RIBBON MICROPHONE!!!

[charlie]

So I found out that it’s not that hard to make a ribbon microphone…. so im gonna try and make one,, or a few..


It consists of:
A ribbon motor
A transformer
And some wiring to audio connectors


At the moment, I have my magnets, and wires and stuff I need to put it all together, and I modeled a little enclosure to match my magnets to build the ribbon motor. And I found some model for a corrugator to make the aluminum ribbons.

I’ll probably end up printing a little job box to put it all in.

Here’s the motor housing I printed:

More to follow

 

[xXpomegranate_loverXx]

I look forward to seeing it!

 

[charlie]

Edit: I added the photos to the OP…

I had a bit of trouble attaching the magnets to the housing and ended up breaking a few magnets when they’d fly out. It probably didn’t help that I was working on a metal desk, but once I got everything set, I was able to put some hot glue on the back of the magnets so now they hold pretty well.

I made the motor, and did a bunch of tests with different transformers, and the most I was able to achieve was getting a thumping sound when I tapped the mic, so I may be running into sensitivity problems with the aluminum since I just used some I found in the kitchen. But I also don’t understand transformers very well…. I read up on transformers and DIY ribbon mics, so I’m gonna try to make another transformer and do some more tests.

Here’s a couple pics of the finished motor and all the transformers (I think one or more of these is actually a choke but I don’t know the difference LOLL!!) I did read that you can run into trouble if you give a certain kind of transformer phantom power so I’ll be sure to leave that off the mixer:

 

[charlie]

After carefully measuring out 41 feet of this thin wire, I am convinced that the problem lies within my motor contruction.

I will commit to using this transformer, but I will first try to adjust the tension in my current motor. If I am unable to successfully adjust the tension, I will try to remodel the ribbon motor housing with more-informed assembly in mind.


It might also help if I had a way to test the resistance on these transformers…

 

[charlie]

This may give you a better idea of the motor construction.

…..
I tried again with a new ribbon I made from some chocolate bar aluminum, much more sensitive (I can see it move when I blow on it) but it still ain’t workin with any of the transformers

 

[charlie]

I am inches from claiming defeat

 

[MAGENTA]

This is super cool, DO NOT QUIT

 

[charlie]

This is super cool, DO NOT QUIT

Almost a year ago now….

I was only ever able to get a buzz. This project is most definitely dead right now, but maybe now I can put the time into learning how to actually construct the thing, and get the right transformer calculations, so when I get back to tackling this.. I can do it right!!

 

[porcy]

wait - just(-in-case) question - did you converted the units right? american and european electricity uses diverent *spectrum*... - so it depends on what and where you sourced yourself from. maybe problem is there?
(so much, i recall from practice lessons i re-read that i saved myself notes of)

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BTW, what tech you use? XLR, AUX, or some custom-made? maybe 6-USB/axial/ethernet (orange - o-striped - blue - b-striped - green - g-striped) ?

 

[charlie]

wait - just(-in-case) question - did you converted the units right? american and european electricity uses diverent *spectrum*... - so it depends on what and where you sourced yourself from. maybe problem is there?
(so much, i recall from practice lessons i re-read that i saved myself notes of)
View attachment 258
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BTW, what tech you use? XLR, AUX, or some custom-made? maybe 6-USB/axial/ethernet (orange - o-striped - blue - b-striped - green - g-striped) ?

I was using XLR. I found some cheap XLR connectors from an electronics parts store/recycling facility.

That’s also where I got the transformers but I didn’t know how the transformers were wired.

 

[porcy]

I was using XLR. I found some cheap XLR connectors from an electronics parts store/recycling facility.

That’s also where I got the transformers but I didn’t know how the transformers were wired.

That could be possibly why it don't work... you maybe had to look up where which cable went to. And overdo.
Also, if it is nale or female cable.
Graph I look at shows negative (black iirc) is always at top, but in m-cable, red goes to right and shield/ground (pure, copper, iirc) goes to the left - while, that is flipped in the f-cable.