DIY Tape Op mics - where have all the instructions gone?

jgimbel · Post by **jgimbel** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:50 am

I hate to ask this because I feel like I'm just missing something major, but where can I find instructions for the tape op mics everyone raves about? I've heard about a tape op ribbon, omni, and electret. I've searched as much as I can on here and can't find anything except folks talking about them in use.

I keep coming back to this link:
http://prosoundweb.com/recording/tapeop ... 16_1.shtml

I assume the article used to be there, but hasn't been for quite a while. I'm at a loss. I'm really looking to get into building mics, but this is proving a challenge! Fill me in?

T-rex · Post by **T-rex** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:38 pm

I think the tape op omni and electret are one in the same. It's an omni mic that costs about $25 to make and actually sounds pretty good. They run on 9 volts and I think were the impetus for the stapes omni's which sound freaking amazing.

The Tape Op Ribbons was a group buy of tape opper's loosely organized and then brought to fruition by an audio dealer who did the importing, I think PPA? They were $100 each for a cheap ribbon mic imported directly from the manufacturer in china; extremely similar to the Nady RSm-2 (i think, maybe RSm-1?). Anyway, it was a one time thing for the ribbons but people sell them used now and again. They were really great for the price.

If you are still interested in building the DIY Tape Op Omni's the instructions/article used to be posted on pro-sound web but I am pretty sure I can find a copy of them electronically. Pm me an email address and I will try to find them and send them to you. I build several, super simple and sound pretty good.

jgimbel · Post by **jgimbel** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:45 pm

PM'd. Thank you much for the info too!

CurtZHP · Post by **CurtZHP** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:57 pm

T-rex wrote: If you are still interested in building the DIY Tape Op Omni's the instructions/article used to be posted on pro-sound web but I am pretty sure I can find a copy of them electronically. Pm me an email address and I will try to find them and send them to you. I build several, super simple and sound pretty good.

Why not post the link here?

T-rex · Post by **T-rex** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:01 am

I don't have a link I just copied them off of the old prosound website a while back. when I find them I can post them on drop io or something or if someone has some webspace I can send them to them and they can host them. I am cool with whatever, I am a little surprised they aren't still on the web.

CurtZHP · Post by **CurtZHP** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:13 am

Let us know when you find them.

jgimbel · Post by **jgimbel** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:39 am

T-rex when you find them I'll put them up on my server. Killing two birds with one stone!

T-rex · Post by **T-rex** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:42 am

Awesome!

psinglet · Post by **psinglet** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:52 am

Found this online. There are links to the articles in post #18 at the bottom of the page. I can't get the direct links to the articles working.

http://www.creativitytospare.com/?p=16

death by chandelier · Post by **death by chandelier** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:15 pm

Here's the .pdf files for the mic build.

http://homepage.mac.com/radrobot/tapeop_mic_1.pdf

http://homepage.mac.com/radrobot/tapeop_mic_2.pdf

T-rex · Post by **T-rex** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:31 pm

Yep, that's them! Thanks, I haven't had a chance to look for them yet.

Scodiddly · Post by **Scodiddly** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:17 pm

death by chandelier wrote:Here's the .pdf files for the mic build.

http://homepage.mac.com/radrobot/tapeop_mic_1.pdf

http://homepage.mac.com/radrobot/tapeop_mic_2.pdf

Excellente!

BTW, I recall that the Panasonic part number is now gone. Substitute WM-61A and you should be good to go.

jgimbel · Post by **jgimbel** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:44 pm

Thanks so much!

Awesome, now I just need to figure out how to read a schematic (even one as simple as that)! I'm good with soldering but I've never done anything at all with a circuit.

CurtZHP · Post by **CurtZHP** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:20 am

jgimbel wrote:Awesome, now I just need to figure out how to read a schematic (even one as simple as that)! I'm good with soldering but I've never done anything at all with a circuit.

PM me if you get stuck.

jgimbel · Post by **jgimbel** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:14 am

CurtZHP wrote:
jgimbel wrote:Awesome, now I just need to figure out how to read a schematic (even one as simple as that)! I'm good with soldering but I've never done anything at all with a circuit.

PM me if you get stuck.

Thanks, I can almost guarantee I'll be contacting you soon!

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DIY Tape Op mics - where have all the instructions gone?

DIY Tape Op mics - where have all the instructions gone?

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