Microphone problems

bjs · Post by **bjs** » Thu May 05, 2005 4:47 am

I have a Sony stereo mic which is fine for recording on computer and mini disc. Naively I thought I coud plug it into the aux socket on my stereo, strap it to the whistle and have amplified whistle which could be heard above my wife's drum kit. It doesn't work. No sound comes out. Why?

So looks like I have to buy another mic for this purpose. Any suggestions? I don't want to spend a fortune.

There are several advertised on Maplin here http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?Cri ... ne&doy=5m5

Brian

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:06 am

bjs wrote:I have a Sony stereo mic which is fine for recording on computer and mini disc. Naively I thought I coud plug it into the aux socket on my stereo, strap it to the whistle and have amplified whistle which could be heard above my wife's drum kit. It doesn't work. No sound comes out. Why?

It's because the mic is outputing a signal at mic level, and the aux socket wants it at line level. You need to find some way to boost the mic signal to reach line level or (probably more sensibly) find something that expects to have a mic plugged into it.

lesl · Post by **lesl** » Fri May 06, 2005 5:27 am

I think you want a mic preamp. explained here:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/catalog-mic-preamps1.htm
and then a little mixer to go with it probably.

Also the 'powered monitor' speakers often have a mic jack.

You might get one of those little speaker-amps for guitars if it has a
socket labelled "mic". Sometimes you can get a used one in a music store.
If you're not overly concerned about sound quality but just want louder,
that might work in a pinch.

You might ask your drummer wife to play with brushes or with those big
sticks which look like giant cotton buds, I think they are for timpani.
http://www.timpanisticks.com/index.html
My fiddler husband's a drummer too. Good luck! - Lesl

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Fri May 06, 2005 5:55 am

Plug the mic into the mini-disc, then take the output from the mini-disc to the aux input of the stereo. That should do it (the mini-disc will serve as a pre-amp).

Scott McCallister · Post by **Scott McCallister** » Fri May 06, 2005 8:33 am

I think you should be more practical about this...

Get your wife one of thesethen you can turn her down.

bjs · Post by **bjs** » Mon May 09, 2005 5:57 am

Plug the mic into the mini-disc, then take the output from the mini-disc to the aux input of the stereo. That should do it (the mini-disc will serve as a pre-amp).

That sounds good but it doesn't work - maybe if I read the manual I can find a setting though. As it is when I turn it on it starts to playback something. If I stop playback it quickly shuts down. I find the mini disc menus the most unintuitive yet. Ah I probably have to put it in record mode - can always delete the recording afterwards. Yes that works but not very well. I need the mike close to the windway where it picks up wind noises.

Brian

John S · Post by **John S** » Tue May 10, 2005 5:27 am

Hi bjs, I use the Maplin Tie Clip Mic bellow.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Mod ... 0&doy=10m5
They're good value for money and robust.
What I do is remove the plastic housing that surrounds the Mic module (discarding the top bit and sliding the bottom bit down the wire out of the way) and use a piece of the heat shrink rubber tubing they sell
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Mod ... 1&doy=10m5
to keep the mic and cable together.
Position the Mic (I use Bluetac) above the wind way looking down in the direction of the fipple.

TTFN

John S

bjs · Post by **bjs** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:36 am

Hi bjs, I use the Maplin Tie Clip Mic bellow.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Mod ... 0&doy=10m5
They're good value for money and robust.
What I do is remove the plastic housing that surrounds the Mic module (discarding the top bit and sliding the bottom bit down the wire out of the way) and use a piece of the heat shrink rubber tubing they sell
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Mod ... 1&doy=10m5
to keep the mic and cable together.
Position the Mic (I use Bluetac) above the wind way looking down in the direction of the fipple.

Thanks John. That sounds good. I can then plug into the stereo's aux input can I? Looking at it, it seems I would need another cable adapter. That plug thing is a preamp?

Brian

John S · Post by **John S** » Thu May 12, 2005 6:52 am

Hi Brian, the plug bit contains a battery to power the electret mic but no pre-amp so it's a mic level output.
Maplin do some Mic pre-amps.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Mod ... 1&doy=12m5
The top one is very expensive for what it does, I'd go for the bottom Kit which is easy to assemble if you can solder.
You could get someone else to assemble it if you haven’t got the skills.
You'd have to put it in a box with a battery and sockets (all available from Maplin) but for around £10 total cost you'd have what you need.

John S

JimmyCarbomb · Post by **JimmyCarbomb** » Sat May 14, 2005 7:19 am

If you're just "dorking around" then you can head to your local WalMart and get one of the $29 amps in the music section. Just plug the mic into it and set the thing for your preferences. It's inexpensive, easy, and will do the trick. You MAY need to get an adapter to have the mic plug enlarged.

bjs · Post by **bjs** » Sat May 14, 2005 9:21 am

I don't believe we have Walmart yet but I found this somewhere:

Spreading across the globe like a nasty skin condition, Wal-Mart - the worlds largest and most unpleasant retailer - now threatens to infect towns and communities around the UK.

JimmyCarbomb · Post by **JimmyCarbomb** » Sat May 14, 2005 10:24 am

bjs wrote:I don't believe we have Walmart yet but I found this somewhere:

Shoot. I was sure that they had already landed their "Blue Vested Invasion" over into the UK. It may be possible to hit eBay and search for a "First Act" amplifier. They're only around $30 USD here. If you're not having any luck, I can look in my stock here at home to see if I have another one (which I usually do).

bjs · Post by **bjs** » Sat May 14, 2005 11:09 am

Thanks Jimmy I might try ebay. meanwhile I went to

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Mod ... 1&doy=12m5

The top one is very expensive for what it does, I'd go for the bottom Kit which is easy to assemble if you can solder.
You could get someone else to assemble it if you haven’t got the skills.
You'd have to put it in a box with a battery and sockets (all available from Maplin) but for around £10 total cost you'd have what you need.

I didn't see a top and bottom kit but the one there was cheap enough. next stop get some solder. I have a soldering iron.

Brian[/quote]

Eliezer · Post by **Eliezer** » Sun May 15, 2005 11:38 am

Radio Snack ... I mean Radio Shack has amplified speakers and mic pre-amps and a good cheap electret mic which is tiny enough to clip on to your whistle. And the adapter for different sized mic plugs.

Save your good mic for your MD.

Pignose makes an excellent amp/speaker that works with a mic, and it's battery-powered. Crate makes a great plug-in amp/speaker.

On the other hand, why not ask your wife to play more quietly, or switch to hand percussion?

bjs · Post by **bjs** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 4:05 am

I can record using the Sony mic clipped under my chin. Clipped on the whistle it picks up too much breath. Now my question. I just discovered that there is a little space inside the mic where a button battery should go, but it works well without it. So if I get a battery what difference am I likely to find?

BTW just sent my recording effort (Emma's Jig) to clips and snips.

Brian Sanderson

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