The Vintage Microphone Database
By Warren S. Goff, D.O.
(email)
Summary of Features:
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Primary Interface
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Legend Explanation |
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This program has been designed to facilitate storage and retrieval of (vintage) microphone graphics and data. It has been optimized for this purpose and the use of a Mousewheel or Thumbwheel is of particular utility as demonstrated in the video above. One may quickly scroll through Manufacturers, Models and Pictures using only the mouse. The author has been using this program for this purpose with great success for about 4 months. The database was populated with graphics from many internet microphone sites, eBay and my personal collection. Due to copyright restrictions, most of this material has been deleted. Multiple links are provided to those sites and the user may choose their desired content. (I will be happy to share my material with anyone as I feel this would be a "Fair Usage" policy.) The interface is non-standard for Windows but there are extensive popup tips and this help file. Generally, the program is pretty intuitive but I am open to modification and customization if requested. A second major application for this program is the identification of unknown (vintage) microphones using a variety of search characteristics. This is particularly useful and saves a great deal of time, bypassing repetitive internet searches. The Market Data including Manufacturer's Retail Price, the Lowest Price, the Highest price and the Most Recent Price are stored as well. A link to James Steele's excellent vintage site is provided as he keeps an ongoing record of the Market Value of many Classic Broadcasting Microphones. Some of the literature and data included with this program was scanned from public domain sources. "...if a work was published between 1923 to 1963, the copyright owner was required to have applied for a renewal term with the Copyright office. If they did not, the copyright expired and the work entered into the public domain. If they did apply for renewal, these works will have a 95 year copyright term and hence will enter into the public domain no sooner that 2018 (95 years from 1923). If the work was published between 1964 to 1977, there is no need to file for a renewal, and these works will automatically have a 95 year term." (Bitlaw)
Targeted eBay searches are incorporated in the program allowing one to review eBay auctions. The more general searches recover many extraneous items unrelated to vintage microphones but they usually don't miss any odd postings. If one searches under Advertisements in the Manufacture's drop-down box [C.] (followed by eBay [G.]), one can search for old magazines, catalogs and books on the topic. I have developed an interest in original microphone advertisements and pictures of famous people at the mike. This search often covers this material. I have found the need to translate various eBay vintage microphone auctions from foreign languages to English. This is especially relevant when one collects European Microphones. The major source of European mikes seems to be from Germany but French and Italian sources have been increasing. Luckily I have no trouble reading Australian. (Q.) Many alternative auction sites are provided in the Links (CC.) file but eBay is by far the most active. Local Estate Sales are a major source as are Garage Sales. Harmony Central has a free Classified Section under Recording Audio and sometimes deals may be found there as well. Another site where mikes are sold is in the Usenet or Newsgroups. Rec.audio.pro is an excellent discussion group for microphones, new and vintage. A Google search under groups is provided into rec.audio.pro. Likewise, Google has archived most of the Usenet back to 1981 so old postings may be recalled. This used to be called Dejanews. If you have an interest in actually using your microphone as a proaudio recording tool, extensive links are provided on building your own cables. In my experience, most collectors have little interest in the function of their mikes. Vintage microphones, like vintage guitars, have become a serious investment option as value tend to appreciate considerably. Musician's often complain about collectors hoarding all of the "quality" instruments. Harmonica players are often heavily into mikes and Harp related websites often feature microphones. Likewise, radio and broadcasting sites should be considered. (Note the various links.) In addition, vintage mikes, especially Ribbons, require quality pre-amplifiers with quiet, high gain functionality as their signal is often quite weak. The tradeoff always concerns signal to noise ratio. You will find considerable confusion and consternation when dealing with vintage microphone cables and connectors. The modern XLR standard was pre-dated by Tuschel, Canon, DIN and many other proprietary designs. Likewise, modern microphone stands often will not fit vintage brands and adapters may be needed. Microphone Flags or the various stations may be obtained also. A knowledge of early plastic materials, especially Bakelite, can be valuable. A Bakelite test is referenced in the links as are various sites for restoration and cleaning. Likewise quite a few people refurbish and modify vintage mikes. Microphone theory and acoustic physics are referenced heavily. Another topic of interest is the history of microphones which parallels the history of Radio and Broadcasting. Having said all of that, I must admit that I am still a novice microphone collector. I wrote this program to consolidate my information. I hope my interests are similar to yours and that my experience might benefit others too. I am always open to corrections and additions to this project. I take copyright issues very seriously. If anyone discovers copyright violations in this product, I pledge to rectify the matter post haste. At this time, this file is the only documentation for the program. As stated, the author has been the only party testing the software and various bugs may exist. For this reason, the program will be released to the public very slowly in order to satisfy subscribers. Alterations in the code can be easily and quickly performed as it is written in Visual Basic which is a RAD (Rapid Application Development)tool. The program has been evaluated only under Windows XP although it should run fine in Windows 98, 2000 and ME. I will attempt to rectify incompatibilites but my programming skills may be a limiting factor here. I'm hoping that the bundled literature and links will enhance the value of this product; if not, returns will be refunded. Due to the size of the program and associated files, the software is being released only on CDROM. If requested I can provide it on data DVDs also. The good news is that most updates and upgrades to the program itself will be quite easy to perform. Small files can be downloaded and installed from the internet in the future. At present, initial subscribers will be provided unlimited updates for life (that is my life). This policy may change for future clients. If there is a foreign interest in my product, I will attempt to internationalize the interface and search facilities. Please review the End User License Agreement prior to using this software.
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A. Rolls up/down interface: A1. Make any window Translucent Simply drag and drop the finger anywhere:
A1. Opens mikes.xls spreadsheet in MS Excel. This file has over 1 year of vintage mike data. It is also provided in xml format. Microsoft provides a free Excel viewer and Open Office is open source and provides an xml spreadsheet.
B. This Help File C. Manufacturer Selection
D. Minimize/Exit D1. For those users who cannot support a resolution greater than 800x600, an alternative, reduced Interface is provided. The functions are identical.
E. Add New Manufacturer
E1. Allows renaming of a Manufacturer (Directory).
F. Deletes Manufacturer and related Models G. Performs Targeted eBay searches for specific Manufacturers G1. Performs a Usenet Google search for "Microphone".
G2. Opens a multi-tabbed browser providing simultaneous eBay searches of Presets or specific manufacturers (see below).
H. Shifts program to the Left. H1. Allows customization of eBay searches. There is a Reset option if need be. To add your own search, use the eBay search (advanced) tool and simply copy the address field ("http://something.com") into one of the User Defined fields.
H2. Allows renaming of Models.
I. Opens General Descriptor Window. This data is saved for each model. There is an option to generate HTML code with all of this information and up to 6 pictures in a table of the default model. This code can be pasted into an eBay ad. An option for an Internet path to the graphics is also provided and this is the one (eBayItem1.htm) to be pasted). A second file (eBayItem.htm) is also created in the Model directory and can be viewed using the Data button (EE).
J. Add New Model
K. Delete Model and all associated Files L. Centers program on Desktop L1. Currency Interconversion of Euros, Pounds and dollars.
M. List Selection of Models for each Manufacturer
N. Market Value and cost dialog
O. Lists Search Criteria for each Model
P. Generates Generic eBay searches
P1. Opens any Twain compatible device such as a scanner and imports graphics.
P2. Scans a document and performs Optical Character Recognition (OCR) outputting a text file which is save to the default mike directory.
Q. Translates Webpage using Babel (default is German to English)
R. Opens Window Explorer within the Model Subdirectory. You may only move/add graphic/data files within subdirectories. Altering the directories may cause the program to freeze, crash and burn. Use the Add/Rename/Delete buttons for the latter functionality.
S. Saves the present webpage to the Selected Model's Subdirectory as an MHT file which can be viewed with the Data button (EE)
T. Copy Graphic (Y) to Clipboard U. Autopaste funtion. Anything copied to the clipboard is added to the default Model Directory immediately.
U1. Standard Paste from Clipboard.
V. Open a file (Supports almost all graphic formats, .txt, .pdf, .htm, .html and .mht files) W. Left click on any part of the microphone and you may drag the program to any location on the desktop. X. All Graphic/Data Files are listed here. You may drag and drop multiple Files here.
Y. Thumbnail View Window. Right Clicking allows Zooming and Left Clicking Opens the Full Screen View Mode. You may Drag and Drop single Files here.
Z. Deletes a Single Graphic or Data File AA. Performs a Search for Targeted Criteria
BB. Opens Preview Window whenever the Cursor is over (Y)
CC. Opens the extensive Microphone Internet Links file (Notify me if any links are Dead). There is a random search option here so that it will send you to one of the links in a pseudo-random fashion.
DD. Keeps the program on top of all others. EE. Opens Data File Viewing Window. This button becomes visible only when a text or data file (mht, htm, html, pdf and txt) exists for a particular model.
FF. Input the specific characteristics and Search Criteria for each Microphone Model.
GG. This is a really neat feature. After entering the information in the Conditions module (I) and saving it, click the eBay icon and three files are generated within the currently selected Make and Model. Ebayitem.htm contains local information with links to the graphics in the same directory. The second, Ebayitem1.htm contains links to your graphics on your specified web url *suitable for using in an eBay ad. The third file is YourMakeModel.mht which encapsulates all od the graphics in one file. You may upload this file to my Website for purposes of sharing information with other users or to advertise. You may convert the mht file to a pdf file using a free web service (below)
I also plan to provide program upgrades and additional graphic and data files for download here. This is a free service called WebExplorer Lite (http://www.gleamtech.com) It is offered by me as long as it is free. A free service to convert your mht file into a pdf (Acrobat) is here. They email you the finished file as an attachment, which can be uploaded to my site as well. Really cool.
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Contact Information: Warren S. Goff, D.O.
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