Microphones

Listen to conversations over long distances with a homemade laser listening device. All you'll need is a laser pointer, tripod, old pair of headphones, photocell, a recording device, and the step-by-step instructions in this how-to video. The creator of this video tutorial doe ...more

Turn the classic 70's wireless toy into a modern high-tech spy device with the instructions in this how-to video. I never picked up any chicks with it anyway. This is another fantastic video tutorial by KipKay.

All you'll need to connect your Rock Band microphone to a personal computer is an empty USB port. This brief, step-by-step tutorial will show you precisely what to do (and guide Windows users through the driver installation process). Start digitally recording with your Rock Ba ...more

Check out this film and theater video tutorial on how to set up a wireless microphone for sound recording. Confused about wireless and what's involved? Learn the proper set-up of a wireless microphone. Knowing these few tips will provide successful results and great audio rec ...more

Looking to go electric on the cheap? In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to make a contact microphone out of a Piezo Transducer, available for $2 from Radioshack (part #273073A). You'll also need some sort of audio connector, which can either be salvaged from old electron ...more

A video that shows how to convert an ordinary headphone into a mic.

For under $20 in parts, build this condenser microphone yourself at home.

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a microphone with a pair of headphones. Headphones have properties and construction similarities that are similar to a microphone. Instead of plugging the headphones into the headphone jack, plug it into the microphone jack. Th ...more

Here's a an easy to make, dollar store DIY spy microphone that lets you listen from afar and bring the sounds up close. From Make Magazine Volume 14

Now this is a DIY microphone. It turns out all you need to make a quasi-functional mic is a pair of razor blades, a pencil, some tupperware, and clips to run the signal from the razor blades to a resistor. Watch this video to learn how to make this awesome DIY mic and never fi ...more

MAKE and Kipkay brings the do-it-yourself mindset to all the technology in your life. Make Magazine celebrates your right to tweak, hack, and bend any technology to your own will. In this video tutorial episode of Weekend Projects with Kipkay, you'll learn how to build a pair ...more

An amplifier is something that amplified the voltage on a circuit. The most basic kind is an operational amplifier, and this video will show you how these work and how to use them in your electronics. As an example you'll learn how to make a microphone circuit for spying on pe ...more

Joe Richardson, Five Sprockets consultant, demonstrates how to build your own functional boom microphone. First, if you don't already have one, get a microphone from your local electronics store. Then, pick up a mic holder. Next, you'll also need a telescoping pole like a pain ...more

If your LEGO men are raring to get a rock band going, then who are you to stop them? With a few LEGO blocks, you can easily create some nifty instruments for them to start jamming with. In this video, watch and learn the steps to creating a guitar, bass and cello out of LEGOs. ...more

This video is for XBOX360 users, and includes general suggestions for the types and models of headsets to use for the gaming system. The man on the screen giving advice is Michael Weezner, who says he is an "avid video gamer" and who has much experience about selling, buying a ...more

What to say on the mic to keep the crowd interested. When you are DJing, you need to have a confident entertainer persona so that you can connect with the audience.

This instructional video shows how to make a cheap contact microphone. These mikes pick up subtle sounds, and are so cheap that if they get smashed in a musical melee, it's no big deal. This video demonstrates the amplification of a dryer, a teapot, and a stockpot with water i ...more

Watch as Kipkay from MAKE Magazine shows you how to make something really cool for a shake microphone, with parts from RadioShack. You'll be transforming a simple shake flashlight into a so-called shake microphone. The fun won't stop when you hear your shaky voice out loud. M ...more

This is an in depth tutorial on how to use the Motif XS vocoder. Subjects covered are: which microphone to use for vocoding, how to connect the mic, how to set up the parameters from utility mode and a short demo of the 4 basic vocoder voices from the Motif XS ROM.

Recording professional-sounding music at home is cheaper and easier than ever before, but still neither cheap nor easy compared to, say, grilled-cheese-sandwich-making. If you need some help getting started watch this video, which will teach you all about mics, cables, digital ...more

Check out this instructional recording video that shows you how to mic a drum kit for a live performance. This uses a minimalist set up with the Shure drum microphone kit. The kit includes six mics and three clips. Record your drum kit during a live performance by learning how ...more

Bill Myer compares four different lavalier microphones for use in producing videos: Sony ECM 55, Sony ECM 66, and Radio Shack lavalier microphones.

This tutorial will teach you how to make a simple Flash app that uses the microphon using the ActionScript code: m = Microphone.get(); attachAudio(m); m.setUseEchoSuppression(false); onEnterFrame = function () { box._x+=m.activityLevel/25; };

You can make an inexpensive and effective microphone boom pole just by using a extensible paint roller handle. Add a few modifications (all you'll need is a few pieces of basic hardware), and you will have your own DiY microphone boom.

This video is a demonstration of how to reassemble a Shure SM 57 microphone. There is no dialogue in this video, so you have to learn by watching.

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to record songs on the Internet without a microphone. Begin by putting the sound control icon into the application bar. Then go to Volume Control and click on Properties. Click on Recording and then select all the recording options. No ...more

For any of you aspiring to enter the league of Broadcast News, this unique instructional will make your newscast look totally professional. The mike flag (or mic flag) is that box that surrounds the microphone and has the call letters of your tv station or network. ABC, or Fox ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a microphone blimp. You will first need a shotgun microphone and a power module that attaches to the microphone. There will be low roll off switch on the bottom which is supposed to help with wind noise. Next you will need to build a blim ...more

For anyone who has ever used a microphone, trying to record something during a windy day can be a bit of a pain. Of course we can eliminate most of the interference with a simple wind screen that can be purchased at the store, but many times they can be a bit pricey. Well, in ...more

Sound card or microphone on the fritz? With a little bit of savvy, you can troubleshoot and solve the problem yourself. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to from the folks at Britec can present a complete overview of the process in just over ten minutes ...more

One of the best tools for audio systems is a wireless microphone. This video will give you tips on how to use a wireless microphone if you're shooting on the move, or if you're a one man band type producer.

This is a great video that breaks down the different types of microphones available and how you can use them to get different results or resolve different problems. If you use the right microphone, your videos will come out that much better.

Use the mic to amplify your voice so it can be heard over the music.

In this how-to video, you will learn how to use a microphone in order to rap or record speech. A mic can be used for instruments, vocals, and other things. There is a proper way to hold the microphone. First, do not the hold the mic with your hand over the mouth piece. Do not ...more

Rajo from the SubStream's "Film Lab" has some tips regarding sound recording. Not all microphones are created equal... some are small, some are big, but all have their advantages. Depending on the scenario, of course. There's the lavalier mic, and the handheld, and the shotgu ...more

Learn two ways of using the mic when DJing and how to use the mic and the volume controls at the same time.