FAQ's




Do I need a special microphone preamp? Can you recommend one?

A normal microphone preamp should suffice for most applications. For recording quiet things, you'll need more gain, so a dedicated low-noise Ribbon Mic Preamp would be best.




Will you build a complete Microphone for me?

YES!! I will hand-assemble and ship you a completed microphone in a wooden cigar box case for an extra $150USD.
(Note: Add $250 for an assembled True Blumlein™ stereo ribbon microphone.
Please Contact Me for more information.




Will you sell me a kit of all the parts, so I can put one together?

Yes. I have DIY Ribbon Mic Kits HERE. They start at $199 plus $7 shipping. (CA residents add 7.75% Sales Tax)


Will you repair my "Brand N" Ribbon Microphone?

Sorry, no. However, if you read my tutorial, you can probably repair it yourself!




Do you have a microphone I could try out?

Probably not, but feel free to ask anyway. Usually they're already out, being lent to my friends or being used in my studio. I only have a few.




Do you have any plans or schematics for a cheap microphone preamp?

Not yet... (Details in Spring 2012), but there are a few DIY schematics out there. The Austin mic uses an unusually thin ribbon, very powerful magnets, and a step-up transformer which increases its output, so you don't need a ton of gain like vintage 1930's Ribbons or typical, low-gain, mass-produced Chinese ribbon microphones.)




How much Phantom Power do your mic's require?

NONE! AUSTIN Ribbon Mic's are completely passive. Phantom Power may fry the element of these and most ribbon microphones. To be safe, do not use Phantom Power!




Do I have to use a Pop-Stopper (pop filter)

Sometimes. Any time you can feel a breeze from whatever you're recording (voice, bass, clapping, kick drum) then YES. If it's loud like a guitar amp, that's fine, but a blast of wind from a "Popped P" vocal can damage the delicate ribbon.




Do you offer other colors than Purple and Blue?

YES. Custom powder coat colors and textures are available starting at $25, and you can get as many custom-colored mics as you like for that $25. (2-stage colors are $50) We use professional powder from NIC Industries. It takes about 3 weeks for a custom color, and we will powdercoat your mic with any NIC color you pick. Occasionally I will have raw Brass bodies (un-coated) available at no extra charge. Please contact us for more information.