Take a phantom-powered version of the "Build Your Own Mic" from Tape Op #16, install two in a plastic model of a human skull, and you have the coolest new mic to track stereo signals in the studio while reminding sloppy musicians of their own mortality. The grinning skull features an adjustable gooseneck stand attachment, XLR outputs and an moveable jaw. I tried this on a drummer along with some Shure SM81s and was very surprised at how much brighter and exciting the skull sounds were. And when you hear the results back on headphones you'll swear you were there! ($200 plus shipping and handling, Bruce Harvie, 679 Roehl's Hill Rd., Olga, WA. 98279, tonewoods@rockisland.com)
Microphones | No. 96
600800 large-diaphragm condenser mic
by Joseph Lemmer
In his best-selling book Predictably Irrational, MIT professor Dan Ariely describes an experiment he conducted with college students and beer. (Be patient, this has everything to do with microphones.)...