A Simple Air Mike

index
air mike
amplify your toy
box your toy
circuit sniffing
clock tickling
contact mike
electret mike
hack the clock
laying and hacking
laying of hands
light theremin
make a cable
pickup
piezo driver
resistors
soldering
sudomini
synthesis
tape head

From any number of places one can buy high quality 'electret condenser microphone' elements. These are the basic building blocks of recording mics.

You will need:

• An electret microphone element;
• 8' lighweight shielded cable;
• plugs to match the jacks on your amp, recorder or mixer;
• 9 volt battery and battery hook-up clip;
• an amplifier or mixer;
• assorted resistors and capacitors;
• packaging supplies;
• hand tools, soldering iron and electrical tape.

If you have a choice of models when you go to buy an element, look for the highest signal-to-noise ratio and a flat, extended frequency response. If you have a choice between 'cordioid' (directional) and 'omnidirectional' pick-up pattern bear in mind tht the omni models usually have a flatter response curve - the quality of the sound tends to make up for its lack of directionality.

... to be continued...