finished! my first ribbon mic:

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Jeremy Garber
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Post by Jeremy Garber » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:26 am

It looks very nice. I would love to hear some samples.

rickshawrecords
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Post by rickshawrecords » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:41 pm

SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ wrote:It looks very nice. I would love to hear some samples.
While not samples of Pixel's mic specifically, there are several audio samples of this DIY project (made by other people) at the link in my signature below.

- Rickshaw
Complete DIY Ribbon Mic Plans & Kits available from:
http://www.DIYRibbonMic.com

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blackdiscoball
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Post by blackdiscoball » Wed Dec 24, 2008 8:34 am

blackdiscoball wrote:
Looks really sweet, im jeoulus. I started that along time ago and then life took hold, so I have no time! Sad


"Life" is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...
This life was buying the studio I use to work at and trying to get it off the ground...other wise, I'd agree with you.
myspace.com/blackdiscoballstudio/

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pixeltarian
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Post by pixeltarian » Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:12 am

blackdiscoball wrote:
blackdiscoball wrote:
Looks really sweet, im jeoulus. I started that along time ago and then life took hold, so I have no time! Sad


"Life" is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...
This life was buying the studio I use to work at and trying to get it off the ground...other wise, I'd agree with you.
while I do have one or 2 samples, I wanted to get something a little better. the trouble is that the truss broke (for the 3rd time) on me. I might try it one more time with jb weld or I might buy a bulk of trusses. we'll see how the money situation pans out this summer...

I also might try and make a mold and pour melted plastic into it. this build would be a billion times easier if the motor beams were attached solidly together instead of glued. I'm working on making a 3D autocad model right now that I can post on MFG.com if I get a quote that is reasonable I'd definitely get them made.
"Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat."
- Napoleon Hill

http://www.jeffreyjamesmusic.com
spook folk

http://www.myspace.com/tonguesonpaper
electro atmospheric rock

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sears
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Post by sears » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:38 pm

I'm just catching up to this thread now. Your mic looks great. I'll have to look for your endcap solution.

My trusses don't break but I have one where the magnets are always snapping together after a few days or a few weeks. The other one's fine. I'm tempted to build a new truss but if you really make some I'll definitely buy a couple.

When you design the truss, put some grooves on the inside for the epoxy to go into for gluing the magnets. OR.. It would be cool if you could design something that you could slide the magnets in place without gluing them.

Don't forget the extra chiclets with two holes in them! Oh yeah, and then you have to drill perfect holes through the PCB piece anyway..

I just uploaded something I did last year that has Austin ribbon for guitar and percussion, but not the rest: http://tinyurl.com/semi-semi-precious

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Post by pixeltarian » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:02 pm

sears wrote:I'm just catching up to this thread now. Your mic looks great. I'll have to look for your endcap solution.

My trusses don't break but I have one where the magnets are always snapping together after a few days or a few weeks. The other one's fine. I'm tempted to build a new truss but if you really make some I'll definitely buy a couple.

When you design the truss, put some grooves on the inside for the epoxy to go into for gluing the magnets. OR.. It would be cool if you could design something that you could slide the magnets in place without gluing them.

Don't forget the extra chiclets with two holes in them! Oh yeah, and then you have to drill perfect holes through the PCB piece anyway..

I just uploaded something I did last year that has Austin ribbon for guitar and percussion, but not the rest: http://tinyurl.com/semi-semi-precious
I'm thinkin I'll just sandpaper the magnet and truss contact points. I have the magnet breaking problem too. I think strong, but thin tape would actually do wonders. also thick heat shrinkwrap. if I end up doing a build where I can slip a tubular heat shrink piece over a leg of the truss it would hug the magnet quite well with some skillful hair dryer work.

I'm trying to give myself a crash course in google sketchup, so I can size all the dimensions right. I like the snap in place idea, but I think it might invade the silver leaf space.

perhaps I'll try and find a bunch of pictures of ribbon mics and come up with an optimal design. hmm... if anyone has some pictures or knows of ribbon truss pictures, please send em my way...
"Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat."
- Napoleon Hill

http://www.jeffreyjamesmusic.com
spook folk

http://www.myspace.com/tonguesonpaper
electro atmospheric rock

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pixeltarian
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kits kits kits kits

Post by pixeltarian » Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:26 am

kits:
http://www.ribbonmic.rickshawrecords.co ... ckits.html

no parts sourcing whatsoever?!?!?!! yes please. just hack up a pipe and boom. you're done :P

just the plastic truss looks like a wet dream when I've broke mine like 4 times. I used housing that is smaller than it should be so it's a pain to wiggle the motor out and in. "snap snap!" go the epoxied plastic pieces.
"Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat."
- Napoleon Hill

http://www.jeffreyjamesmusic.com
spook folk

http://www.myspace.com/tonguesonpaper
electro atmospheric rock

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the

Post by pixeltarian » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:34 am

the long awaited sound clip:
http://drop.io/ihazribbon

2ft from my mouth. one track, one mic, no effects.

It took a while because I was waiting to have the free time and funds to grab a few pre-molded trusses. I also sourced some 1.8 micron foil from new zealand. I'll probably have more clips at some point. just put the finishing touches on it yesterday.

I think I'm going to build another one with a better trafo next. though I do really like the sound I'm getting with the cheapie edcor.
"Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat."
- Napoleon Hill

http://www.jeffreyjamesmusic.com
spook folk

http://www.myspace.com/tonguesonpaper
electro atmospheric rock

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jgimbel
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Post by jgimbel » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:53 am

That mic sounds great on your voice. Awesome. And MAN I love that song! It makes me think of if Pedro the Lion took a deep dark trip down to Creole territory. Your recordings on your website are stellar too, great stuff. You've got a new fan.

rickshawrecords
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Post by rickshawrecords » Thu Mar 25, 2010 2:15 pm

Hey everyone,
If you're interested in building one of my USA-designed and built ribbon mic kits, they're on sale to US buyers right now.

While they last (I have about 12 "Basic Kits" left) they're on eBay every few weeks for $99 + $6 Priority Mail shipping to any USA Address. Search "DIY Mic"

I am discontinuing my "Basic Kit" to concentrate my efforts less on being "inexpensive" and more on being "easier to build."
When these kits are gone, they'll be gone for good.

NOTE: $99 is less than it costs to source the individual parts by yourself (I bought lots of parts in bulk), and you can build yourself a Kick-A$$ Blumlein Pair for ~$200 + shipping.

With my "Basic Kit" you'll have to cut the chassis with a hacksaw and drill the holes, but you can do it. I even have printable cutting and driling templates that you just tape onto the blank chassis. No more measuring or "eyeballing."

If you want to buy them apart from eBay, contact me through my website below.
Until I run out, I'll give TOMB DIY Forum readers the $99 "Basic Kit" discounted price, even though my website still says $149. Just ask.

- Rick
Complete DIY Ribbon Mic Plans & Kits available from:
http://www.DIYRibbonMic.com

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pixeltarian
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Post by pixeltarian » Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:05 pm

rickshawrecords wrote:Hey everyone,
If you're interested in building one of my USA-designed and built ribbon mic kits, they're on sale to US buyers right now.

While they last (I have about 12 "Basic Kits" left) they're on eBay every few weeks for $99 + $6 Priority Mail shipping to any USA Address. Search "DIY Mic"

I am discontinuing my "Basic Kit" to concentrate my efforts less on being "inexpensive" and more on being "easier to build."
When these kits are gone, they'll be gone for good.

NOTE: $99 is less than it costs to source the individual parts by yourself (I bought lots of parts in bulk), and you can build yourself a Kick-A$$ Blumlein Pair for ~$200 + shipping.

With my "Basic Kit" you'll have to cut the chassis with a hacksaw and drill the holes, but you can do it. I even have printable cutting and driling templates that you just tape onto the blank chassis. No more measuring or "eyeballing."

If you want to buy them apart from eBay, contact me through my website below.
Until I run out, I'll give TOMB DIY Forum readers the $99 "Basic Kit" discounted price, even though my website still says $149. Just ask.

- Rick

silly question, but for those of us that do not like the brass color... how paintable are they? I've always hated the faux gold and brass metals for no good reason.
"Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat."
- Napoleon Hill

http://www.jeffreyjamesmusic.com
spook folk

http://www.myspace.com/tonguesonpaper
electro atmospheric rock

rickshawrecords
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Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:06 pm

Post by rickshawrecords » Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:24 pm

Good question, and I happen to be painting one RIGHT NOW (between coats actually) I have paint on my fingers as I'm typing this! Photos later.

You must sand the Brass surface to a "satin" finish, then use a good primer to stick to the Brass. If you use spray paint directly on the Brass, it will flake-off if scratched. (I found out the hard way!)
Painting the screens doesn't work well. Spray paint films-over some of the holes.

Tomorrow, I'm visiting a local Powder-coating and Plating business here in San Diego to price bright-Nickel-plating some screens, and powder-coating some bodies for a short run of complete "Boutique" Austin mics.

- Rickshaw
Complete DIY Ribbon Mic Plans & Kits available from:
http://www.DIYRibbonMic.com

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pixeltarian
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Post by pixeltarian » Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:08 pm

rickshawrecords wrote: Tomorrow, I'm visiting a local Powder-coating and Plating business here in San Diego to price bright-Nickel-plating some screens, and powder-coating some bodies for a short run of complete "Boutique" Austin mics.
- Rickshaw
awesome. I did find some info on the "alchemist" way to change the color. some of these techniques might actually turn out really cool. Rick, is it real brass? I think it only works on real brass:

------------------------------

Remove any varnish. Varnish can be flammable and it's reactive as well, which could ruin the look of your brass altogether. Wipe the item down with acetone before doing anything else. Depending on the desired effect, choose one of the following techniques to complete the project.

technique 1
Paint vinegar onto the brass with a paintbrush and allow it to sit for 10 minutes before washing it off. Vinegar will cause oxidation which would have happened naturally over time anyway. Rinse the vinegar off and repeat if necessary for a tarnished gold look.

technique 2:
Apply 2 tsp. salt to a quart of warm water and mix well. Paint the water onto the item and let it air dry. Repeat the process until the desired look is achieved. Salt water takes longer than vinegar, but will give it a mottled aged look, almost like tarnished gold.

technique 3:
Scrub the brass with a soft bristled brush under warm water using a few drops of dish soap. Rinse well. Place the piece in a bowl with 1 tsp. salt and 1 cup vinegar for one hour before rinsing well with warm water and drying completely. The salt and vinegar amounts can be increased in those increments for larger pieces of brass. This will give the brass a warm, honey color.

technique 4:
Hold the brass item by tongs over an open flame for several seconds and immediately immerse the brass in cold water. The burner of a gas stoveworks well for this. The brass changes to a gingerbread color.

technique 5:
Place the brass item in an airtight plastic bag with an old cloth soaked in ammonia. Leave this until the desired color is reached and take it out and rinse it well with warm water. Ammonia fumes will give brass a greenish-brown color, but don't let ammonia touch the brass as this will cause spotting.
"Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat."
- Napoleon Hill

http://www.jeffreyjamesmusic.com
spook folk

http://www.myspace.com/tonguesonpaper
electro atmospheric rock

rickshawrecords
pluggin' in mics
Posts: 32
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:06 pm

Post by rickshawrecords » Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:47 pm

Wow, I had never heard of these methods to patina Brass.
Yes, my Chassis are 100% real Brass. My screens are 100% Brass with a corrosion-resistant finish (Probably a "varnish" as mentioned above.)

Here's an image of a few painted chassis I've done recently:
Image

On the Left is the prototype with spray paint directly on the Brass. It flaked, so I sanded down the bottom half, then electroplated the bottom edge with Zinc in a Vinegar and Epsom-salt bath (look it up online) See how it is metal-colored? I decided it was do-able, but too much hassle for me.

In the middle is a primed and painted version of my Blumlein Chassis prototype Kit (Oops - did I just let that out? :oops:) It has about 10 coats of paint, including primer, and a "Hammered-Metal" texture coat. This mic will have Brass screens.

On the right is an un-textured black chassis, with a screen assembly painted with metallic silver spray paint. It's more dull-gray than silver, and I took my time to try and avoid skinning-over the small screens with too much paint. I'm not a big fan of the outcome, so that's why I'm pursuing professional electroplating with Nickel.

- Rickshaw
Complete DIY Ribbon Mic Plans & Kits available from:
http://www.DIYRibbonMic.com

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johnny7
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Post by johnny7 » Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:29 pm

What about some heat treatments on some scraps?
Either test using a torch (propane or whatever) OR try the oven.
Oh yeah, don't try this after the mic is built!

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