Karma Audio K-Micro
Checkout the K-Micro mics on this page:
http://www.karmamics.com/products.html
The older versions are $5 each and a matched pair of the newer version are $30.
Hard to get hold of in Europe and quite a bit more expensive (anyone wanna help me buy some in the US and ship them to the UK?)
Didn’t those grow out the the tape op project to make a cheapo small condensor?
I made a couple - really inexpensive panasonic button sized mic with some basic electronics - so did some other folks here - mine, well, let’s just say that I usually don’t burn myself more than twice each time I pick up a soldering iron.
I heard others get good results from them.
IIRC, the karma mics have better electronics.
I dunno, 30 bucks, seems like it’s worth it for such a small price.
If you’d like, I’d buy a “matched” pair (wonder how they match them for that price?
Hold them up to the light?
Hit 'em with a tuning fork? (I’m joking, of course) ) for myself and whatever for you, and ship yours to you via slow boat from Michigan, USA.
We (my son and I) use the little buggers quite a bit. They work well for a wide range of uses. We were very surprised that they worked well as drum mics, although you have to roll of the low frequencies, as they are quite responsive to low frequencies. The are so small and light that it is easy to make your own mounting systems. The photo that I have attached shows a couple of mounts that I use. One is a clamp-on mount for drums, and the other is an x-y mount that I used for stereo recordings of guitar. The acoustic guitar in the song fragment in this link was recorded with the Karma mics. The link to the music is:
Exquisite corpse
Pretty good for a $100 guitar and $10 mics I think. Ehhn. What do I know though? Judge for yourself. By the way, the song fragment is from the aborted Exquisite Corpse project that was started in this same forum.
T
And a damn fine bit of music it is, too.
Thank ye, TomS. Twas your inspiration that started it.
Here is another fragment from a song that my son (Shea) is working on. In this one, the drums are recorded with the Karma mics (except for the kick, which is recorded with an MXL-990 inside the kick drum). If you had asked me before we tried this set-up, I would have said that it couldn’t be be expected to work well, but it does IMHO. But judge for yourself.
Drum Fragment
T
Quote: (TomS @ Jan. 01 2008, 10:45 PM)
Didn't those grow out the the tape op project to make a cheapo small condensor? I made a couple - really inexpensive panasonic button sized mic with some basic electronics - so did some other folks here - mine, well, let's just say that I usually don't burn myself more than twice each time I pick up a soldering iron. I heard others get good results from them. IIRC, the karma mics have better electronics. I dunno, 30 bucks, seems like it's worth it for such a small price. If you'd like, I'd buy a "matched" pair (wonder how they match them for that price? Hold them up to the light? Hit 'em with a tuning fork? (I'm joking, of course) ) for myself and whatever for you, and ship yours to you via slow boat from Michigan, USA.
Well thanks for the all positive feedback (pun not intended) regarding these little babies. Could be the find of the new year.
I remember that tapeop project Tom, but I'm not sure I could even buy the parts to make a mic at these prices!
I know I've not been around the forum much but if your offer is serious, and you're willing to accept Paypal, I'd like to take you up on the offer.
Hi Gents:
I searched the Sweetwater Page and it (Karma) came up empty. I know they are available over here somewhere…
It seems to me the earlier n-Track Board had a thread on these Karma Mics. With the Board members during that time.
tspringer:
Those are fascinating looking mics you have… I haven’t heard the tracks…
I’m still on a modem and dial-up… I need to get up-to-speed…
I’ll bet those sound great…
Four-or-five months ago I was in the “Dollar Store” and found these “Spy Ears”…
They are Shirt-pocket mics/amplifiers to ear buds…
With careful adjustment of the amp’s out level control they work like a charm for Mini-Mics.
Sorry…
the image is awful…
The earphone output is a 3.5mm stereo jack…
wired as a mono output.
The noise-floor level is quite acceptable…when connected to a line input and used as that format…
Anyway, that’s what a loonie will buy…
Bill…
Hi Bill,
Can’t you get the Karma mics from the US or doesn’t it work like that from Canada? (What was it that Homer Simpson called Canada?).
Anyways, that Ear Spy thing looks fun. What is the quality like?
The reason I was interested in the Karma mics is to use a drum mics…and the price seemed right.
Hi Mark A:
I know I saw them somewhere on a page over here in North America.
However, Sweetwater didn’t list Karma as a Trade Name.
?
I could Google Karma and see what comes up…
Homer Simpson doesn’t hold back He says it like-it-is…
I don’t see as much of Homer as I should.
On another network at the same time they carry That’70’s Show…
(Re-runs)
Red Foreman (the Father) on that show is quite the Guy…
He has his terminology for Foreigners…
He covers Cannucks, and their attitudes, pretty good…
The Ear Spy should be held in some perspective…
A Buck-is-a-Buck… However, knowing you have some in your mic locker I believe they could see some use…
and…
I could see them used as an external mic for the Zoom H2 Recorder…
Who knows… ?
If you ain’t got them you can’t use them…
Bill…
Hey guys I was wondering…
I am in the market for a descent tube condenser mic.
I’ve weighed many options and have decided since I’m spending time and money in a studio that I would like to be able to record some of the vocals at home (for some reason i am more comfortable sometimes their when doing something as personal as singing)
I’ve already upgraded all of my gear,
I went with a firewire card, with the M-Audio FireWire Audiophile box. (and no, no I did not pay retail for it, $80 slightly used)
Using a Behringher Eurotrac mixer.(also slightly used by me 
)
Now for the mic.
I remembered this thread and the Karma tube mic. for $226.
I could not find on the site what type of tube they are using.
Now I could buy the MXL 9000 Tube Condenser Microphone
but I’d probably have to replace the 12AT7 with a 5751 tube to achieve optimum sound which would put me in that same price range with the karma (if I bought it retail)
My question tho if no one knows what tube the karma uses is all these impedances and what knots.
what do they mean? I mean what is the difference’s that I should be looking for? sensitivity? frequency response?
Honestly I am clueless when it comes to this stuff so any advice would be appreciated. noise level? THD?
As I said will be using the mic for vocals that I am hoping will be sufficient quality to go beyond scratch tracks, one small step for man, one giant leap for jerm kind.
keep shinin’
jerm 
Those little Karma mics are cool! I grabbed a couple at five bucks each and was amazed at what they can do. Sure… some may laugh at you when you whip the little guy out… but hey, who says size matters? 
D
… 
Careful ....
D
...
and jd
...
Now..
cut that out..
Size does matter..
hehe..
Sorry..
I couldn't help but post that..
I believe, and in my opinion, it doesn't matter so much what dual triode that is used as much as what "Noise-Floor" that is created in the audio circuit of the microphone's diaphragm.. Out of say 20 tubes/valves each one will have is own "Foot-Print-and-Noise Floor".. Pick the tube you like.. Best.. Well, that's what I think..
Bill..
Quote: (Diogenes @ Jan. 14 2008, 10:20 PM)
Those little Karma mics are cool! I grabbed a couple at five bucks each and was amazed at what they can do. Sure... some may laugh at you when you whip the little guy out... but hey, who says size matters?
D
from what I understand it is like money.... too little and you are unhappy... once you reach a certain level your happiness plateaus... and after that... well, working in the circus as a physical freak makes one sad again.
Quote: (woxnerw @ Jan. 15 2008, 9:34 AM)
Careful .... D ... and jd ...
Now.. cut that out.. Size does matter.. hehe.. Sorry.. I couldn't help but post that..
I believe, and in my opinion, it doesn't matter so much what dual triode that is used as much as what "Noise-Floor" that is created in the audio circuit of the microphone's diaphragm.. Out of say 20 tubes/valves each one will have is own "Foot-Print-and-Noise Floor".. Pick the tube you like.. Best.. Well, that's what I think..
Bill..
Thanks for the tip.
I ended up buying the Cad Trion 8000
I'm hoping the shoe fits.
Will post some tracks once I get this puppy fired up.
keep shinin'
jerm
Hey, evn if it doesn’t sound very good, it’s a helluva good looking microphone, Jeremy!
Quote:
I'm hoping the shoe fits.
Sing bare-footed... or bare everything. But PLEASE! No pics...
D
PS That is a smurfy looking mackerel phone Jerm.
Quote: (TomS @ Jan. 16 2008, 7:08 AM)
Hey, evn if it doesn't sound very good, it's a helluva good looking microphone, Jeremy!
Ya I really didn't buy it for sex appeal although some pretty well renowned sexy players have good things to say about it!
G-Moe, guitarist with Earth, Wind and Fire and Verdine White, bass player for Earth Wind and Fire.
G-Moe says, "I am really enjoying the Trion 8000, it's a wonderful, wonderful mic. The clarity on it is so fantastic."
Verdine White says, "The Trion 8000 is a great mic, and we've both been using it in the studio."
Vernon Reid, guitarist from In Living Color.
"I've been using the Trion 8000 mics, they are astounding microphones, beautiful, beautiful sound. You can't go wrong with this condenser mic, great for vocals, works very well on guitar and even percussion. The full range is great!"
GeoffDownes of Asia.
"The Trions are a great microphone for vocals. I'm really impressed with the way they sound. I would fully recommend you get yourself a good collection of CAD mics if you are serious about making and recording music. CAD mics really do it for me."
Carmen Rizzo, multiple Grammy Award nominee, record producer, recording artist, re-mixer and composer. Works with Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics, Sarah McLachlan, and Natalie Imbruglia.
"I used this amazing CAD valve vocal mic recently (Trion 8000) for a GreenPeace song that I did with Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics. I just plugged this mic in and I just could not believe the quality of this microphone. It's definitely my new favorite."
Gordini with Nickelback.
"The Trion 8000 has a nice top end, smooth, and very true sounding. It's on the top of my list for vocal mics. Try it out, you'll like it, it kicks ass."
O.K. I understand all these reviews are from guys...but hey guys can be sexy too! Not in a sexual way, using the term to describe the sexiness of what they do if anyone can understand it....
keep shinin'
jerm
Quote: (Diogenes @ Jan. 16 2008, 8:55 AM)
Quote:
I'm hoping the shoe fits.
Sing bare-footed... or bare everything. But PLEASE! No pics...
D
PS That is a smurfy looking mackerel phone Jerm.
I was never hung up on looks
As a matter of fact I thought the thing was pretty hideous, but I ain't looking to marry or fall in love based on superficial circumstances only wanted functionality....
The MXL I was first interested in (for it's afford ability) was far more appealing to the eyes, no long thing chicken neck or mongoloid head like the CAD, and a glorious gold cover ordained its smooth and cylindrical head.
The MXL looked more like the others in its shape and form which if anyone knows anything about the brains correlation between bilateral symmetry and the assessment of what is "attractive" they know that is a indication of beauty and general good health.....to be conformed to an average shape and proportion.
Not that the CAD has fluctuating asymmetry but it is not in the standard slender conical form of many of the common vocal condenser mics on the market in that price range.
keep shinin'
jerm