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How to build your own studio microphone easily?

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Are you an audiophile, sound engineer or something else? Do you want to acquire a high-end pro microphone at an affordable price? Why not build your own studio microphone? To help you design your own microphone according to your needs, discover through this guide: How to build your own studio microphone easily?

How to build your own studio microphone?

🎤 by Kevin Jung

Summary of the article 👇

The sound quality of a recording is paramount whether in the field of sound engineering, cinematography, broadcasting or sound reinforcement. Today, even camcorders, digital cameras, smartphones and tablets are equipped with increasingly efficient transducers in order to optimize the audio quality of the picture to be filmed.

Depending on your needs and the specificity of your audio or audiovisual project, it is often necessary to have personalized types of microphones capable of reproducing exactly the sound you want to hear. Buying a microphone is certainly a good option, but this choice does not always guarantee obtaining the expected results.

Wireless microphone, XLR microphone, boom microphone, shotgun microphone, gooseneck microphone, professional microphone for recording studio... Among the multitude of existing microphones, it is easy to get lost. We also know that not all microphones are created equal in terms of delivering a sound output that is suitable for an ambitious home studio project .

However, not everyone can afford a high-end pro studio microphone to ensure increased sound clarity when recording vocals in the studio. The good news is that you can build your own studio microphone with the bare minimum budget necessary .

Alternatively, and unless you have the proven skills of an electronics engineer, you can also make good condenser microphones or dynamic microphones in kit form from a trusted supplier like Mic&Mod . This option is very advantageous, because in addition to offering the privilege of acquiring good quality electronic components at a reduced price, it also allows you to clone high-performance microphones .

And this, without the need to be (or become) a real expert in electronics. All you have to do is buy ready-to-assemble microphone parts , follow the instructions given in the instructions and get started immediately. In this guide, discover how to build your own studio microphone with very little budget in order to get the most out of it!

Build your own studio microphone
Picture from Advancedaudio.ca

The essential things to understand before building your own studio microphone

Before thinking about buying a microphone ready to be assembled into a kit (for cheap), you should always identify your real needs. Besides, you will never be able to find the perfect pro studio microphone as long as you don't know the type of sound that best meets the requirements of your project.

Is it a pro studio microphone for solo singers , a microphone for backing singers, a microphone for instruments, a microphone for reporters, a PA microphone, or a studio microphone ? If you have not managed to choose exactly the type of microphone you are looking for, you risk being disappointed if the microphone you have just purchased for more than €1000 does not correspond exactly to your expectations.

It is therefore important to clearly differentiate between the types of existing microphones and their respective purposes of use.

What type of microphone for what purpose of use?

Once your needs have been clarified, you can decide which type of microphone will be most useful to your audio production project . Note that there are two main types of microphones: dynamic moving coil microphone and electrostatic condenser microphone. Both can cost more or less and their respective prices can range from a hundred to a few thousand euros.

Dynamic moving coil microphones:

Due to their great ability to withstand high sound pressure levels (Spl: Sound Pressure Level), dynamic microphones are those that work best in noisy environments . Likewise, these types of microphones are better suited to use on stage than in the studio.

Dynamic microphones are better able to withstand the sound pressure emanating from certain types of acoustic instruments such as: clarinet, grand pianos, bass drums and most percussion instruments except snare drums and the cymbals. Very little sensitive to handling noise , dynamic microphones are also generally held by hand.

dynamic moving coil microphones
Picture of Projethomestudio.fr

Moving coil microphones (such as the Sennheiser E835 microphone for example) are often used by entertainers, television presenters, lecturers and singers. The inside of a dynamic microphone has a magnet and coil that are used to pick up the sound wavelength and vibrational frequencies .

The sound waves passing through the internal voice coil are then transformed into an audio signal to be transmitted to the input of dedicated recording equipment. This type of microphone exploits the proximity effect to accentuate audio perception in low frequencies when the device is placed at a distance of less than half an inch from the sound source.

Condenser condenser microphones

True allies of studio professionals, condenser microphones work differently from dynamic microphones in that they do not use magnets or voice coils. Instead, condenser mics operate using condenser plates .

This makes a huge difference since condenser microphones are more sensitive to even the slightest vibrations than dynamic microphones, which are (for their part) supposed to be better able to withstand high sound pressure.

In all cases, dynamic microphones and condenser microphones display different characteristics since they have neither the same objectives nor the same capabilities. One of the main differences is that a professional studio condenser mic is not suitable for taking audio from a bass drum.

This type of microphone, however, remains very effective for recording vocals in the studio . By their nature, condenser microphones are more static than moving coil microphones. This may be because capacitor plates are more fragile than coils and magnets.

condenser condenser microphones
Picture of Projethomestudio.fr

Which microphone model best meets your recording needs?

Most microphones are easy to use, as long as you get the hang of them. The goal is to orient the microphone in the right direction towards the sound source to be captured and to place the device at the right distance from it to obtain the desired sound reproduction .

Note, however, that there are multiple ways to configure a microphone and amplify the dynamics of a stereo microphone to perfect its location and distance from the sound source. All without having to change the direction in which it is oriented. These different ways are called capture models .

Certain types of microphones ("switchable") allow you to modify the polar pattern (or Polar Pattern) unlike others which display a single polar diagram . Microphones that offer only one polar pattern choice are often referred to as cardioid polar pattern microphones.

This can be explained by the fact that their pattern focuses largely on capturing sound waves that are at the front of the mic while sounds that come from behind are not picked up. Cardioid microphones, that is to say with unidirectional directivity, are very popular with solo singers.

Note that a stereo microphone dedicated to use in a professional studio can have three main directivity modes: unidirectional (i.e. cardioid), bidirectional and omnidirectional ( like Blue Snowball microphones for example). Respectively therefore: unidirectional or cardioid (with one direction), bidirectional (with two directions) and omnidirectional (with several directions).

Bi-directional microphones are very effective for capturing audio of an interview in a broadcast studio . As for the omnidirectional microphone, it is better suited to picking up vocals from a choir and recording the sound of a philharmonic.

microphone for studio recording
Picture from H5ckfun.info

Build your own studio microphone using kits to assemble

In today's professional audio market, there is easy access to a wide range of DIY microphone . Suppliers like Mic&Mod for example, in addition to reproducing a certain number of the most popular vintage models, offer a wide choice of kits to anyone wishing to build their own studio microphone at home.

On the Mic and Mod site, you can equip yourself with all the essential parts to design a high-performance “do it yourself” stereo microphone according to your budget. Present and active in the professional audio market since 2013, Mic&Mod equips major studios around the world by allowing them to benefit from its proven experience.

Thus, in the form of handmade (or handmade) assembly kits, Mic&Mod offers replicas of vintage microphones at much more affordable prices . These working, ready-to-mount microphone kits are often a more cost-effective alternative to purchasing a stereo microphone for use in a pro studio.

This choice also gives the possibility of personalizing the microphone and boosting it so that it can best suit the use for which it is intended.

“DIY” microphone kits: a solution within reach of small budgets

You just need to manage to gather all the necessary studio equipment yourself, at a very good price, and choose them meticulously to save a lot more money . And this, while ensuring that you have good equipment, whether for sound or for a home studio project (you can also consult our guide on the essentials for getting started in a home studio : Discover the necessary equipment in this guide for a home studio project ).

C414 diy kit pack new 2024
Picture from Micandmod.com

As with all other projects that we would like to realize, we do not have enough time to devote ourselves fully to it while our resources are often limited. Fortunately, today we can access a wide choice of (DIY) microphone kits available at low prices by going for example to: www.micandmod.com .

Thanks to this solution, it is much easier to build your own studio microphone, customize it and increase its capabilities according to your preferences. All without the need to start from scratch or acquire solid skills in electronic DIY.

Handmade microphone kits: the perfect choice for learning to DIY without having to become an expert

Unless you are an electronics engineer, it is not always easy to become familiar with the soldering iron very quickly in order to successfully build your own studio microphone.

The availability of easy-to-assemble “DIY” microphone kits from suppliers like Mic&Mod helps to remedy this. All you have to do is read the manual, follow the instructions given there and devote all the time necessary (without putting pressure on yourself) to learn how to properly handle a soldering iron.

Ready-to-assemble DIY kits to easily build your own studio microphone

The choice of microphone largely determines the audio quality of any sound recording carried out in a recording studio . If you notice that the microphones you are using all sound the same, it is likely that the final result of your studio recording will be of poor quality.

The great thing about every microphone kit available from a trusted supplier like Mic&Mod is that it includes everything you need to , high-quality microphone. audio as well as sound performance at least equals that of a more expensive, high-end pro microphone.

Unlike the latter however, your “handmade” or “DIY” microphone kit is fully customizable . You can also increase the performance of each type of microphone you want to design so that it can best meet the requirements of your home studio project. All without the need to spend a huge amount of money .

Ready-to-assemble microphone kits
Picture from Soundonsound.com

You will have a microphone housing and all the electronic components necessary to make it work optimally and sustainably . You will (most likely) even be able to choose the diaphragm size of the microphone to be designed by you.

“DIY” microphone kits that are replaceable and customizable according to your needs

Equipped with a microphone available in the form of a customizable and ready-to-use “DIY” kit on the Mic&Mod online store, you can have a high-performance microphone without having to pay a large sum of money. Such a solution remains in fact quite inexpensive and above all allows you to gain experience in the realization and viability of a home studio project.

Why build your own studio microphone instead of buying one?

When you design your own audio equipment, you're using the safest and most reliable means of bringing together great studio gear. The customization options are wide while the acquisition of a “DIY” microphone available in the form of a kit to assemble from a supplier like Mic&Mod remains largely inexpensive compared to the purchase of a new professional microphone on Amazon or Thomann online store .

What do you need to build your own studio microphone?

We always recommend gathering the basic tools, recording equipment, and components needed to successfully complete all assembly tasks. The soldering iron is the main tool you will need. You must also have a tin and some specific pliers.

Soldering is an essential skill in DIY microphones . In this case, if you are not yet completely sure that you can do it, start by doing some small soldering with the cheapest DIY microphone kits possible.

As you gain experience, you can perform more complex assemblies with expensive electronic components requiring high precision welding.

DIY kit to build your own studio microphone
Picture from Banggood.com

Alternatively, and notably, if you do not want to take risks, you can also consider subcontracting (at very low costs) the assembly of more expensive handmade In any case, you will only be able to move on to DIY after having spent the necessary time learning the basics of using a soldering iron.

Dexterity, skill, and precision constitute three main qualities required when it comes to electronics soldering. One of the best ways to begin a simple DIY microphone design project is to install a capsule into any inexpensive microphone .

This task imposes a certain constraint on you since it requires you not to solder more than three wires. The operation should take no more than twenty minutes to complete. The more care you take, the better your DIY microphone will sound after you boost, customize, or modify it. The success of such a project requires time, patience, motivation and a good dose of perseverance.

Also discover : Which microphone for guitar recording? This guide helps you choose the best guitar microphone based on sound reproduction technology, directivity, as well as the technical specifications to consider when choosing the microphone.

Building your own studio microphone: is it really a good idea?

If you are patient, motivated, persistent and passionate enough to be sufficiently predisposed to design a microphone on your own , you can easily acquire high-end pro microphone components at a relatively affordable price from Mic&Mod.

The possibility of customization is one of the main reasons to design a “handmade” microphone . This option provides the enormous advantage of being able to manufacture from A to Z the type of microphone whose performance and sound quality are sufficient to meet the requirements of your audio project .

In addition, purchasing a DIY microphone kit at the best value for money effectively alleviates the concern of insufficient budget when starting a home studio project.

build your own studio microphone easily
Picture from Bumblebeepro.com

5 good reasons to build your own studio microphone

Whether you are an audiophile, a sound engineer or someone very demanding, you will absolutely need to acquire the appropriate microphone to broadcast podcasts , record your singing , your speeches , your voice-overs and your instruments . To do this, you do not necessarily need to buy expensive microphones from recognized brands such as: AKG, Neumann, Origin, Rode, Sennheiser, or even Shure.

As an alternative, you can always decide to turn to purchasing DIY microphone kits from micandmod.com to be able to customize your dynamic instrument design according to your wishes. Here are five good reasons that should encourage you to design your own studio microphone:

1. A handmade microphone costs much less than a new professional microphone

Building your own studio microphone rather than buying one is above all a question of budget. It turns out to be more economical to design your own microphone for one simple reason.

If you plan to buy a new entry-level microphone on Amazon , eBuy or Thomann , you will have to pay between €100 and €500 , or even a little more depending on the brand, model and type of microphone you plan to acquire. . In order to obtain much better quality sound reproduction, however, a semi-professional and mid-range XLR microphone can cost more than €1000 depending on the brand.

If you really want to produce very high quality sound , you need to invest in purchasing a high-end professional microphone like the Neumann M149 microphone . In this case, the price could go up to €10,000 for a large-diaphragm super-cardioid XLR condenser microphone intended for recording studio professionals. Note, however, that not everyone can afford to buy such a microphone.

choose a handmade microphone
Picture from Bigcartel.com

Moreover, this will not even be necessary when you plan to start a home studio project with little budget. However, most entry-level and mid-range microphones provide relatively limited audio performance.

Among the most common concerns are crackling, hissing, feedback, magnetic field interference and all kinds of extraneous noise that can interfere with listening and disrupt the audio pickup of a person's voice or sound. acoustic instrument in particular. Note also that the microphone housing could easily give way if its design is quite unreliable.

Of course, we may always be tempted to adopt the good/bad idea of ​​buying a USB microphone ( Rode NT-USB type for example) during the project start-up phase. Now, to be honest; the use of a micro-USB (however efficient it may be) will never be enough to meet the requirements of a good solo singer. So, what to do in this case?

The advantage of deciding to build your own studio microphone piece by piece is that you will be able to choose all the components at the best quality/price ratio so that you can assemble them yourself.

Note also, in passing, that you can meticulously sort each element that makes up your DIY microphone kit ready to be assembled so that the microphone can sound exactly the way you want to hear it in a home studio.

You can save more than 35% , or even more, by purchasing a “handmade” microphone kit at an affordable price from Mic&Mod instead of buying a sophisticated microphone, but whose sound quality may disappoint you. Your DIY microphone, once functional, will be able to compete with any other high-end microphone sold for more than €1000 on the market.

customizable handmade microphone
Picture from Lutzmultimedia.com

However, unlike the latter, a “handmade” microphone remains completely customizable . You can maintain its durability and the micro DIY can even be boosted if necessary. This way, you will be able to save and devote a good part of your budget to purchasing other studio equipment: parametric equalizer, mixing console, external sound card, DSP, microphone preamp, power amplifier, powered speakers three-way for studio, etc.

2. You can build your own studio microphone with simple components

Indeed, it is entirely possible to build your own studio microphone with simple and inexpensive components. Note, for example, that you can learn to make a microphone using a defective earpiece.

For everyday use, the simplest way is to make a condenser and electret microphone. This type of microphone is less complex to design than an externally polarized condenser microphone . In fact, you can find electret bases almost everywhere.

Note also that this component can also be extracted from an old phone or a defective laptop. It is important to note in passing that a wireless lavalier microphone, like most ordinary headset microphones or gaming microphones , belongs to the family of electret microphones.

Let us therefore note (still as an example) that it is entirely possible to design an electret microphone based on the following elements:

  • An electret capsule,
  • A 3.5 mm jack cable,
  • A microphone box,
  • A fine thread,
  • A paper clip (or a hair clip),
  • Tin and soldering equipment,
  • Insulating tape.
build your own studio microphone with a DIY kit
Picture from Eli-audio.blogspot.com

The good news is that all of these components can be included in a ready-to-assemble DIY microphone kit . Such a kit costs much less on the Mic&Mod website. Alternatively, you can also buy an inexpensive microphone and rebuild it from scratch using DIY microphone modification kits available at www.micandmod.com.

All while taking care to sort out the components that will be used to boost the performance of the microphone to be rebuilt by yourself.

For example, you can replace the capsule, flatten the response curve to cover a bandwidth of between 20 Hz and 20 kHz , equip the DIY microphone with a switchable attenuation pad , customize its case as you wish, equip it with an internal mini-transformer, enlarge the microphone diaphragm in order to provide a better frequency response , etc.

If the microphone accidentally breaks down, you can repair it yourself with complete peace of mind, or even improve it without having to call a specialist.

3. A “DIY” microphone can be personalized according to your wishes

By going to the micandmod website, you can easily find ready-to-use kits incorporating all the essential components for creating a DIY microphone.

By contacting technical support directly from www.micandmod.com, you can even request to receive by e-mail (and as an attachment) a personalized assembly guide in PDF format providing step-by-step information on all the essential tasks to accomplish.

This will allow you to save a lot of time and reduce your expenses since this solution constitutes the cheapest and most reliable alternative to ensure you have a very good quality microphone fully capable of competing with most high-end studio microphones available today.

have a very good quality DIY microphone
Picture from Threecircles.co.uk

On the site www.micandmod.com , you will also benefit from personalized technical support . Aside from being able to create the ideal type of DIY microphone with the strict amount of budget necessary, you will also be able to access a large catalog of kits available. For example, you can plan to configure the directionality of the microphone exactly according to your preferences.

To do this, you have 4 options:

  • Choose a kit with elements that allow you to design a microphone that can only record voice or capture sound in only one direction. In this case, you will definitely need to choose a cardioid capsule. This choice is ideal if you plan to design a high-performance “DIY” pro microphone for recording solo vocals to be mixed using an appropriate channel strip.
  • Make an omnidirectional microphone that will capture all surrounding sounds evenly. If this is the case, you will have to equip yourself with an omnidirectional capsule. This type of “handmade” microphone remains very practical to design for audio recording of choirs or even a philharmonic of acoustic instruments in a quartet for example.
  • Opt for a kit that will allow you to make a microphone capable of capturing two sound sources coming from two directions. If this is your wish, you can opt for a bidirectional capsule. This type of microphone remains practical for recording the sound of a duet singing or the audio recording of an interview between two interlocutors in a broadcasting station, for example.
  • Choose a kit that will offer you the possibility of creating a switchable DIY microphone that allows you to switch between these three directivities. You can therefore decide to integrate three capsules (cardioid, bidirectional and omnidirectional) into a single microphone body. Depending on your studio recording needs, you can choose the directivity of your microphone via a switch.

4. A “DIY” microphone is just as good as a high-end mic

It would be wrong to think that a “handmade” microphone is no better than a new professional microphone for a recording studio . You should know that you can build your own studio microphone and make it as efficient as any other sophisticated microphone from a factory.

You simply need to take into account a number of aspects to successfully boost the performance of your DIY microphone in optimal conditions. These aspects particularly concern: the dynamic description of the microphone, its frequency response curve, its signal/noise ratio, its load impedance, its bandwidth length, its polar pattern (or directivity) as well as its ability to support the sound pressure .

DIY microphone is just as good
Picture from Sonicstate.com

If you can master these parameters, nothing will stop you from designing a high-performance and sophisticated professional microphone with the strict amount of budget necessary. The only real rule to respect is to comply with the prescribed voltages to avoid damaging the microphone and above all to prevent any risk of accident.

5. A DIY mic is a great way to learn how to become a technician

The other big advantage of opting for a DIY microphone is training. By learning how to make your own microphone, you will gradually be able to free yourself from professionals.

You can purchase specific manuals, consult video tutorials, follow a short specialized training in electrical troubleshooting to strengthen your skills , seek advice from a sound engineer or a qualified technician... Of course, to succeed in To design a good DIY microphone , you need to have patience, motivation and perseverance.

As you get better at designing handmade microphones , you will strengthen your skills and gain experience. The most important thing is to familiarize yourself with how a microphone works, the many ways to design one and the different parts that make it up.

The ideal would be to opt for a kit that will allow you to design a fairly modular omnidirectional microphone that you can easily connect to an external sound card or a microphone preamp with several XLR inputs like that of the Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre Dynamic (preamplifier eight channels).

A DIY microphone designed to clone the Neumann Model U87 or AKG 414 would be a perfect start to building a mic yourself using ready-to-assemble kits. of microphones only require an

This type of microphone can also draw electrical current from an external power source. This will be used in particular to convert the sound wave thus captured into an electrical signal. Note that it is entirely possible to design a microphone whose quality and finish are almost equivalent to those of a high-end professional microphone . And this, without necessarily needing to raise a large amount of budget.

make your own studio microphone
Picture from Soundnetwork.co.uk

How to build your own studio microphone with a woofer?

Most low-frequency microphones cost around $100 to $475 . Those that are less expensive do not offer satisfactory sound quality since they only provide a slight emphasis on low frequencies. Such microphones are not entirely effective for recording the sound of a bass drum or that of a bass guitar amp .

You may be disappointed if you plan to buy a microphone of this type. Fortunately, and by using a simple woofer, this can be remedied perfectly. Building your own DIY studio microphone for bass drum and guitar or bass amp is within the reach of all levels (beginners included).

Better yet, you will be able to save several hundred euros while the results will far exceed your expectations. All you'll need to do is gather a few old items to recycle. You also need to bring some tools.

You will need an electric drill/screwdriver, tweezers and a woofer. In five key steps, you will very easily be able to design a DIY microphone dedicated to bass audio capture .

Removing the woofer from an old subwoofer

Most speakers can be recycled to be used in the construction of a DIY microphone that is just as good as a good brand microphone. The woofers (i.e. bass drivers) of three-way like that of the Adam S3V monitor are the most useful and effective for building a Handmade microphone for bass drum and amp. bass guitar.

Using a Woofer to Build a Bass Guitar Microphone
Picture from Youtube.com

Manufacturers are more likely to shrink the dimensions of the speakers they distribute in today's market so that these large towers can be sold at the lowest price. Alternatively, and if you really care about your precious subwoofer, you can also decide to buy a second-hand woofer cabinet

Just make sure it is of a good brand. Opt for a large 12-inch woofer baffle (approximately 30 cm in diameter ). This size is ideal for reverse speaker engineering and with a view to building your own studio microphone dedicated to taking audio from a bass drum or a bass guitar amp.

Once your woofer is detached (whether you removed it from an old subwoofer or bought it in pieces from a retailer), you will see two wires. These two wires attached to the speaker cone will (most likely) be colored red and black.

Start by cutting these wires at their attachment point inside the speaker box in case you need to detach the baffle from its cabinet. All while taking care to leave as many lengths of wire remaining as possible attached to the cone. For the case of an already detached baffle, this should offer sufficient wire lengths.

Also note, as an alternative, that you can always request the possibility of receiving a woofer baffle isolated from its case and supplied in a kit which will be used to make a customizable DIY microphone for a bass guitar amp and snare drum.

You can contact the customer service of a customizable DIY microphone kit supplier like Mic&Mod to consider this possibility. Let us also remember that this supplier includes a certain number of the most popular vintage models.

On MIC&MOD, you can order all the parts essential to the design of a DIY microphone, including that of a handmade bass microphone .

From now on, you will be able to strip approximately ½ inch of the plastic insulation from both ends (red and black) of the bass speaker cone wires. You should especially be careful not to cut the metal wires inside. Once this is complete, you now have a giant diaphragm to serve as a “handmade” low frequency microphone transducer

build your own studio microphone with a woofer
Picture from Zzounds.com

Connect the bass cabinet to a microphone cable

Now that you have successfully insulated the bass driver cone , with the correct length of wires stripped at the ends of approximately ½ inch, you can move on to the second step. This consists of connecting the ends of this cone to the female ends of a microphone cable. First, start by unscrewing the female end of the mic cable.

Next, carefully slide the metal covering to reveal the three soldered terminals. These correspond to three threads of different colors (white, black and gray). The gray one is a ground wire and you won't need it, so you can keep it intact.

Using tweezers, you can now gently remove these wires from their respective terminals. You will only need to strip the white wire and the black wire (leave the gray wire where it is). The mic cable is now ready to be joined to the previous two bass cabinet cone wires.

To do this, twist the black wire from the speaker cone to the black wire from the mic cable. Then connect the red wire from the speaker cone to the white wire from the microphone cable. To prevent the wires from tangling, be sure to insulate them using electrical wire tape. Your speaker, once connected to the microphone cable, is now ready to be tested.

Testing the DIY bass microphone

Your DIY low frequency microphone should now be up and running, but before you snap it in, you should always check if it is working properly. To do this, you will only have to connect the male end of the microphone cable which is connected to the cone to the MIC input of your mixer, your parametric equalizer, your pre-amp or your amplifier. power.

make a bass drum microphone
Picture from Tumblr.com

Just try holding it in front of a bass guitar amp, kick drum, or other sound source that generates a lot of bass. If you get a clean signal without any buzz, saturation, distortion, noise, or magnetic field interference, that can only mean one thing. You have managed to accomplish most of the work. If so, then congratulations!

Now all you have to do is insulate the wires so that they are secure . Your DIY microphone is now ready to use, but first you will need to snap it into place.

Snap-on DIY bass microphone

If you're a good DIYer, you'll have almost no trouble building a dedicated case. Otherwise, you always have the option of pre-ordering a specific 12-inch speaker box . Such boxes are quite easy to find online whether on the online store of an approved DIY microphone kit supplier like Mic&Mod or on various other sites.

Either way, all you'll need is an empty, easy-to-assemble case that's the right size to encase and properly stabilize your DIY custom bass microphone. Your Handmade microphone once fitted is now operational. So it's time to use it to record the sound of a bass drum and a bass guitar amp .

Record the sound of a bass guitar or bass drum with the DIY microphone

The microphone connected to the MIC input of a mixing desk is immediately operational to capture the sound of a bass guitar amp or that of a bass drum (by the way you can also discover our guide on the best microphone for a guitar recording ).

Using a DIY Mic to Record Bass Guitar
Picture from Wijproductions.com

When it comes to recording audio from a kick drum or bass guitar amp, the DIY microphone you just built has three huge advantages over high-end dynamic bass drum microphones sold online .

First of all, the enormous diameter of the diaphragm which totals 12 inches (or approximately 30 cm) captures a significant amount of low frequency response . Next, it should be noted that this DIY mic ignores (almost) all sounds that are in the treble range.

So if you plan to use it to record the sound of toms on a drum set, you will only hear a tiny amount of snare drum and cymbals. These two sounds can be isolated separately using a handmade Hf (High Frequency) microphone, switchable and equipped with a high-pass filter. Finally, the input gain generated by your new handmade bass microphone is relatively low.

This means you can place it as close as possible to a bass amp or giant kick drum without the mic exhibiting clipping . The speaker cone being very fragile however, you must store it carefully in a dedicated cabinet after each use. This will save you from the risk of having to repair everything.