00:00So I've been building my own microphones for a few years now, and let me tell you,
00:04the capsule is where everything either comes together or falls apart.
00:07You can have the nicest wooden body and the fanciest preamp circuit,
00:11but if that little capsule inside is garbage, your recordings will sound like garbage.
00:16So I went digging and pulled together the 5 best electric condenser capsules for DIY
00:20projects right now, and honestly, some of these prices are almost hard to believe.
00:25Let's get into it.
00:27Starting off with the big one, literally.
00:30This is a large diaphragm electric condenser cartridge,
00:34and it's the one you want if you're building something that needs to sound genuinely professional.
00:38The bigger diaphragm means better sensitivity and a warmer, fuller low-end,
00:43which is exactly why people use these for vocals, live performances, and home studio builds.
00:48It's $5.42.
00:515 bucks.
00:53Nearly 5,000 people have bought it and it's sitting at a 4.8 rating, which tells you it's
00:58not a fluke.
01:00If you've been wanting to build your own studio mic in a nice body, this is your starting point.
01:05Next up, and this one's for the people who go a little overboard, like me.
01:10It's a 500-piece pack of the 9767 capsule, 9x7mm, 2-pin.
01:17$35.65 for 500 of them, which works out to about 7 cents each.
01:22That's insane.
01:24Now obviously you don't need 500 microphones, but if you run a repair bench, teach an electronics
01:30class, sell modules, or you're prototyping an array project, buying in bulk like this is the smart move.
01:364.8 rating, 4,000 sold.
01:39These are a proven, reliable workhorse capsule.
01:43Now if 500 is a bit much, this next one is the sweet spot for most hobbyists.
01:4810 pieces of mini 2-pin electric condenser capsules for $2.17.
01:54That's about 20 cents a capsule, and it's got the highest rating on this whole list at 4.9.
02:00What I love about the 10-pack is that it gives you room to experiment.
02:04Blow one up with your soldering iron?
02:07Who cares, you've got 9 more.
02:10This is the pack I'd hand to anyone just getting started with mic building or contact pickup projects.
02:16This one solves a very specific problem, and it's the reason I'm including it.
02:20It's the MIC 6050 6x5mm, omnidirectional, and crucially, it's waterproof with insulated housing and pre-attached lead wires on a
02:291.25mm connector.
02:31So if you're building something that lives outside, or in a humid space, or anywhere moisture is a factor, think
02:37outdoor sound monitoring, robotics, drone builds, this is the capsule that won't quit on you.
02:4393 cents.
02:45Under a dollar for a waterproof capsule that comes pre-wired.
02:49That's a no-brainer.
02:51And last but genuinely not least, the tiny one.
02:554mm x 1.5mm, with two leads already attached and about 5.5cm of wire.
03:02This is the capsule for when space is your enemy, phone repairs, MP3 players, tiny wearables, spycam-style builds, whatever
03:09you're up to.
03:1140 cents.
03:1240 cents, with a 4.9 rating and over 3,000 sold.
03:17There is honestly no reason not to throw a few of these in your parts drawer, because the day you
03:22need one, you'll really need one.
03:24Alright, that's my top 5.
03:26All the links are down in the description, so go grab whichever one fits your project.
03:32If this helped you out, drop a like and hit subscribe, I've got more DIY audio stuff coming.
03:37Thanks for watching, and I'll catch you in the next one.
Comments