HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations.
- Thread starter nelmr
- Start date
Aaron German
Active Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
I use that mic. Seems to work fine for me. But I've never been able to test it against some standard to know how well it's working.
soundhound said:
I use that mic. Seems to work fine for me. But I've never been able to test it against some standard to know how well it's working.
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
I have a Bruel & Kjaer professional calibration microphone and it is pretty close to that in response. It also makes a reasonable omnidirectional recording microphone. I use it with my location recording setup.
Aaron German said:
I have a Bruel & Kjaer professional calibration microphone and it is pretty close to that in response. It also makes a reasonable omnidirectional recording microphone. I use it with my location recording setup.
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
I guess the software ate them. The project is so simple though that the pictures shouldn't be needed.
nelmr said:soundhound said:
What happened to the pictures
I guess the software ate them. The project is so simple though that the pictures shouldn't be needed.
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
I've found that the laptop built in sound in computers I've used is good enough for measurements. If you use TrueRTA, you can calibrate out any response variations anyway. Some sound cards also provide mic plug-in power for microphones such as the one I use in my DIY project, so you might not have to build the battery box. Plug the mic directly into the mic input on your laptop to see if it works; if not, you will need to build the battery box.
You need a low wattage soldering pencil iron for soldering to the microphone capsule. Get a pencil type iron of about 25 watts with a small chisel tip. Any electronic solder will work. RadioShack has this stuff (at least they used to when they actually sold electronic parts....)
nelmr said:
I've found that the laptop built in sound in computers I've used is good enough for measurements. If you use TrueRTA, you can calibrate out any response variations anyway. Some sound cards also provide mic plug-in power for microphones such as the one I use in my DIY project, so you might not have to build the battery box. Plug the mic directly into the mic input on your laptop to see if it works; if not, you will need to build the battery box.
You need a low wattage soldering pencil iron for soldering to the microphone capsule. Get a pencil type iron of about 25 watts with a small chisel tip. Any electronic solder will work. RadioShack has this stuff (at least they used to when they actually sold electronic parts....)
nelmr
Active Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Thanks for the feedback soundhound. So stuff like this will work?:
http://www.amazon.com/Wilmar-PENCIL-TYPE-SOLDERING-IRON/dp/B000N346SG
http://www.xump.com/science/Solder-Resin-Core.cfm?SID=156
soundhound said:
Thanks for the feedback soundhound. So stuff like this will work?:
http://www.amazon.com/Wilmar-PENCIL-TYPE-SOLDERING-IRON/dp/B000N346SG
http://www.xump.com/science/Solder-Resin-Core.cfm?SID=156
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
If I were putting together a cheap measurement rig today, I would get a mic like the Behringer off Craigslist and i'd buy a newBlue Mic brand "icecycle" usb interface. All told, with a cable and used mic stand it should be under $100.
If I were putting together a cheap measurement rig today, I would get a mic like the Behringer off Craigslist and i'd buy a newBlue Mic brand "icecycle" usb interface. All told, with a cable and used mic stand it should be under $100.
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Yes, that should work for all of the soldering. Just be careful with the heat on the mic capsule. Practice on something else till you get the hang of soldering small stuff. Tin the wires with solder before trying to solder them to the mic capsule terminals.
nelmr said:
Yes, that should work for all of the soldering. Just be careful with the heat on the mic capsule. Practice on something else till you get the hang of soldering small stuff. Tin the wires with solder before trying to solder them to the mic capsule terminals.
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Yeah, well, you didn't give my active crossover board much cred either.... :violence-torch:
Flint said:
Yeah, well, you didn't give my active crossover board much cred either.... :violence-torch:
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Not that I don't believe you are offering a very viable and useful option. In fact, I have built the mic and heard the crossover board, they work great. I just don't see true novices pulling off the DIY electronics route too often with much success.
Not that I don't believe you are offering a very viable and useful option. In fact, I have built the mic and heard the crossover board, they work great. I just don't see true novices pulling off the DIY electronics route too often with much success.
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
I think you vastly underestimate the abilities of many on this forum.Flint said:
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Here is a picture of one I made which includes a windscreen I bought at a local electronics store:
You need some single conductor shielded wire, and a two conductor (mono) 3.5 mm phone plug. The article pretty much covers the mic capsule. I did not find the rise in HF response that the author did however. For a housing for the mic capsule, I use the tube of a BIC pen.nelmr said:
Here is a picture of one I made which includes a windscreen I bought at a local electronics store:
nelmr
Active Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Cool pic.
Radio Shack also has a 25 watt pencil iron for $8.79. I'll probably use that one as I can stop by after work and pick it up (no need for shipping)
I read that if there is a housing for the mic that it needs to be air tight (Why?). What if I were to solder the striped mono jack wire to the mic and use say pipe cleaner to sturdy the wire near the mic (i.e. tap the wire around the pipe cleaner). This would allow for flexibility in placement and wouldn't have any edges near the mic. But would it not being in a container be a problem (i.e. the entire capsule and it's back end with the soldered wire being exposed to the air)?
As regards construction I believe these are the steps of my idea:
1) Obtain Radio Shack 1/8" mono to stripped cable
2) Obtain Panasonic Electret Capsules
3) Twist any shielded wires together
4) Tin the center(hot) wire
5) Tin the twisted-together shielded wire-group
6) Solder the center (hot) wire to the + of the Capsule
7) Solder the twisted-together shielded wire-group to the - of the Capsule
8) Tape the cable to pipe cleaner.
Regarding the last two steps. Do I heat up the tinned wire as I solder to the capsule, or do I heat up the contact points on the capsule?
Lastly, would using lead-free solder be acceptable?
soundhound said:You need some single conductor shielded wire, and a two conductor (mono) 3.5 mm phone plug. The article pretty much covers the mic capsule. I did not find the rise in HF response that the author did however. For a housing for the mic capsule, I use the tube of a BIC pen.nelmr said:
Here is a picture of one I made which includes a windscreen I bought at a local electronics store:
Cool pic.
Radio Shack also has a 25 watt pencil iron for $8.79. I'll probably use that one as I can stop by after work and pick it up (no need for shipping)
I read that if there is a housing for the mic that it needs to be air tight (Why?). What if I were to solder the striped mono jack wire to the mic and use say pipe cleaner to sturdy the wire near the mic (i.e. tap the wire around the pipe cleaner). This would allow for flexibility in placement and wouldn't have any edges near the mic. But would it not being in a container be a problem (i.e. the entire capsule and it's back end with the soldered wire being exposed to the air)?
As regards construction I believe these are the steps of my idea:
1) Obtain Radio Shack 1/8" mono to stripped cable
2) Obtain Panasonic Electret Capsules
3) Twist any shielded wires together
4) Tin the center(hot) wire
5) Tin the twisted-together shielded wire-group
6) Solder the center (hot) wire to the + of the Capsule
7) Solder the twisted-together shielded wire-group to the - of the Capsule
8) Tape the cable to pipe cleaner.
Regarding the last two steps. Do I heat up the tinned wire as I solder to the capsule, or do I heat up the contact points on the capsule?
Lastly, would using lead-free solder be acceptable?
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
I don't quite follow the pipe cleaner thing, but while soldering you can clamp the mic capsule in anything convenient like an alagator clip, small vise (not too tight!) or whatever. The soldering steps are:
Have a damp sponge handy to wipe the tip of the iron.
1) Wipe the tip of the iron with a sponge.
2) Apply solder to the tip of the iron all around to get it wet with molten solder.
3) Tin the wire center conductor and the twisted together shield wires.
4) Wipe and tin the iron again (do this after all critical joints)
5) Apply solder to the pads of the mic capsule.
6) Wipe and tin the tip of the iron again.
7) Bring the wire to the pad and let the solder that's on the iron melt the solder on the wire and pad together while applying a little solder.
8) Wipe and tin the iron again.
9) Do the other wire/pad.
You don't have to have the back of the capsule airtight; just insert it into the pen tube with a drop of glue around the inside of the tube to hold the sides of the capsule.
I don't quite follow the pipe cleaner thing, but while soldering you can clamp the mic capsule in anything convenient like an alagator clip, small vise (not too tight!) or whatever. The soldering steps are:
Have a damp sponge handy to wipe the tip of the iron.
1) Wipe the tip of the iron with a sponge.
2) Apply solder to the tip of the iron all around to get it wet with molten solder.
3) Tin the wire center conductor and the twisted together shield wires.
4) Wipe and tin the iron again (do this after all critical joints)
5) Apply solder to the pads of the mic capsule.
6) Wipe and tin the tip of the iron again.
7) Bring the wire to the pad and let the solder that's on the iron melt the solder on the wire and pad together while applying a little solder.
8) Wipe and tin the iron again.
9) Do the other wire/pad.
You don't have to have the back of the capsule airtight; just insert it into the pen tube with a drop of glue around the inside of the tube to hold the sides of the capsule.
Aaron German
Active Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
I have done pretty much what you discuss here, nelmr. I have the mic soldered to the wire, and the wire taped to a coat hanger. This sturdies the mic. I then tape the coat-hanger-mic combo to a mic stand, which allows me to position the mic where I want it. It ain't pretty, but in works. And I haven't had to re-tape even once in two+ years.
nelmr said:
I have done pretty much what you discuss here, nelmr. I have the mic soldered to the wire, and the wire taped to a coat hanger. This sturdies the mic. I then tape the coat-hanger-mic combo to a mic stand, which allows me to position the mic where I want it. It ain't pretty, but in works. And I haven't had to re-tape even once in two+ years.
nelmr
Active Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Well I took the time to calibrate the built in sound card of my 3 year old dell (which I unfortunately didn't do with the previous measurements) as this is a bit complicated with REW, or at least I thought it was. All I had to do was loop the mic in to the the line out and then run a sweep and calibrate. Fortunately, I found out that the sound card has a pretty accurate response being only -3dB at 10Hz. The high end only fluctuated less than 0.5dB from about 10k on ward if I remember (I don't have the graph with me).
Noise was pretty low too with the loop back. I don't remember exactly what the level was though. The high noise I had before was when I was having it hooked to the RS Meter with nothing playing.
Flint said:
Well I took the time to calibrate the built in sound card of my 3 year old dell (which I unfortunately didn't do with the previous measurements) as this is a bit complicated with REW, or at least I thought it was. All I had to do was loop the mic in to the the line out and then run a sweep and calibrate. Fortunately, I found out that the sound card has a pretty accurate response being only -3dB at 10Hz. The high end only fluctuated less than 0.5dB from about 10k on ward if I remember (I don't have the graph with me).
Noise was pretty low too with the loop back. I don't remember exactly what the level was though. The high noise I had before was when I was having it hooked to the RS Meter with nothing playing.
soundhound
Well-Known Member
Re: HSU VTF-15H In room measurements - All 15 configurations
Noise is not really a factor when doing response measurements as long as the noise level is an order of magnitude below the signal you're measuring (even the noisiest sound cards would easily meet this criteria).
When preamp self noise is important is when you're doing noise floor measurements (duh...) or some distortion measurements.
nelmr said:
Noise is not really a factor when doing response measurements as long as the noise level is an order of magnitude below the signal you're measuring (even the noisiest sound cards would easily meet this criteria).
When preamp self noise is important is when you're doing noise floor measurements (duh...) or some distortion measurements.
