Nice job Dave. I was talking to Bob Heil about the RE20 and he sniggered "all marketing" (laughing) but it's not - as you proved. I use one for all my videos, hence my interest.
The real beauty of the RE20 is the lack of resonances. There is very little LF coloration from rear chambers or heavy diaphragms that manufacturers use to add LF. So many dynamic mics add a bong or a woof sound, the RE20 is warm and smooth sounding.
@@DaveRat Yep.. I use RE27 too for another application (Live shortwave ham radio) and it works fine but too much punch for me. RE20 fine but I still need to lift me up at around 2k. Anyway.. good luck.. I enjoy your fun and games!
Thanks for this video I picked up my first re20 for cheap because it was busted since I can’t afford a new one. only guy I could find doing the entire repair. I managed to resurrect one with a “collapsed” capsule by painstakingly removing the diaphragm entirely from the magnet body. mine also had the dreaded rotting foam under the phase plug in the acoustic chamber which I assume had made its way between the coil and magnet after that plug came loose. Wouldn’t have attempted it without this.
Dave, thank you. It's my weekend to repair foam rot on the RE20 and AT825. Not looking forward to RE20 but your video was a great roadmap. Thanks again.
Very well done sir 🙏 Regarding your "honky" mic: sweep the filter circuit's frequency response and look for a deep notch where you are hearing the honk, if you don't see that notch in the passive eq that is why it sounds "honky." It's very possible the diaphragm is stuck, sometimes they can be unstuck sometimes the diaphragms are too far gone/damaged. Sometimes it's the voicecoil itself that is starting to fall out of shape or is pinched in the gap in those cases it's new voice coil time. Sometimes it's debris in the gap preventing the coil from moving and holding the diaphragm in a restricted state. This debris is often the old glue crust from the adhesive which used to hold the pole piece to the magnet. Microphone won't pass a freq response within limits (might still sound good) if not air tight. HPF components are the inductor only. If it goes open it can be rewound with #40AWG magnet wire, fill the bobbin. Less turns less rolloff more turns more rolloff. Modern PCB version can be rebuilt too but less common to fail. If microphone is in permanent "rolloff" check that the switch isn't stuck closed. There are better ways to route the wires than the factory method of folding them up in the rear cup making future disassembly much easier with zero downside in performance. Blue loctite 243 on the 9/64 rear cup screw may or may not help with accidental twisting when installing/removing from a 309a. That aluminum triangle bracket is really soft, don't over torque that screw or you will crack and break it. The name dB is great 🥰 2020 put me years, literally years behind in repairs but I'm slowly catching up.... sorry everyone. Surely if you've watched this video you can appreciate the effort that it takes to repair, and sometimes it doesn't go this smoothly as Dave makes it look easy ☺
I want to do the same with my sm58s and other handheld mics, but I fear I'd break something... I have light foam, I believe it came from a PC motherboard box. Would that be ok? Hope you'd make a video, it seems simple enough to do but a video from you would give me the courage. The degraded foam is annoying, I'd like some high end back on my mics :) ..Thanks for making this video
Probably buying some cheap or original Shure replacement grills will get you mostly there easily. As far as foam on the capsule, dav with damp paper towel , don't let water seep to the diaphragm.
This is a great series man. Appreciate the insight. Is modern foam better formulated to not turn into deth dust? Just wondering if this is going to be a recurring issue in the future if the mic was recently refoamed. Thanks again!
great vid! i tried to fix one some time ago, got almost as deep as you do but still have a noise issue with it, so i guess it might be a problem behind the capsule, can anybody give some hints? THX
@@DaveRat some buzzing sound like some electrical component wasn't connected right, also i didn't know how to open it and as far as i remember there is one copper coloured wire that was torn and i didnt know how to connect it.. I dont have it here right now but your video inspired me to look over it again...
Can you recommend anyone or company that can perform a refoam on the RE20's that is near Memphis, Nashville or Cincinnati? I would gladly pay for someone that is experienced in doing these just to get mine refreshed. Mine does NOT have the rattle though so that at least is a good thing.
Going off topic, but still on the subject of mics designed to minimise proximity effect, why did AKG discontinue, or not update, the D202 / 224 / 222 range? I like them very much. Does anyone still have a working D224? I've got a couple of 202s.
Don’t laugh too hard. In 1977, I recorded Betty Wright live in Miami hand holding an SM7. She was such a sport and was rewarded for her efforts with a platinum record. We remained friends til the end. ❤️
oh , the 6:35 hot glue . reminds me of the dreadful oscars this year with west side story and someone had birds-nest hot glued to her head ? well wacky oscar rich people . never repair fix microphone before all those behringer ECM8000 and the clones they seem have brittle mic that seems made of diecast metal ? and one snapped in half . flipping cheap chinese garbage
No, the build quality of these and many mics is amazing. The Re20 is a rugged steel that is strong but can rust if the paint chips and exposed to moisture the 441 is cast but the metal is quite strong for the intricate structure. Many mics are machines brass. Cheaper mics tend to be rugged mics mics like nice watches are well built and rugged but also delicate
I can't thank you enough for undertaking that rebuild.
I can see why you hate doing it, but I'm really grateful that you did.
Super cool, let me know if ya do a rebuild and how it goes for ya!
Nice job Dave. I was talking to Bob Heil about the RE20 and he sniggered "all marketing" (laughing) but it's not - as you proved. I use one for all my videos, hence my interest.
The real beauty of the RE20 is the lack of resonances. There is very little LF coloration from rear chambers or heavy diaphragms that manufacturers use to add LF.
So many dynamic mics add a bong or a woof sound, the RE20 is warm and smooth sounding.
@@DaveRat Yep.. I use RE27 too for another application (Live shortwave ham radio) and it works fine but too much punch for me. RE20 fine but I still need to lift me up at around 2k. Anyway.. good luck.. I enjoy your fun and games!
Cool cool yeah those re mics are great for keeping the low end tame when you get close and far
Definitely not all marketing, it's patented(expired) 60 year old technology is still among the best.
Good to see you here Callum. You have great audio on here and on the air.
They sell RE20 re-foam kits on eBay. $20 a piece but it’s high quality OEM like foam that really fits well. Great video! Thanks!
👍👍👍
Thanks for this video I picked up my first re20 for cheap because it was busted since I can’t afford a new one. only guy I could find doing the entire repair. I managed to resurrect one with a “collapsed” capsule by painstakingly removing the diaphragm entirely from the magnet body. mine also had the dreaded rotting foam under the phase plug in the acoustic chamber which I assume had made its way between the coil and magnet after that plug came loose. Wouldn’t have attempted it without this.
👍🤙👍
Dave, thank you. It's my weekend to repair foam rot on the RE20 and AT825. Not looking forward to RE20 but your video was a great roadmap. Thanks again.
I've had good luck using AC-filter foam on mics when they needed some love.
Good idea
Could you please explain what AC-filter foam is? Thanks!
Air conditioner filter.foam
It's open cell, inexpensive and should work well.
Like the thin foam that is on the intake of a wall mount ac unit
@@DaveRat oh, okay! Thank you for that info!
Nothing like watching Microphone, MD performing surgery on one of my all-time favorite mics! Cheers, Dave!
Thank you Paul!!
Very well done sir 🙏
Regarding your "honky" mic: sweep the filter circuit's frequency response and look for a deep notch where you are hearing the honk, if you don't see that notch in the passive eq that is why it sounds "honky." It's very possible the diaphragm is stuck, sometimes they can be unstuck sometimes the diaphragms are too far gone/damaged. Sometimes it's the voicecoil itself that is starting to fall out of shape or is pinched in the gap in those cases it's new voice coil time. Sometimes it's debris in the gap preventing the coil from moving and holding the diaphragm in a restricted state. This debris is often the old glue crust from the adhesive which used to hold the pole piece to the magnet.
Microphone won't pass a freq response within limits (might still sound good) if not air tight.
HPF components are the inductor only. If it goes open it can be rewound with #40AWG magnet wire, fill the bobbin. Less turns less rolloff more turns more rolloff. Modern PCB version can be rebuilt too but less common to fail. If microphone is in permanent "rolloff" check that the switch isn't stuck closed.
There are better ways to route the wires than the factory method of folding them up in the rear cup making future disassembly much easier with zero downside in performance.
Blue loctite 243 on the 9/64 rear cup screw may or may not help with accidental twisting when installing/removing from a 309a. That aluminum triangle bracket is really soft, don't over torque that screw or you will crack and break it.
The name dB is great 🥰
2020 put me years, literally years behind in repairs but I'm slowly catching up.... sorry everyone. Surely if you've watched this video you can appreciate the effort that it takes to repair, and sometimes it doesn't go this smoothly as Dave makes it look easy ☺
Looks like your new adventure is to design a new microphone. 👍
That would be fun
Well thank you for getting me back into Electronics repair! Something satisfying about being able to own something yiu restore yourself.
Great work!
Wow! Dave, thanks for another great video! 🙂
Thank you Edwin!!
Sweet clip!! :Loved this series!!
👍👍👍
I want to do the same with my sm58s and other handheld mics, but I fear I'd break something... I have light foam, I believe it came from a PC motherboard box. Would that be ok? Hope you'd make a video, it seems simple enough to do but a video from you would give me the courage. The degraded foam is annoying, I'd like some high end back on my mics :) ..Thanks for making this video
Probably buying some cheap or original Shure replacement grills will get you mostly there easily.
As far as foam on the capsule, dav with damp paper towel , don't let water seep to the diaphragm.
great video, what about the one that was dead? unfixable?
Everything is fixable, just a matter of cost and time. But yeah, will save for parts.
Hi Where I can view the dismantling process
ua-cam.com/play/PLqsPeTx2oVyexKnh-IJc7IXs91RUcmlVI.html
Found it!
👍🔧👍
I have a pair of them , early 80s vintage that need to be gone through.....great vid , it will help when i decide to torture myself LOL
🤙🤙🤙
Any thoughts on the EV PL6?
Oooh, pl6. I kind of realcall those being a newer less expensive version of the RE10 in a cast shell rather than steel tube housing?
This is a great series man. Appreciate the insight. Is modern foam better formulated to not turn into deth dust? Just wondering if this is going to be a recurring issue in the future if the mic was recently refoamed. Thanks again!
Not sure but I know we now do have better foams available
great vid! i tried to fix one some time ago, got almost as deep as you do but still have a noise issue with it, so i guess it might be a problem behind the capsule, can anybody give some hints? THX
What kind of noise?
@@DaveRat some buzzing sound like some electrical component wasn't connected right, also i didn't know how to open it and as far as i remember there is one copper coloured wire that was torn and i didnt know how to connect it.. I dont have it here right now but your video inspired me to look over it again...
does anyone know what kind of screw connects the XLR conector to the housing on the bottom?
Is that a green screen at the start with the desk's behind him?
It's a giant high resolution print of a picture I took of the console I was mixing Chili Peppers on
@@DaveRat thanks for sharing that bit of history with us
I can agree that the mic's design is brilliant..........BUT that's certainly a chore to service it.
👍👍👍 DeadKoby
Can you recommend anyone or company that can perform a refoam on the RE20's that is near Memphis, Nashville or Cincinnati? I would gladly pay for someone that is experienced in doing these just to get mine refreshed. Mine does NOT have the rattle though so that at least is a good thing.
Oh my yeah I don't know anyone and I sure don't like doing it. I'm sure EV Will do it but if you're careful you should be able to handle it
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Dave. I recently purchased one of these that has that RE20 rattle. Your videos are super helpful!
Going off topic, but still on the subject of mics designed to minimise proximity effect, why did AKG discontinue, or not update, the D202 / 224 / 222 range? I like them very much. Does anyone still have a working D224? I've got a couple of 202s.
yes i have one, sounds great..
🤙👍
Would you be able to rebuild a PL20 for someone?
Hmmm, I hate working in those mics! I am good with showing how but not worth me doing it again
@@DaveRat Yeah I figured but thought I'd ask anyways lol, picked up a PL20 and the foam was crumbling out the mic on arrival
Take a dive into it!
That old foam is nasty to deal with but the result of the repaired mic feels good don't it
👍👍👍
I guess you could call it the shoe of microphones since everybody needs them, but some prefer better ones.
🤙👍🔧
That mic has quite some Mickey Mouse engineering using rotting foam to keep parts in place. =)
Yeah, and it's hard to know what sorting will do in 20 years. I'd hope they change the foam type to last better
Annnnd… It’s ready for handheld use once again!
👍👍👍
Don’t laugh too hard. In 1977, I recorded Betty Wright live in Miami hand holding an SM7. She was such a sport and was rewarded for her efforts with a platinum record. We remained friends til the end. ❤️
That's awesome!
🎤🎧
🔧🔧🔧
@@DaveRat It was a nice job! Her voice got so much better! We are always learning something new!
Very cool!!
Woow 🙈😀🌸🎶
@Text Me On Telegram-Dave-Rat 1981terekibalazs@gmail.com
oh , the 6:35 hot glue . reminds me of the dreadful oscars this year with west side story and someone had birds-nest hot glued to her head ? well wacky oscar rich people .
never repair fix microphone before all those behringer ECM8000 and the clones they seem have brittle mic that seems made of diecast metal ? and one snapped in half . flipping cheap chinese garbage
I can't see a Beringer mic being worth fixing
@@DaveRat same with them all . are they all/each made of diecast metal that is so brittle or some carbon moulded plastic
?
No, the build quality of these and many mics is amazing. The Re20 is a rugged steel that is strong but can rust if the paint chips and exposed to moisture the 441 is cast but the metal is quite strong for the intricate structure. Many mics are machines brass.
Cheaper mics tend to be rugged mics mics like nice watches are well built and rugged but also delicate