If only two mics... ?

[micolas]

I avoid to go outside in winter...

And with the sea breeze, in the summer, how do you solve it?

 

[pmfalcman]

I avoid to go outside in winter...

Understandable and wise.

It was in summer. Indoors.
Checkmate!

 

[Emmathom]

Let me go on with the PUI5024 electret project for a short while : if needed and asked for, I'll open a dedicated thread.

So first test in front of the Line Audio Omni1 and here are my first comments :

- PUI5024 has much gain, huge gain, too much gain really !!! Plugged in my (poor little) Edirol UA-EX25 USB powered the gain is almost set to 0. Let's imagine the gain pot going from 7AM (0 gain) to 7PM (full gain) : the Line Audio's gain is set at 2PM (a "normal" setting) while the PUI's one is set at 8AM !!! I must and will replace the 83KΩ resistor by 120KΩ or 150KΩ (150KΩ as I put at first time and which gave me almost the same gain as now but with gain pot set to 11AM)

- PUI5024 is much more sibilant (and that begins to raise from the mids) than LA... but with some EQ I finally get the sound very close to the Line Audio. This EQ (see attached) is a low-pass -4dB from 1800Hz

I guess this first comparative test between the two mics (spoken voice only) has been done fast just to check and does not deserve to be posted here. I'll do some voiceover + acoustic guitar recordings and post the samples asap...

 

[Emmathom]

@pmfalcman don't you have same frequency response issue with your PUI5024 ? The link you gave me leads to a discussion about the mechanical aspects, not the electronics' one nor sounding...

How does your mics sound ? what is their frequency response ?

I thought I will maybe reduce the mid-to-highs-bump by reducing the gain ? (150KΩ instead of 83KΩ which is installed now)
Anyway I've got way too much output level as it is set now.

Or maybe this (cheap capsule) has this inner default...

 

[pmfalcman]

I cannot tell, I've no means to measure the FR. Well, I do have the hardware and software for this (sort of) and could've tried my hand at it but my cats really hated it when I did the sweeps once ..
Panic at the disco, you might say.

All I can tell is that these capsules always gave me a sense of "noise". Some call it "very open", I guess. I realised after some time that this is the higher frequencies ambient sound. I always record outside, mind you. There's usually some wind, even very slight, leaves o moving, rustling. These capsules catch it all. Tiniest sounds.
Your test confirms my auditory feelings in a way.

Another thing I noticed is their rather poor resolution as compared to CM-60/63, for example.
When recording rain or wind, with Takstars I can hear droplets falling or leaves rustling. Recognisable sounds.
With 5024s I hear a kind of white noise.
Scientifically speaking: shhhhhhhh instead of pac-pac-pac-pac.

I'm much happier with my OPIC mics now (yes, yes - I know: 25 mm cardioid vs 10 mm omni capsule).

 

[k brown]

It's really hard to do better than the Promo EM273 (or 272, if you must use a 2-wire capsule), in small electret omnis that have built-in FETs.

It's the capsule that Line Audio mods for use in the Omni1.

https://micbooster.com/microphone-c..._2_4_matched_capsules-single/99-type-no_wires

 

[Emmathom]

Ok "messieurs" thank you for your answers : I would have tried... but the result is far from being unusable nor ridiculous.

I noticed something by manipulating the mic : the sound is more balanced 90° off axis than in axis. Speaking straight to the capsule (a foot away or so) brings unpleasant highs, which is strange to me for an omni mic which is supposed to take all around itself with no difference. Speaking to the mic (set vertically a foot away) but its capsule at the height of my nose instead of my chin gives far way better result....

I also noticed that the level decreases faster than Line Audio the more you move the mic away. It makes me think that this huge output level at 1 foot away could be regular with the mic set 6 or 7 feet away...

So maybe observing these two parameters (distance + capsule angle) make the mic much more usable than I think (I was hoping to use this mic as I do with Line Audio > musical acoustic ensembles live recording)

I have to do real tests in conditions, not the ones I did in a hurry at my desk while holding on the mic in my hand... I'll begin by recording some acoustic guitar in my dining room, 4 or 5 feet away, hand claps, singing, etc... with the Line Audio on a second track.

To @k brown : I could be interested in building the same kind of DIY mic but with the Primo EM273 and I suppose I can refer to Ulli's circuitry... ? For EM272 I guess the circuitry is much simple... as it is for the PUI5024