DIY PZM Build Video

[@johnvcougar]

SICK bass sound!

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

Nice comparison. What I liked the most is that the PZM mics picked up more room ambiance than the nearfield condensers. Your narration was rather pleasant sounding as well. You have given me a little to think through. I need a few mics for recording. Love the Micbuilders forum. Been a lurker for about 10 years.

[@SoundSleuth]

Thank you! These are great and very inexpensive to make. I used one of these on the Kick Drum on this video. I had a TSB2555B with my Op Amp circuit as the main kick mic and then a PZM about 4 feet in front of the kick and blended them in post. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHm6iHqulpV8aLc

[@Angelo-vb6dg]

I didn't know about PZM mics but wow, they may sound amazing in certain use cases

[@SoundSleuth]

Yes they do!

[@mestresplinter2467]

Amazing as always. Thank you for the material.

[@SoundSleuth]

Thank you!

[@masterofnone9636]

Great stuff in Sound Sleuth Lab channel. Regarding "DIY PZM Build Video"... The diagram referenced is actually for a mic laying PERPENDICULAR to the boundary on a foam pad 1/16" thick (just FYI). Regardless, a 1/16" gap = 0.0625" The Crown Boundary Mic Guide says the gap (on a parallel capsule) should be 0.052" for a 1dB drop at 20 kHz, which is close enough. If, instead of gluing cardboard for the gap, one uses Gorilla Heavy Duty Mounting Tape, the gap (tape thickness) is 43 mils = 0.043" resulting in even less dB drop at 20kHz. AND a LOT easier than glue lol. Thanks for the great channel!

[@SoundSleuth]

Thanks, If you refer to the associated Instructable, we have updated that with a 3D printable capsule holder that makes the gap thinner and more repeatable. And you are correct about the distance!

[@masterofnone9636]

@@SoundSleuth Appreciate the response. I did notice the Instructables capsule holder (PZM Arm 3in v1.1), but passed for two reasons; it takes most of the DIY out of the project (DIY = fun?), and they are pretty expensive. With std. shipping, two holders cost $35.69! I just bought enough mahogany wood strips and Plexiglass to build eight PZMs for less than that. But if you don't have the tools/skill set/time/ for full DIY, they are a handy solution. (I'd be tempted if they were $5 for a pair lol). I'd send you my build pics, but don't see the option. Keep up the great work!

[@johnvcougar]

PZM makes the best full-bodied kick mic I've ever used. Combined with a carved cardioid dynamic on the beater, the blend gives any kick sound you want, and it's really simple to keep the two in -phase.

[@woodshome11]

Great video, thanks.

[@bleepboxes]

Nice project. Will try this for sure

[@SoundSleuth]

You will Like it!

[@bleepboxes]

@@SoundSleuth i once had two realistic pzm mics but at the time didnt really know what to do with them. Sometimes i put one in the kickdrum for recording as an extra. The realistic ones have a battery and are very cheaply build electronically. Im recording next month and found plans for a stereo head dummy mic. I bought a set of wm61 for it. Now i will also have to buy a set for these. Have you ever tried this on an upright piano?

[@noahcwb]

Just got my capsules, just need to get the rest to make the mics

[@dfxmonkeyhead]

Might be a dumb question... But I didn't see anything to explain this in the vid or the Instructible. Is the mic capsule polarized? If so, how do we determine polarity? Thanks...

[@SoundSleuth]

It is polarized. One lead has a metal trace to the case. Hope that helps

[@williamtell1477]

This is cool, is there any reason not to use a smaller sheet of lexan than 12"x12"

[@SoundSleuth]

I actually cut the 12” X 12” into smaller pieces.

[@stillidle1]

The cut down size is for transport convenience. The mics actually perform best when attached to a larger surface. If I were constructing my own and had 12" square lexan sheets, I'd use the whole sheet. The function of the mic backing, when it is at approx 5 inch or 6 inch square isn't usually to be suspended in the air to capture sound recording, but to serve as the base for mounting to a larger surface. If someone were recording a stage performance for instance, the ideal positioning for this mic type would be on the stage floor, on a near column, or on large transparent sheets suspended in the air, facing the performance. The use of transparent sheets is not an audio consideration but a visual one, making the recording process least obtrusive to the audience.

[@ellisgl]

I wonder what it would sound like with a larger capsule (like the Transound)...

[@SoundSleuth]

This is one of those designs that needs the capsule to be small. What woudl be really nice is of the MEMS mics were quieter.

[@ellisgl]

@@SoundSleuth one the quietest mems I found is the ISC-40730.

[@lambda7652]

Hey, cool KZbin channel! im working on an Jfet + Opamp preamp myself and would be interested to find the Forum your talking about.

[@SoundSleuth]

Here you go groups.io/g/MicBuilders

[@mavamQ]

Hi, Sleuth, I'm thinking about low noise mics and how to reduce noise, (minimal background). At 4:25, If you put a common mode choke on the 47.2V and 41.9V lines, would this allow the Differential signal through but not Noise? I think noise would be common mode?

[@SoundSleuth]

Lamont, the noise is common mode. And it is rejected by the mic preamp's differential amplifier.

[@johnvcougar]

So: a suspended PZM pickup pattern behaves like an omni?

[@bryanblack190]

PZMs generally have a hemispheric pattern. The plate tends to block the other hemisphere and keeps it from being fully omni. The PZM does use an omni capsule (Pressure type vs. Pressure Gradient type).

[@mikepruett1745]

does anyone make pzm"S ANY GOOD

[@SoundSleuth]

These are pretty good and quite inexpensive to build