Hi, I've recently bought a soldering iron with the hope to modify some microphone and other electronics. I've seen people modifying the Pyle PD78 (SM57 copy) by putting a 57 transformer inside it and I'm looking for other ideas to use. It's only going to be a bit of a fun experiment so I'm not looking to spend a lot of money.

Let me know about any modded mic's you've created.

I reshape the windscreen on some of my stage mics....



-tINY

Find a used Oktava 319 and look into the mods for that. It will be much more rewarding than anything you do with a dynamic mic, and will be much more useful when you are done.

I’ve been learning on the cheap Chinese knock offs like the MXL v67 and Apex 435. Both large diaphragm condensers. I did the Blue Sky mod and head basket mod to both. Next I’ll swap out the capsules. I paid $50 a piece so if you smoke one you can chalk it up to education. I also put a Lundahl transformer in an MXL R144. Next it will get a Bumblee RE-254 motor. Passive ribbons are so simple it’s dumb. I’ll have maybe $250 invested when I’m done. Once I get done with these I’ll move on to either full on kits or modding more expensive mics.

Brian

There are many mods that can be made to inexpensive microphones from Apex or MXL. Google microphone mod and they should come up. Michael Joly at oktavamod.com is one place that can modify inexpensive mics.

Hi, there are still lots of good platform mics for modding. Like t.bone SC400 & SC450 which both hare real large diaphram capsules, (cardioid only) unlike MXL990 or AT2020. I have bought multiple SC450 for 50€ each/used. Just replace all internal electronics, I traced my Elation mic schematics, changed the tantalum to silver mica and I got myself U87 style killer sounding mic.

What is the blue sky mod? I have a 435 at home that I no longer use and haven't heard of that mod before. Thanks!

Very cheap mod where you swap out capacitors for better quality ones. I did it to both of my MXL V67’s and both Apex 435’s. It makes a difference and is worth the effort. One kit is under $10. I’ve moved on past that though and built my first circuit yesterday and swapped it into one of the V67’s. The microphone parts MP-V57 circuit kit. It’s transformerless and based on the Shoeps CMC-5. I set it up flat and will be putting a K47 style capsule in it. All my mic’s will get new circuits and capsules eventually. Hopefully I’ll be able to give advise on which setups are the best. I plan on using capsules from different manufacturers. Some are 3 micron while others are 6 micron. If you read up pretty much all the vintage Nuemans are 6 micron.

Brian

Do you happen to have a link for the blue sky kit or mod? That sounds good, I'd like to try it but my searches are turning up empty.

Looks like this on EBay. Whatever mic you want to mod search the mic’s name plus mod (Apex 435 Mod) and you’ll find the seller. It has the list of mics it works for. Be sure to check your mic’s and make sure they’re not surface mount. I don’t think any of the 435’s are but one of my 603s mics was as well as my MCA SP1.

Brian

And get a good soldering iron if you don’t already have one. I used a cheap 25 watt and smoked a couple mics with it. Purchased a Weller WES51 and haven’t looked back.

Brian

K47 is a match with Shoeps, unlike the K67 which has found its way to all chinese entry microphones, requires negative feedback to flatten the freq response.

I think the 6 micron is better suited for most conderser mics. I think they are most often too bright anyways, but that might be just me. That's why I have also modded most of my microphones. Caps make a differense in every part of the audio path. If you look at the cheaper mics the first DC block is often ceramic, changing that for example to silver mica makes a huge difference.

I happen to have some 6 micron film in stock, I had "re-foil" my other Elation once and was lucky to get samples from a local supplyer. It has C12 style, ring connected capsule, otherwise would not have got it fixed.

The last mic I "modded"... Well did the whole electronics from scratch. It has the Elation K201 schematic with silver mica. Sweet sounding.

I’m just getting into mics. Up to this point I’ve mainly modded gear. My console, compressors and EQ’s. Thanks for reinforcing the K47 for the Shoeps. I’ve pretty much settled on 6 micron for this one. You say “in stock.” Do you build mics?

Brian

Awesome, thanks!! And yes, I do have a good soldering iron.

Hi B!

Not as a profession. I just have stuff "in stock", ribbon mic foil, aluminized ped film etc. I'm designin some my own though. For example I have some diffirent sized planar mag drivers coming in this month. More about those when I get them...

But a cheap mod... I think this would work pretty much everywhere, I use it with dynamic and condenser mics. I use this (pic) alot to tame unwanted frequencies. There's plenty of LC calculators online. The trick is to find right match of inductor with a bipolar cap (cheaper to use 2 elco than buy real bipolar). Then when you find values near enough you desired frequency, choose the resistor value how much you want to tame it.

Graphic EQ’s are out of style and the White Instruments graphics used very high quality inductors. I just picked up a 10 band passive for $25 shipped to my front door. They made 28 bands which I readily see for $50ish. 28, high quality inductors that are already tuned for the frequency you want to adjust.

Transmutant,

Do you know of any sources for a complete drop in ribbon motor other than Bumblee? I have a MXL R144 I put a Lundhal tranny in and next I’m gonna put the Bumblee RE-254 2.5 micron ribbon in. It’s 2” long. Other than building my own I haven’t found any other sources and I’m not wanting to build my own.