely perfect; it's seeming to me like the amp is more important since I wouldn't want it to introduce any more noise, or be clunky.

 

[pmfalcman]

That completely depends on how we define the concept of "to work"...

In goes sound, out goes useable electrical signal.
Let's not get too wild with expectations.

 

[pmfalcman]

E (I'm guessing the only way is to try it).

Someone did try. Where from I got this list's idea?

 

[Technotech]

Someone did try. Where from I got this list's idea?

Is there a link to that thread (am I missing something here)? I don't think I've seen it.

 

[pmfalcman]

Is there a link to that thread (am I missing something here)? I don't think I've seen it.

Sorry. Can't remember at the moment (read: at all) who and where. I read a lot but my brain maintains stubbornly that "who & where" is not the info that deserves to be remembered. "What" is relevant. Other details - not so much (read: at all).

There are black and red (pcb) circuits at Ali. Someone bought them and tried.
In short - lousy stuff.

Spend a bit more and buy or build a tried and good circuit (OPIC or OpAmpAlice - they're really simple to build and inexpensive) instead of blindly trying random stuff.
Comes out cheaper and better.

Read with understanding what people wrote here about (electret) capsules instead of reaching out in totally different direction(s) and going "maybe this or maybe that".

There's a long and info laden thread on these (various) capsules
https://groupdiy.com/threads/new-ish-electret-capsule.76460/
Read it.
Carefully.
Three times. (I did).
Or four. For good measure. (Never hurts)

BTW - five is such a nice number. Just saying. No reason at all.

And quoted threads as well.
Draw conclusions.
Have fun.

 

[k brown]

Sorry. Can't remember at the moment (read: at all) who and where. I read a lot but my brain maintains stubbornly that "who & where" is not the info that deserves to be remembered. "What" is relevant. Other details - not so much (read: at all).

There are black and red (pcb) circuits at Ali. Someone bought them and tried.
In short - lousy stuff.

Spend a bit more and buy or build a tried and good circuit (OPIC or OpAmpAlice - they're really simple to build and inexpensive) instead of blindly trying random stuff.
Comes out cheaper and better.

Read with understanding what people wrote here about (electret) capsules instead of reaching out in totally different direction(s) and going "maybe this or maybe that".

There's a long and info laden thread on these (various) capsules
https://groupdiy.com/threads/new-ish-electret-capsule.76460/
Read it.
Carefully.
Three times. (I did).
Or four. For good measure. (Never hurts)

BTW - five is such a nice number. Just saying. No reason at all.

And quoted threads as well.
Draw conclusions.
Have fun.

You left out one 'right of passage' - burning out at least one IC or transistor to 'let out the magic smoke'; a fragrance you'll never forget.

 

[pmfalcman]

You left out one 'right* of passage' - burning out at least one IC or transistor to 'let out the magic smoke'; a fragrance you'll never forget.

Awful me! What a shame! Sorry. Won't happen again**


-----
*) rite

**) Not in this thread anyway

 

[mhelin]

In terms of options, I'm looking at the B...
Either way, I think I'm set on the UMC204HD at least.

Check out that Evo 4 first, 204 in one of the worst current audio interfaces.

 

[Technotech]

In short - lousy stuff.

Oh well, I guess not everything on aliexpress is a massive hit .

There's a long and info laden thread on these (various) capsules
https://groupdiy.com/threads/new-ish-electret-capsule.76460/

Seems like the eBay listings for the 2nd capsule without a screen are gone and the newer aliexpress link is out of stock. I was going to order the first electret capsule in that thread, the 2555 clone I found, and the second electret capsule in that thread, but I might just keep it simple and get only the first one, it's the cheapest of the three anyway.

Spend a bit more and buy or build a tried and good circuit (OPIC or OpAmpAlice - they're really simple to build and inexpensive) instead of blindly trying random stuff.

I get what you're saying, but I'd probably end up soldering the components to the PCB myself, since assembly fee costs a somewhat significant amount. I don't quite feel up to that task just yet. Maybe it sounds counter intuitive, but would it work fine if I just replaced the capsule first, and used the audio interface amp to make the difference?
Side-note: the Behringer XM8500 gets some decent praise for its price. I've found a cheap used one, but I haven't seen any capsule change posts online. Does anyone know if the board inside is any good?

Check out that Evo 4 first, 204 in one of the worst current audio interfaces.

I've read that Behringer has had a history of meh/not so good products, but their UMC204HD seems relatively highly regarded these days in terms of budget offerings. The UMC204HD is the same price as the Scarlett Solo as well. It seems like the Evo 4 has better audio quality than the UMC204HD, but I'm not really a fan of the interface to be honest.

I feel like after a lot of reading of blog posts, and Youtube videos, I still don't know a lot

 

[mhelin]

Side-note: the Behringer XM8500 gets some decent praise for its price. I've found a cheap used one, but I haven't seen any capsule change posts online. Does anyone know if the board inside is any good?

That's a dynamic mic which doesn't sound any good compared to SM58.

I've read that Behringer has had a history of meh/not so good products, but their UMC204HD seems relatively highly regarded these days in terms of budget offerings. The UMC204HD is the same price as the Scarlett Solo as well. It seems like the Evo 4 has better audio quality than the UMC204HD, but I'm not really a fan of the interface to be honest.

I feel like after a lot of reading of blog posts, and Youtube videos, I still don't know a lot

You can find some measurements of UMC204HD here:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ringer-umc204-hd-audio-interface-review.9856/

The recording quality seems to be ok (Audient EVO interface though has quite a bit better SNR and everything), but the DAC output clips early because of too low Vcc used for the audio codec as you see in the measurements. Also the headphone output is really poor.

 

[Technotech]

Has anyone bought and opened one of these? https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007316631896.html
One of the photos is a table showing the sizes of mics. Wouldn't there be no point in switching out the capsule in this one? It looks pretty similar to the independent capsule listing.

 

[rock soderstrom]

Has anyone bought and opened one of these? https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007316631896.html
One of the photos is a table showing the sizes of mics. Wouldn't there be no point in switching out the capsule in this one? It looks pretty similar to the independent capsule listing.

Can you please take a screenshot of the Ali offers you are talking about in this thread? They are all geo blocked in parts of Europe, we can't see what you are talking about. Thanks.

 

[Technotech]

Can you please take a screenshot of the Ali offers you are talking about in this thread? They are all geo blocked in parts of Europe, we can't see what you are talking about. Thanks.

Oops, wasn't aware of that!


The price shows as 27 dollars, down from almost $80, but when I add it to the cart without applying the welcome deal, it sits at $40 (AUD).
The two sizes are 26MM and 34MM, which line up with the independent listings elsewhere on aliexpress, which is why I'm curious.

Originally, I had posted a link to a different mic, which had a comparison image that looks like this:







I'm mainly interested in if this seems like a hidden gem, or like hidden junk.

 

[pmfalcman]

Seems like the eBay listings for the 2nd capsule without a screen are gone and the newer aliexpress link is out of stock. I was going to order the first electret capsule in that thread, the 2555 clone I found, and the second electret capsule in that thread, but I might just keep it simple and get only the first one, it's the cheapest of the three anyway.

Two minutes on Ali aaannnddd...

https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005004398113424.html

True, it went up in price but still relatively inexpensive.

The "original" meshed (and praised by @kingkorg ) one is widely and readily available and very cheap.
There's also a nice "blue back" I linked in my thread which was highly rated by @pasarski and several others. Also cheap.

 

[pmfalcman]

So that would be this mic, the chinese TLM-103

https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005007074219487.html

This link shouldn't be geoblocked at least for Europe.

I hope.