Anyone have a list of places to get reasonably priced, calibrated measurement mics? I dropped my EMM6 from cross spectrum labs, and when I went to order another they were out of stock.
Off the top of my head, here are some sources I'm aware of:
Earthworks - M23 for $350 ("street price"), comes with calibration file. I knew an engineer who worked at NHT a while back who used the earthworks M30 in his home consulting business, this has led me to believe earthworks makes good mics.
Cross spectrum labs - Cheap chinese mics, independently calibrated. EMM6 $75, UMIK-1 $105. EMM6 is currently out of stock. UMIK1 is USB and isn't suitable for MLS/periodic noise measurements in ARTA. You can also supposedly send them a mic for calibration, but there is no pricing for this on their site.
Kim Girardin - He used to calibrate mics, not sure if he does this anymore. I sent him a panasonic electret mic with wallin (?) preamp 20 years ago or so. Initially I emailed him, got no response, then I just sent the mic in. I got it back some time later with the calibration file, smelling like cigarette smoke!
Various chinese mics in the $50-$200 range - eg. EMM6 with factory calibration file, Beyedynamic MM1, etc. My understanding is the calibration files on these mics are not particularly accurate.
If anyone has any other ideas, please post them here!
Off the top of my head, here are some sources I'm aware of:
Earthworks - M23 for $350 ("street price"), comes with calibration file. I knew an engineer who worked at NHT a while back who used the earthworks M30 in his home consulting business, this has led me to believe earthworks makes good mics.
Cross spectrum labs - Cheap chinese mics, independently calibrated. EMM6 $75, UMIK-1 $105. EMM6 is currently out of stock. UMIK1 is USB and isn't suitable for MLS/periodic noise measurements in ARTA. You can also supposedly send them a mic for calibration, but there is no pricing for this on their site.
Kim Girardin - He used to calibrate mics, not sure if he does this anymore. I sent him a panasonic electret mic with wallin (?) preamp 20 years ago or so. Initially I emailed him, got no response, then I just sent the mic in. I got it back some time later with the calibration file, smelling like cigarette smoke!
Various chinese mics in the $50-$200 range - eg. EMM6 with factory calibration file, Beyedynamic MM1, etc. My understanding is the calibration files on these mics are not particularly accurate.
If anyone has any other ideas, please post them here!
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How about one of these? Dayton Audio OmniMic V2 Computer Based Precision Room Measurement System
I've had one for a couple of years. They're easy to set up and use, and LOTS of capability and features.
Mike
I've had one for a couple of years. They're easy to set up and use, and LOTS of capability and features.
Mike
Thanks for the reply.
I think the mic in that kit is the usb version of the UMM6. In the past some people have found the factory calibration file is not smooth on the EMM6 at high frequencies, not sure if the mic manufacturer improved their calibration setup or not. Factory calibration is fine for modal measurements and room correction, not so good for speaker design.
Eg:
There are 2 mics listed in these (overlapping content) docs:
https://acousticstoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2-faber.pdf
https://www.parts-express.com/pedoc...sh-evaluation-of-external-smartphone-mics.pdf
iMM-6 ($15)
i436 (about $150)
https://acousticstoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2-faber.pdf
https://www.parts-express.com/pedoc...sh-evaluation-of-external-smartphone-mics.pdf
iMM-6 ($15)
i436 (about $150)
I'd like to find a new source for calibrated mics also. I've used CSL but they really need to calibrate up to 48khz instead of 24khz. Kim G calibrated to 48khz but as you said, doesn't seem to be doing this anymore.
Maybe this Mic is an option :
EMX-7150 Messmikrofon - AcousticShop
I use one of the EMX-7150 and comparing to a Earthworks M30 I see only very small differences ... 🙂
Regards Dirk
EMX-7150 Messmikrofon - AcousticShop
I use one of the EMX-7150 and comparing to a Earthworks M30 I see only very small differences ... 🙂
Regards Dirk
That paper just compares the weighted SPL of the mics, not the accuracy of the frequency response.
Thanks! That looks like a good alternative and slightly cheaper too (when shipping to the US is factored in).
True. The focus of the paper is showing that either mic has excellent accuracy as a SPL meter. I note:
-the $15 mic was as accurate as the $150 mic
-"Overall, there appeared to be no substantial difference in the type of microphone selected as long as it was appropriately calibrated"
Is this statement generally true? It seems legit to me.
I have a iMM-6. It claims
Frequency response: 18-20,000 Hz, ± 0.5 dB (calibrated)
I have a UNIK-1. It claims
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20kHz +/-1dB with calibration loaded
Some very well regarded audio nerds do all their tests with mics that are no better:
Loudspeaker-building
Described by the manufacturer as "low cost precision condenser electret microphones" with "Accuracy (direct field) ±1 dB 20Hz÷10KHz, ±2 dB 10÷20KHz"
Microphones | Audiomatica Srl
Zaph|Audio
Behringer ECM8000
The spec sheet has no ± number, but shows a roughly 3dB wiggle between 5 and 10kHz.
https://media.music-group.com/media/PLM/data/docs/P0118/ECM8000_P0118_S_EN.pdf
I note that both these chaps devote a LOT of effort into getting the test setup (mic positioning, baffle bracing, low noise floor etc) just right.
Neither of them mentions throwing more money at their microphones.
At high frequencies (above 3 KHz or so) there are so many factors that can affect the accuracy of a measurement that is not too useful to focus on the nearest dB. B&K uses an electrostatic actuator to calibrate with because its essentially free of acoustic interactions. You can't do that with ECM mikes. Moving the microphone even a small amount will compromise the accuracy compared to the reference and if the two are not identical in dimensions (diameter, length and diaphragm to overall diameter) they there will be differences that need to be sorted.
It seems Kim has stopped calibrating mikes. How much demand is there and what will people pay? I have all the stuff necessary but need to see that there will be enough interest to set up to do calibrations for others. I'm not interested in getting into NIST traceable legal calibration stuff. Too much hassle. However I could set up to calibrate the Behringer etc. class of microphones for response and sensitivity to 48 KHz. I have the ability to get to 70 KHz but at that frequency in free space things get a little weird with distance between source and transducer. The wavelengths start to match the diameter of a 1/4" mike.
It seems Kim has stopped calibrating mikes. How much demand is there and what will people pay? I have all the stuff necessary but need to see that there will be enough interest to set up to do calibrations for others. I'm not interested in getting into NIST traceable legal calibration stuff. Too much hassle. However I could set up to calibrate the Behringer etc. class of microphones for response and sensitivity to 48 KHz. I have the ability to get to 70 KHz but at that frequency in free space things get a little weird with distance between source and transducer. The wavelengths start to match the diameter of a 1/4" mike.
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