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