The microphone capsule photo and information thread

[terry setter]

Has anyone tried the BV-08 clone transformer that also shows up on the Alibab page cited above (https://m.alibaba.com/x/Axe1yZ?ck=pdp) ?

 

[Biffel]

I am still searching the name and manufacturer of this capsule:

View attachment 133714View attachment 133715View attachment 133717View attachment 133716
*bought on ebay, Nov. 2023 for 22,99€

Rayking

 

[rock soderstrom]

Rayking

Hey, thanks!

 

[soliloqueen]

"rayking" is just a backronym from RK (Recordinghacks K) and doesn't exist. "Rayking" capsules are just from AYM, I think. This specific capsule is made of AYM parts but probably not AYM assembly. Lots of smaller factories buy parts from AYM or through AYM but assemble themselves. Like I said, I'm pretty sure (but not positive, as I don't handle domestic chinese business) that this is one of our domestic china models. It can be told apart from the AYM-assembled part by the wire colors, materials, leads, and diaphragm thickness mostly. It could also just be a fully AYM-assembled part with different specs.

 

[jhei]

Mackie Element EM-91C. On the package they say it is "Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone... built like a tank". I Think this is just another version of the BM-700 with small diaphragm cardioid electret capsule with fet. Saddle is made of flexible plastic. Bought from Cl4s 0hlson with quite good discount with mostly metallic shockmount and XLR cable (approximately same price as typical BM-700 from The Bay).


I have not seen this kind of capsule wiring with only two cables (black (-) connected to S and G and red (+) to D) before. Is it a conventional way to do it?

 

[Microphoniste]

Mackie Element EM-91C. On the package they say it is "Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone... built like a tank". I Think this is just another version of the BM-700 with small diaphragm cardioid electret capsule with fet. Saddle is made of flexible plastic. Bought from Cl4s 0hlson with quite good discount with mostly metallic shockmount and XLR cable (approximately same price as typical BM-700 from The Bay).
View attachment 138224View attachment 138225

I have not seen this kind of capsule wiring with only two cables (black (-) connected to S and G and red (+) to D) before. Is it a conventional way to do it?

Great joke! May be some translation issues 😂

 

[pmfalcman]

By the way - what purpose this Holed Halo or Old Phone Dial shaped capsule holder serves?
I've seen this already on (around?) some other capsules (and was too afraid to ask).
Is it meant to condition or deflect sound waves somehow or just Look Vintage & Cool?

 

[k brown]

Mackie Element EM-91C. On the package they say it is "Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone... built like a tank". I Think this is just another version of the BM-700 with small diaphragm cardioid electret capsule with fet. Saddle is made of flexible plastic. Bought from Cl4s 0hlson with quite good discount with mostly metallic shockmount and XLR cable (approximately same price as typical BM-700 from The Bay).
View attachment 138224View attachment 138225

I have not seen this kind of capsule wiring with only two cables (black (-) connected to S and G and red (+) to D) before. Is it a conventional way to do it?

It's because that version of the capsule has a built-in FET. It's under that PCB disc with all the holes in it.

The S, G and D marking are misleading on these, as there is no external connection to the Gate.

It's this capsule (or equivilent thereof):
https://www.jlielectronics.com/content/JLI-140A-HD.pdf

 

[k brown]

By the way - what purpose this Holed Halo or Old Phone Dial shaped capsule holder serves?
I've seen this already on (around?) some other capsules (and was too afraid to ask).
Is it meant to condition or deflect sound waves somehow or just Look Vintage & Cool?

It's my understanding that it renders the capsule less directional at low frequencies giving it a behavior in that respect that's more like a dual-diaphragm LDC (of course, I could be wrong ).

 

[pmfalcman]

It's my understanding that it renders the capsule less directional at low frequencies giving it a behavior in that respect that's more like a dual-diaphragm LDC (of course, I could be wrong

I was thinking along the lines of a BLM-ish attempts 😉

 

[Paul W]

By the way - what purpose this Holed Halo or Old Phone Dial shaped capsule holder serves?
I've seen this already on (around?) some other capsules (and was too afraid to ask).
Is it meant to condition or deflect sound waves somehow or just Look Vintage & Cool?

I too have been wondering. Audio-Technica uses that kind of holed ring around some LDCs, and MXL uses an un-holed ring around their smallish-diameter condensers that look like LDCs. There are also capsules that appear to have some or all of the holes covered or filled with flow-resistive material, like silk or foam.

I'd think that the un-holed ring makes it act sort of like a boundary mic, increasing sensitivity for high frequencies (with wavelengths small enough to reflect off, not just flow around). And making the diameter larger (and path length around the capsule edge longer) presumably affects the directivity in ways I don't understand.

Do the holes soften the transition between the high and somewhat lower-frequency behavior? Or do they serve some other purpose?

 

[Paul W]

Electro-Voice PL84 handheld end-addressed 16 mm OD electret. I like the form factor (and the rubber surround of the casule mount seems to provide decent isolation). Is there some premium capsule that would fit and predictably work well in this kind of mounting?

 

[k brown]

Electro-Voice PL84 handheld end-addressed 16 mm OD electret. I like the form factor (and the rubber surround of the casule mount seems to provide decent isolation). Is there some premium capsule that would fit and predictably work well in this kind of mounting?
View attachment 138288

Man, the number of microphones that capsule shows up in is astounding!

For upgrade, I'd reach for the Primo EM200; at 14.6mm, it only needs a bit of shimming to fit. A fabulous electret cardioid.
https://micbooster.com/microphone-c...m200-cardioid-electret.html#/99-type-no_wires

It has it's own FET built in, so you'll have to mod the EV circuit to suit.

This one https://www.jlielectronics.com/microphone-capsules/tsb-25axz3-gp would be a considerable improvement, and likely work just fine with no mods to the circuit, but at 25mm may be a challenge to fit/mount.

 

[Khron]

and the rubber surround of the casule mount seems to provide decent isolation

Very similar to the Rode NT3 capsule mount (although i think that has three "spokes"..?)