Folks,
People often ask which affordable microphones I recommend for measuring their room. To answer this question I tested ten popular microphones ranging from an inexpensive DIY model to a Josephson with Microtech Gefell capsule costing $1,800, and wrote up the results for this article: Comparison of Ten Measuring Microphones. Enjoy!
--Ethan
Comparison of ten room testing microphones
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 10995.
Respect.
Edit: After re-reading the review I checked out the Room EQ Wizard which you referenced in your write-up. It just seems to be fucking (yes) amazing. Is it really as good as it seems?
/Gash
I hope I don't get sued for this comment, but it's really a nice test
:D
That's good to know!
I actually built a couple of those 10$ mikes a few years back and did some measuring with them. Very reassuring to know that they're that accurate compared to the hi-end mikes.
Then I went and fried them with phantom power accidentally... :oops:
But now you got me all fired up and I have no choice but to order some more capsules and go build some more mikes...
Anyone know any phantom protection circuits that could be utilized with these cheap mikes?
-Tomi-
Thanx for sharing Ethan.
Would it not also be handy to have a graph showing not only high-end or low-end mics, but a mix of both. for easy comparison.
Hi Ethan & thanks for sharing those infos.
I agree with Ro regarding the graph showing all mics. If it's a higher resolution than the one hosted on your site, it could be very useful.
The additional informations would be nice to have are:
- What converters you used during the test?
- Why you choose Mackie HR824 ? Since they aren't the most precise ones you can find for this job.
I made a test few years ago & couldn't get less than 46Hz in lows & 17.8kHz in highs.
Cheers.
That's why I repeated the Earthworks results in the last two graphs. --EthanWould it not also be handy to have a graph showing not only high-end or low-end mics, but a mix of both. for easy comparison.
M-Audio Delta 66.- What converters you used during the test?
Not so! Mackies are very flat - much flatter than many more expensive speakers. But the main reason I used an 824 is because it was readily available. I could have done this test in my living room where I have a killer sub that's flat to 18 Hz. But then the microphone would not be on-axis with a single speaker cabinet. More to the point, what really matters is not how flat my room or speaker are, but how well the inexpensive microphones track the expensive microphones that are known to be accurate. The whole point of this test was to answer the people who ask me all the time if the ECM8000 is any good. So I decided to buy an ECM8000, then someone pointed out the Nady, then I found the dbx. Before I knew it, a bunch of friends volunteered their own microphones too. :) --Ethan PS: Thanks Bert, that means a lot coming from you.Why you choose Mackie HR824 ? Since they aren't the most precise ones you can find for this job.
Aaah, I've must have been zipping a lemon too many ... sorry and thanx again! I'm glad 2 c my Behringer is good enough for the job :)That's why I repeated the Earthworks results in the last two graphs. --EthanWould it not also be handy to have a graph showing not only high-end or low-end mics, but a mix of both. for easy comparison.
http://www.naiant.com/images/MSH_Kit_Mic.GIFAnyone know any phantom protection circuits that could be utilized with these cheap mikes? -Tomi-
Phantom power was designed so that non-condenser mics would not get damaged. something was wrong in the circuitry if it got damaged by phantom power. Answering your question directly, just put a couple of 60V capacitors in the signal lines. AndreAnyone know any phantom protection circuits that could be utilized with these cheap mikes?
thanks Andre,
I used some panasonic capsules without any additional circuitry, so it was basically just the capsule and the lines but they performed well.
Wouldn't the capsules fry if you run 48V straight into them? I mean last night I thought I'd see if the mikes still work but no go. And if I remember correctly I did plug them in my 01v with phantom on when they stopped working.
Anyways this is not a troubleshooting thread so I'm just going to shut up now and try the caps.
It depends upon the capsule.
The 48V is between the signal leads and ground, meaning the shield. If there is no connection to shield, which there should not be (an extension of the pin 1 problem), it will cause no problems. AndreWouldn't the capsules fry if you run 48V straight into them? Anyways this is not a troubleshooting thread so I'm just going to shut up now and try the caps.