"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Don Pearce" wrote


Could it be a low-cut filter?


At 100 Hz?


Yup - a very common feature of cardioid mics. It is a way of killing
some of the proximity effect.



OK then - I'll put it down as summat along those lines for now.

There are no pad or filter switches on the mic, so there's nothing
much to be gained from tinkering with it at this stage - and risking
damaging the mic!

Thanks anyway!


Aha! Found it!

http://www.cadmics.com/GXL2400.htm


It's a 'high pass' filter - which is the same thing isn't it?

Actually, it's this one in the dodgy windchime clips:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/WindchimeD.wav


(Maybe quite modestly specced, but dirt cheap - only about 45 quid each,
IIRC...??)

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:33:04 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:

Could it be a low-cut filter?


At 100 Hz?


Yup - a very common feature of cardioid mics. It is a way of killing
some of the proximity effect.



OK then - I'll put it down as summat along those lines for now.

There are no pad or filter switches on the mic, so there's nothing
much to be gained from tinkering with it at this stage - and risking
damaging the mic!

Thanks anyway!


Aha! Found it!

http://www.cadmics.com/GXL2400.htm


It's a 'high pass' filter - which is the same thing isn't it?

Yup. But how are you supposed to get at it if it is inside the case?
Or is it supposed to be some sort of set-and-forget option?

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:33:04 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:


Aha! Found it!

http://www.cadmics.com/GXL2400.htm


It's a 'high pass' filter - which is the same thing isn't it?

Yup. But how are you supposed to get at it if it is inside the case?
Or is it supposed to be some sort of set-and-forget option?


Well, if you didn't have *inquisitive fingers* you'd never find it it,
so I guess it's a 'leave it alone' option! (Perhaps the boards are a bit
'general purpose' and also turn up in microwave ovens or summat?)
Asitappens, the bottom of the mic screws off in less than 3 seconds and
the barrel just lifts away, but I won't tinker with it now in case it
goes *snick* and I end up with a little bit of busted blue plastic
between me and a fully-functioning mic!

Now, exposing yet more ignorance in public (as I am wont to do) - it is
fair to say that a dynamic mic works like a conventional speaker in
reverse and a 'condenser' mic works like an electrostatic speaker in
reverse...???

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:57:07 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:

Now, exposing yet more ignorance in public (as I am wont to do) - it is
fair to say that a dynamic mic works like a conventional speaker in
reverse and a 'condenser' mic works like an electrostatic speaker in
reverse...???


Zackly right. And in theory you can use either for either function.

The big difference between a mic and a speaker is the distance the
diaphragm is expected to move. Because of this, speakers tend to be
designed floppy. That means the main resonance is below the audible
range. Mics, on the other hand, can be stiff, so the resonance is
placed high by stretching the diaphragm. The exception in mics is the
ribbon, which uses a low resonance frequency like a speaker.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:57:07 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:

Now, exposing yet more ignorance in public (as I am wont to do) - it
is
fair to say that a dynamic mic works like a conventional speaker in
reverse and a 'condenser' mic works like an electrostatic speaker in
reverse...???


Zackly right. And in theory you can use either for either function.


OK - I've certainly used headphones as a makeshift mic in the past.
Strange thing is, only one side of the phones seems to work, though!



The big difference between a mic and a speaker is the distance the
diaphragm is expected to move. Because of this, speakers tend to be
designed floppy. That means the main resonance is below the audible
range. Mics, on the other hand, can be stiff, so the resonance is
placed high by stretching the diaphragm. The exception in mics is the
ribbon, which uses a low resonance frequency like a speaker.


And being 'floppy' (ribbon itself) is presumably what makes it a bit
fragile?

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:22:46 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:57:07 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:

Now, exposing yet more ignorance in public (as I am wont to do) - it
is
fair to say that a dynamic mic works like a conventional speaker in
reverse and a 'condenser' mic works like an electrostatic speaker in
reverse...???


Zackly right. And in theory you can use either for either function.


OK - I've certainly used headphones as a makeshift mic in the past.
Strange thing is, only one side of the phones seems to work, though!

Probably only one pole of the stereo plug made contact.


The big difference between a mic and a speaker is the distance the
diaphragm is expected to move. Because of this, speakers tend to be
designed floppy. That means the main resonance is below the audible
range. Mics, on the other hand, can be stiff, so the resonance is
placed high by stretching the diaphragm. The exception in mics is the
ribbon, which uses a low resonance frequency like a speaker.


And being 'floppy' (ribbon itself) is presumably what makes it a bit
fragile?



Yup. If you take away all the protective casing and gauze then breathe
on the ribbon, you will tear it straight out of the mic. It is much
thinner than the foil in a ciggy pack, for example.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:22:46 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:57:07 +0100, "Keith G"

wrote:

Now, exposing yet more ignorance in public (as I am wont to do) - it
is
fair to say that a dynamic mic works like a conventional speaker in
reverse and a 'condenser' mic works like an electrostatic speaker in
reverse...???


Zackly right. And in theory you can use either for either function.


OK - I've certainly used headphones as a makeshift mic in the past.
Strange thing is, only one side of the phones seems to work, though!

Probably only one pole of the stereo plug made contact.


OK - stereo jack, mono socket kinda thing. Makes sense!




The big difference between a mic and a speaker is the distance the
diaphragm is expected to move. Because of this, speakers tend to be
designed floppy. That means the main resonance is below the audible
range. Mics, on the other hand, can be stiff, so the resonance is
placed high by stretching the diaphragm. The exception in mics is
the
ribbon, which uses a low resonance frequency like a speaker.


And being 'floppy' (ribbon itself) is presumably what makes it a bit
fragile?



Yup. If you take away all the protective casing and gauze then breathe
on the ribbon, you will tear it straight out of the mic. It is much
thinner than the foil in a ciggy pack, for example.


Interesting and scary at one and the same time!! :-)

In article ,
Keith G wrote:
Now, as a reward for struggling through all that, here's an opportunity
for someone to make themselves look smart: What is the queer little blue
thing labelled '100HX-6bB' [sic] with what looks to be a blue 'pull out
bit' slap in the middle of this board from one of my mics:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/QueerThing.JPG

Heh heh - bB instead of dB on a circuit board?

It's a bass roll off or high pass filter if you prefer. Cardiods and
ribbons tip up the bass when used close.

Can also be used to reduce handling noise or even traffic if using
outdoors. Handling or even wind noise can cause the electronics to
overload, so rolling off the bass before the mic and amp electronics then
restoring it at a later point can be useful. A bit like an RIAA curve.

--
*Cover me. I'm changing lanes.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Keith G wrote:
Now, as a reward for struggling through all that, here's an
opportunity
for someone to make themselves look smart: What is the queer little
blue
thing labelled '100HX-6bB' [sic] with what looks to be a blue 'pull
out
bit' slap in the middle of this board from one of my mics:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/QueerThing.JPG

Heh heh - bB instead of dB on a circuit board?


That sort of thing happens on stuff that is almost certainly sourced
from the Land Of The Noodle - it's a bit like a recording pro
mis-spelling the word 'cardioid'!



It's a bass roll off or high pass filter if you prefer. Cardiods and
ribbons tip up the bass when used close.


:-)



Can also be used to reduce handling noise or even traffic if using
outdoors. Handling or even wind noise can cause the electronics to
overload, so rolling off the bass before the mic and amp electronics
then
restoring it at a later point can be useful. A bit like an RIAA curve.


Interesting and, I suspect, pointing me toward some hitherto 'uncharted
territory' - namely, the weird and wonderful world of
'equalisation'...??

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Aug0...es/usingeq.asp

In article ,
Keith G wrote:
Can also be used to reduce handling noise or even traffic if using
outdoors. Handling or even wind noise can cause the electronics to
overload, so rolling off the bass before the mic and amp electronics
then
restoring it at a later point can be useful. A bit like an RIAA curve.


Interesting and, I suspect, pointing me toward some hitherto 'uncharted
territory' - namely, the weird and wonderful world of
'equalisation'...??

Indeed. Most of the mics you listen to off radio or CD etc will have had
equalization applied.

--
*Microsoft broke Volkswagen's record: They only made 21.4 million bugs.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.