Let's DIY

Here is a collection of some of our reader's favorite DIY articles!

How to Build a Microphone

Let's DIY

How to Build a Microphone

NO. 16

BY JOEL CAMERON

For decades condenser microphones have been the staple for high-quality recording and live sound assignments. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to own a good one. Well that's about to change. I've written this article so that anyone who wants a great condenser mic (or those who just want more of them) can have their wish. For around $20 (US) anyone can build an extremely accurate, life-like condenser microphone. DO NOT let the cost fool you, this mic's frighteningly good performance will blow your mind -and it's easy to build!

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More in this Collection

DIY Reverb
Let's DIY | NO. 76

DIY Reverb

BY NICOLAS COLLINS

In the disembodied world of today's computer-based multitrack mixing, one can spend a lot of time crafting a unifying sense of "space." Despite the dozens of reverb plug-ins and rack devices available, you might like to experiment with some physical ...

Nicolas Collins
Let's DIY | NO. 61

Nicolas Collins

BY ROBERT POSS

Nicolas Collins's book, Handmade Electronic Music: The Art Of Hardware Hacking, is a brilliant, hands-on guide to electronic music making. I've known Nic since the mid-1970s; he's been a friend, a colleague, a collaborator and a mentor, yet he never ...

DIY Diffusors
Let's DIY | NO. 83

DIY Diffusors

BY BRAD WILLIAMS

While hardly a glamorous concept, room acoustics represent a critical link in the recording or playback chain. While comprehensive room design is a complex cocktail of science, math and chance — certain obvious issues can be easily dealt with to impr...

Build Your Own Spring Reverb
Let's DIY | NO. 119

Build Your Own Spring Reverb

BY SCOTT HAMPTON

I have been a big fan of spring and plate reverbs for decades, and over the past three years I have spent a significant amount of time diving into the wormhole of designing and building them, initially for my own use and now for others. There are man...

Build a tube Mic Pre
Let's DIY | NO. 30

Build a tube Mic Pre

BY SCOTT HAMPTON

When asked to come up with a "do it yourself" tube mic pre project, I thought long and hard about what topology to go with. I designed a number of different hybrid tube/discrete class A designs (eliminating transformers because of their large expense...

Telephone Microphone
Let's DIY | NO. 29

Telephone Microphone

BY STEVE MCALLISTER

You've had the idea — the sound was in your head. You've said to yourself, "Self, I'd sure like to make this voice (guitar, drum kit, etc.) sound like it was recorded with a telephone. But how?" Well, you can futz around with filters, EQ and compress...