Tesla Microphones

by **Jason Dirckze** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:10 pm

So I'm working on a doco in Prague at the moment, went out today and checked out a couple antique stores and picked up a couple of old 50's and 60's Tesla microphones. They are in their original boxes, one of them even has the original warranty/instructions. I bought them mainly for decorative purposes, they look pretty cool but I was wandering if anyone here has ever had a listen to these mics and I wonder if they are worth using them at all for recording?

They have a funny 3 pin connector, doesn't quite look like an XLR, looks like the female end would need to screw on or something. Are these connectors available anywhere?

Cheers,
Jason

by **rick** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:58 pm

show us the connecter as see what gives, you can always just put a cannon on t

by **Jason Dirckze** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:15 am

Here are the connectors:

by **Ben M** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:37 am

Hi Jason

I lived in Prague in 1993/1994 and was working as an engineer in a studio there. Couple of the best years of my life. Try getting down to Cesky Krumlov in the south near the Austrian border (Bohemia). Cool little village with some cosy wine bars, quirky locals and very scenic. Or was back then.

You should be able to just put some XLR's on them and bobolova is your uncle. These mics will be best suited as effect mics for getting unusual sounds. I have a couple of mics like these, I put them in places like on the floor near drums when tracking for a honky broken up sound. Or a honky vocal part.

What's the doco about?

all the best in the Czech Republic.

by **mfdu** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:06 am

very nice - totally steampunk, dude. just need to hook those puppies into a Babbage difference-engine wire recording device.

cheers,
chris

by **13thbeach** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:21 pm

Me like. Me think good sound will come from mic.

by **musikwerks** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:33 pm

off topic...

A few years ago I worked on some TV ads shot in Prague. The local assistant director spoke both the local language and English. It turns out he first learned to speak English on a trip to the UK where he hooked up with some Cockney lads and went out on a 2 week bender with them. So on set he would speak Czech to the local cast and crew and then after yelling "cut" he would turn around to the Aussie clients and say " Well, wot ya fink of that one then ay? Righto, let's go for anuver take!" It was quite funny to see.

He sings in a band called Support Lesbiens, I kid you not. Big in Prague apparently.

by **Jason Dirckze** » Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:43 pm

Ben Moore wrote:Hi Jason

I lived in Prague in 1993/1994 and was working as an engineer in a studio there. Couple of the best years of my life. Try getting down to Cesky Krumlov in the south near the Austrian border (Bohemia). Cool little village with some cosy wine bars, quirky locals and very scenic. Or was back then.

You should be able to just put some XLR's on them and bobolova is your uncle. These mics will be best suited as effect mics for getting unusual sounds. I have a couple of mics like these, I put them in places like on the floor near drums when tracking for a honky broken up sound. Or a honky vocal part.

What's the doco about?

all the best in the Czech Republic.

Back in Sydney now... nice to be home after 4 weeks on the road (Korea, Bangladesh, London, Amsterdam & Prague) The doco was for National Geographic, and this particular story was about a brothel called "Big Sister". Kind of like the reality show Big Brother but with LOTS more of the naughty stuff.

I've got so much on at the moment I think those mics will just be sitting around as show pieces for a while. Been doing the TV thing too long now and don't have time for music anymore.

by **JulienG** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:31 am

Jason Dirckze wrote:...National Geographic ... a brothel called "Big Sister" ... Big Brother but with LOTS more of the naughty stuff.

Certainly sounds like National Geographic.

by **Jason Dirckze** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:14 am

JulienG wrote:
Jason Dirckze wrote:...National Geographic ... a brothel called "Big Sister" ... Big Brother but with LOTS more of the naughty stuff.

Certainly sounds like National Geographic.

Do I sense sarcasm? A lot of people we met in the various brothels said the same thing, they associated The National Geographic channel with Animals, not people. The series is called "Taboo", I've been working on it in both location and post production sound for the last 3 years. I think series 4 or 5 is playing at the moment on Foxtel. You should check it out...

Cheers,
Jason

by **heathen** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:26 am

Jason Dirckze wrote:
JulienG wrote:
Jason Dirckze wrote:...National Geographic ... a brothel called "Big Sister" ... Big Brother but with LOTS more of the naughty stuff.

Certainly sounds like National Geographic.

Do I sense sarcasm? A lot of people we met in the various brothels said the same thing, they associated The National Geographic channel with Animals, not people. The series is called "Taboo", I've been working on it in both location and post production sound for the last 3 years. I think series 4 or 5 is playing at the moment on Foxtel. You should check it out...

Cheers,
Jason

Yeah it is an eye opener. :) Doing the audio for the branding one would have been difficult, the smell would have been terrible.

by **TimS** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:40 pm

"I love the smell of burning flesh in the morning" - quote from Platoon (I think)

by **Chinagraf** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:48 pm

Smells like pork crackling...

by **musikwerks** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:14 pm

Taboo is really well made. I can't watch it though.... glad I didn't go in for the editor's gig. It's hard to watch in places.

I'll stick to Football reality shows with pom-pom girls.

by **Jason Dirckze** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:50 pm

musikwerks wrote:Taboo is really well made. I can't watch it though.... glad I didn't go in for the editor's gig. It's hard to watch in places.

I'll stick to Football reality shows with pom-pom girls.

It's harder to watch once edited actually... when you're there and in the moment you just switch off and go in to work mode.

Did you catch "South Side Story"? The series about the Rabbitohs? I worked on that one too...

by **heathen** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:53 pm

TimS wrote:"I love the smell of burning flesh in the morning" - quote from Platoon (I think)

I think that was "napalm", though yes same end result. :)

Could hjave been fun doing the foley, I would have got out the barbie and put some snags on and miced it up, could have added all sorts of great sizzling sounds.

by **Adam Dempsey** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:09 am

TimS wrote:"I love the smell of burning flesh in the morning" - quote from Platoon (I think)

"napalm" - yes. Platoon - no. Apocalypse Now.

by **TimS** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:10 am

Yes, Apocalypse Now - that was it..
Its been a while..

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