Electret Microphone Elements for All Microphones Frames

Vintage microphones that were built into very durable and highest quality mechanical instruments can become inoperable after a number of years. Today's microphone elements, especially the electret type microphone elements can repair these vintage high quality microphones and restore them to excellent working condition. I hope this video helps save some of the beautiful microphones of yesteryear.
Below is a good explanation of the difference between condenser and electret microphones.
Condenser Microphones
Principle of Operation:
Condenser microphones operate on the principle of variable capacitance.
They consist of a thin diaphragm placed very close to a backplate. When sound waves hit the diaphragm, it moves, causing a change in the capacitance between the diaphragm and the backplate.
This change in capacitance is converted into an electrical signal.
Power Requirements:
Condenser microphones require an external power source, often referred to as phantom power (typically 48V) or a battery, to maintain the electrical charge between the diaphragm and the backplate.
The power source is necessary for both the capsule and the internal preamplifier.
Sensitivity and Sound Quality:
Condenser mics are known for their high sensitivity and excellent frequency response, making them ideal for capturing detailed and accurate sound.
They are often used in studio recordings for vocals, acoustic instruments, and other applications where sound quality is paramount.
Cost and Durability:
Generally, condenser microphones can be more expensive due to their complex construction and high-quality sound reproduction.
They are more delicate and less durable than dynamic microphones, requiring careful handling.
Electret Microphones
Principle of Operation:
Electret microphones are a type of condenser microphone but with a significant difference in how they are powered.
In electret mics, the diaphragm or backplate is permanently charged due to a material called an electret (a dielectric material with a quasi-permanent electric charge).
This eliminates the need for a continuous external power source to maintain the charge on the diaphragm and backplate.
Power Requirements:
While electret microphones do not require phantom power for the capsule, they still need a small amount of power (usually provided by a battery or a low-voltage power supply) for the internal preamplifier.
This makes them more convenient for portable applications.
Sensitivity and Sound Quality:
Electret microphones are also quite sensitive and have a good frequency response, though they are typically not as high-end as true condenser microphones.
They are widely used in applications where space and power constraints are important, such as in lavalier (lapel) mics, headset mics, and various consumer electronics.
Cost and Durability:
Electret microphones are generally less expensive than true condenser microphones.
They are durable and can be made very compact, making them ideal for use in portable and consumer devices.
Summary
Condenser Microphones: High sensitivity and excellent sound quality, require external power (phantom power or battery), often used in professional audio settings, and are typically more expensive and delicate.
Electret Microphones: A subset of condenser microphones with a permanently charged element, require less power, commonly used in portable and consumer applications, more affordable, and durable.
Both types of microphones have their specific uses and advantages, making them suitable for different audio recording scenarios.

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

Today is June 26, 2024, and I've been working on these D-104 heads again. I’ve found a great solution by placing three small, inexpensive microphones in a triangular pattern inside the D-104 head. By wiring the three positive terminals in parallel and the three negative terminals in parallel, treating them as one microphone, it works marvelously. I now have two heads set up this way and consistently receive unsolicited compliments on the audio quality. There are no other changes in the setup, just wiring the three mic elements together. This setup works beautifully with my KWM-2A and 32S-1. However, when I wired one of the mic stands with an 8-pin connector for my Icom 7300, it didn’t work well at all. Despite my efforts, I haven’t found a better microphone for the 7300 than the stock mobile-style hand mic it came with. I continue to receive wonderful compliments on the audio quality of the 7300 with its stock mic. I also want to take a moment to thank all of you for your kind comments and good wishes. 2022 was a tough year. Not only did my two cats pass away, but the love of my life, my wife Marilu, who I was married to for 45 years, came down with pancreatic cancer and passed on June 19, 2022. It has been a difficult journey. I now have six cats, and I believe Marilu sent them to me because she knew I needed them. I am deeply grateful for your kindness and support. God bless you all. I’ve been posting since 2008 and have met so many wonderful people through this KZbin channel. 73, WA4QGA.

[@fullwaverecked]

I'm glad I watched this before I went down the mike rabbit hole. Thanks a bunch!

[@ericdee6802]

Those Turner +2 Microphones are flipping awesome microphones!

[@phillindower8550]

Your videos are very good information for non professional and professional amp builders. You and Uncle Doug are my favorites. So sorry about your cat. Keep him comfortable then sadly take him to a loving vet, and it's hard but be there with him when you have to do the inevitable. He won't suffer. He'll be so happy you are there.

[@fullwaverecked]

Dang El Paso, that's a bunch of nice mikes. I'm glad you posted when you did. I was just down in the lobby looking for something to read. I narrowed it down between "Cosell" and "What would Shakespeare read" and I was thinking maybe he'd want to read ""Cosell"... So thank you for posting. Cheers!

[@tomlu1816]

Bless you, and Mr Pinto. I had a similar experience but I couldn't find a good solution. I think only you can decide what to do. For me I tried to make my Panda enjoy the most he could in his last few moments with us.

[@amateurextra7992]

Thanks for the great video(s). I stumbled upon these while looking for a mic for a vintage Atlas 210x. The "chrome lollipop' is a classic mic; I hope I come upon one at a local hamfest. 73

[@dennisgouveadeazevedo6238]

So sorry to hear about your cat, unfortunately I know nothing that could help him. I’m sure you’re doing the best you can. Being a cat dad my own (I guess it’s a tube amp guy thing), I know just how we grow attached to them. I guess just spending some quality time with him will make a world of difference in how he goes through all this. Let’s hope 2022 is a better year.

[@fullwaverecked]

Yeah, I don't know what to say, except I feel for you. I've been tending five to seven ferals out back of my apt complex for the last five odd years and I can honestly say it ain't all fun times. Sometimes bad things happen beyond my control, but at the end of the day the joy goes both ways and that's as good as it gets. So I just keep on going and do the best I can with what I can do for them. Best wishes for the new year. FW.

[@TheDro]

thanks for sharing!

[@silverXnoise]

Sorry to hear about your furry friend. I think you’re handling the situation as best could be expected. I gave my own animal the same strategy as how I personally would want it handled-give him as much time as possible with his family while the condition is manageable and he is fairly comfortable, but if/when it’s apparent that his quality of life is significantly impacted (refuses to eat, seems in pain, etc.), I personally would want the option to pass with as much dignity and relative comfort as possible rather than going through a series of painful and traumatic treatments for the sake of a brief extension of what would likely be an unhappy time for everyone. He’s fortunate he’s had a good life in a loving home. I’ve lost two people close to me recently, and I wouldn’t minimize your experience or it’s difficulty for even a moment. There’s no reason to limit our humanity in such ways. Thanks for all the knowledge you’ve shared over the years. Hope you and yours have had a Merry Christmas and are looking toward a happy New Year otherwise! Regards from Charlotte, NC. -Steve D.

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

Thank you, Steve. All of you commenting on my cat has been so very kind. I suppose I naively hoped to hear of a miracle cure but that is not likely to be, although miracles do happen. I have Dr. friends that have advised me and with the help of my vet from Juarez we are doing OK at the moment. Maybe it is me that can share my experience. As I am told by medical doctors, the first line of defense in our body is our skin. If it is invaded by a cancer then bacterial infection is sure to come. We may not be able to cure the cancer but we can help the moment by mitigating the bacterial infection with antibiotics and the inflammatory immune response and pain of the body with drugs like prednisone. Then watch and love and see what tomorrow brings. In the case of of animals we can lovingly let them go, and I promise you I will do it right. That is all I can comment on. Thank you all, from my heart, for your thoughts and comments.

[@ronplooster7152]

We had a similar experince with our Cat in 2015. We seen she was hitting her food with her front paws when eating from a bowel. She seemed to have s problem keeping her tounge inside her mouth. I searched on the internet for what may cause this, cancer seemed likely. We made a apoinment with a Vet, it would be a week before we could bring her in. In just the week it had got worse, she could not close her mouth. At at Vet we were told it was cancer, the only this they could do is remove her tounge, that would be very painfull fo her and not complete cure. She was happy and full of life. We understand your concern for Pinto its your current focus, its not that your Cat in more imoptant than People. This was very well said in the previous coments.

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

After posting this video, reading some comments from viewers and doing a little more research, I see now that these types of microphones are called electret microphones and not actually "condenser" i.e. "capacitor" microphones although they are a type of "capacitor" microphone. They might also be referred as "FET" microphones for the FET amplifier built into each microphone. There is a quote and link to a Wikipedia article in a below comment that explains the difference in these types of microphone transducers.

[@markg1051]

Happy New Year David! Cheers and stay well.

[@gizmothewytchdoktor1049]

when it comes time don't just hand him to the vet....be there with him. he will let you know when it's time. it's the greatest thing you can do to help repay the love they give every day.

[@InternetGoldMiner]

Dynamic microphones work great esp with a little eq. Atr30 is a secret weapon.

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

I did some research on that ART30. Seems like a real winner. I may have to buy one. Thanks. I bought an inexpensive Heil dynamic microphone made for ham radio operators with PTT switch and I was very disappointed. I know Heil makes great microphones but I guess I just got a bad one. I put an electret element in it and now it is great...

[@tremolux13]

I hope you have a wonderful New Year! I’ve learned so much from channel (I’ve forgotten how long I’ve been following you!) through out these years! Thank you for that beautiful knowledge you’ve provided throughout the years!

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

Thank you, Jesse. You are very kind. It is going on 14 years I have been posting. Hard to believe as the time went by so fast. I started it because I wanted to record some videos of my grandson. Then I thought I would measure and post harmonic profiles of different guitar amplifiers (and was the reason I started taking in amplifiers for repair - so I could take them apart and test them...) I wanted to document how to analytically verify each type/brand of guitar amplifier. Naïve as I was to not realize this had already been done by a different method. Makes me laugh now. But it has turned out even better than just that first project with a world full of viewers that are such wonderful people. It is my pleasure to be able to communicate with all of you and as I often times state, I learn as much from you guys from your comments, as you learn from me. Stay safe and healthy in the New Year.

[@EdgarsLS]

the TRS connectors (6.3mm / 1/4inch jacks) are tip-ring-sleeve, and they're named the same way, a stereo 1/4inch connector would be a TRS, a mono one would be TS or just mono 1.4inch.

[@Brenda-jf2pe]

I have a shure 577 Caroid microphone works great on a TS-520s ! I have a D-104 tug9 with the amp board installed I am going to instal your mod. The Christie went bad on the D-104

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

I get great reports with the cheap mic elements. You won't be using the amp board, just the battery holder. I think you will be pleased.

[@EdgarsLS]

I'm pretty sure that microphone you took apart is an electret microphone, not a condenser, the microphone generates voltage all by itself, the FET is there just to amplify it, while a condenser mic would need a high voltage supply (~100 - 300volts) to the microphone, which is usually supplied externally in a preamp usually located in the microphone body/case

[@EJP286CRSKW]

The element is an electret but it needs power for the FET amplifier. Back in the day you used to send -48V phantom power, or more if the head amp used vacuum tubes.

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

I have read of those high voltage type microphones but I have never dealt with them. It seems they would be, as you mention, a true condenser microphone. I always learn from you guys... Thank You Here is something interesting I got from Wikipedia. I suppose their comment where is says it does not need a "polarizing" power supply (the HV supply) does not mean that it does not need amplification, in our case, a FET amplifier that needs power to operate. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electret_microphone "An electret microphone is a type of electrostatic capacitor-based microphone, which eliminates the need for a polarizing power supply by using a permanently charged material. An electret is a stable dielectric material with a permanently embedded static electric dipole moment (which, due to the high resistance and chemical stability of the material, will not decay for hundreds of years). The name comes from electrostatic and magnet; drawing analogy to the formation of a magnet by alignment of magnetic domains in a piece of iron. Electrets are commonly made by first melting a suitable dielectric material such as a plastic or wax that contains polar molecules, and then allowing it to re-solidify in a powerful electrostatic field. The polar molecules of the dielectric align themselves to the direction of the electrostatic field, producing a permanent electrostatic "bias". Modern electret microphones use PTFE plastic, either in film or solute form, to form the electret."

[@dandruff7807]

In reference to your cat: (if she is still here). Try feeding her non processed foods. Give her pure meat that has no additives and/or no additional chemicals added to her food. Example: venison, cow etc where the animals were NOT fed grass/vegetation that has been treated with extras.

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

Thanks Dan. I do try to keep my cat(s) healthy but both died this year, Pinto and Max, as they were 14 years old. Mr. Pinto came down with a cancer in his nose and Max just got weaker and weaker, probably a cancer also. I had another magnificent male cat come to me I named, Pretty Boy, but as male cats do, they often wander off. I don't know what happened to him. I now have a cat that came to me with the clipped ear which means she has been spayed and vaccinated for rabies - I got her all of her vaccinations - and I call her, Angel. Very young and energetic cat. A real joy to have around. I do try to give her real meat and fish and chicken but they love the canned food also. The year 2022 has been a tough one as my wife of 45 years passed also from pancreatic cancer. Only took four months from the diagnosis. I am doing OK and keeping busy. Thanks for your thoughts on keeping cats healthy. I really appreciate it.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Dave, I do like the D104 microphones. It is interesting how easy it is to convert to a condenser element as long as you can supply the voltage. You and the family have a safe and Happy New Year. 73 WJ3U

[@ericdee6802]

Whats wrong with Crystal elements?, I always thought they were far superior to electret elements.

[@tjasont1]

I would just do whatever it takes to make him comfortable. I mean Give him a little human pain medicine if you have access to it. You have to remember his weight of coarse when that time comes at then end. Or talk to your vet when or if he gets worse about something to help him be comfortable. Am honestly surprised all they gave him was a steroid. There is not really a whole lot you can do. I would just do what ever I could to make him comfortable. Ive had the a couple of animals that have had cancer. I have had alot of experience with animals i grew up 4 or more horse, cat, dogs ,sheep, cows, rabbits you name it. I had a dog that was basically like my child or brother had him for 16 years. I basically grew up with him in a way this was many years ago, but yeah man it hurts to lose a family member and he was my family member. I God bless and thank you for sharing.

[@EJP286CRSKW]

I agree with you about dynamic microphones. I've never found them any use in 55 years. Poor and non-flat frequency response, poor dynamic range,, and quite high distortion. Capacitor/condenser and electrets are just about the ideal way to build a microphone element from the physical point of view, as there is great linearity. Electrically a bit hard to deal with because of the source impedance, but that's what electronics is for, right? Happy New Year. EJP

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

If we look up the best microphones in the world, we find a $7000 condenser microphone - probably has one of these 69 cent elements in a solid gold case. How could we go wrong with that? I always believed the truly best microphones would be dynamic but I don't think so anymore. In any case, for my purposes, I need a mic that is good from 300 Hz to 3KHz and actually accentuates the high end just a little bit and attenuates the bass end. I found it interesting that the diaphragm of the "condenser" it truly tied directly to the gate of the FET. Too bad the camera was focused on the background instead of the little FET in the mic element so it could be seen better. The obvious point being that the output is, as you mentioned, very high Z and very low voltage output. My purpose in these last videos on condenser mics is that it is quite easy to fix the problem with the elements going bad after decades yet the mic cases are still beautiful and functional. BTW - per a comment you made sometime back, I now have all my soldering irons in my shop on a timer - max one hour. That way I don't forget to turn them off at night anymore. Happy New Year

[@Tom-qx5nl]

They are "Electret Condenser" microphones, not "Condenser Electret".

[@AB1Vampire]

How is Pinto the cat?

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

Mr. Pinto the cat and Miss Max the cat are both gone. I have a young female that was neutered and vaccinated by the city with the clipped ear, that came to me about three weeks ago. I call her, Angel.