AZS microphones

[Jomme]

Hello hello,
I was looking for information about AZS microphones to see how they compare to others(Harmonik for example) , its strange, when I google I can find a thread where Paul briefly mentions them but with the search on the forum nothing appears so... I was also interested to see if the microvox system is still made... can somebody enlighten me?
Cheers
Jomme

 

[JerryPH]

Google is your friend. Just google Microvox accordion microphones and find all sorts of info.
microvox accordion microphones

 

[debra]

I too mainly know about AZS and Harmonik from postings by people using them. Harmonik either has more users or is better at communicating, I don't know.
To me it appears that both are fairly similar but AZS uses 6 mic capsules in its "full size" model versus 5 capsules in the Harmonik. Whether 6 produces a still better "spread" than 5 I don't know. Harmonik also has a model with double the number of capsules, especially targeting cassotto accordions.
Long before these there was and still is Microvox, which is a completely non-invasive system: everything positioned on the outside and attached with velcro, so it's easily removable as well. Microvox uses 4 capsules (model 420 treble side) and in my experience with it that's just about enough.
I have pictures from a quintet (plus drums) performance in 2012, 4 accordions using the Microvox system (model 420, mounted on a bracket) and the bass with internal mics (the common Sennheiser system). Wer were playing in front of a large castle (at Bokrijk in Belgium), using 2 Bose L1 model 2 units placed behind us (yes, commonly this is a feedback loop nightmare, but not with this setup!).
People came to us from *behind* the castle telling us they could enjoy our performance loud and clear even there. I can tell you that the sound was really loud where we were sitting and playing!
The Microvox system is really great, but... it is external, uses an external "power supply" unit (with volume control), and is thus perhaps a bit more prone to cabling problems. Harmonik and AZS are installed inside and you just plug in a jack (or with the Harmonik Galliano model an XLR cable) and you're good to go.

 

[jozz]

At first glance similar but the AZS (109) seems to be a 2-pin design vs. 3-pin of the Harmonik (501).

The Harmonik overall has a polished finish where the AZS seems to be a more crude copy of the same design. Or maybe it's the other way around?

Based on how the product as a whole looks, I suppose the AZS is cheaper. Outside of really quiet environment, or if you actually do some measurements, you won't notice much difference in result / output. A 3-pin design (in theory) is preferred for power consumption and S/N value. Still, a properly implemented 2-pin design can also get along fine.

I would let the wallet decide here.

 

[debra]

At first glance similar but the AZS (109) seems to be a 2-pin design vs. 3-pin of the Harmonik (501).
...

I have no idea what you mean here. Where do you see 2-pin versus 3-pin?

 

[Jomme]

Google is your friend. Just google Microvox accordion microphones and find all sorts of info.
microvox accordion microphones

Of course I did but show me where it says they are still in business... most links are dead or sold out shops... their official website is dead!

 

[Jomme]

Yes they look very similar at a first glance... It would not surprise me they use the same Opamp to as a driver...
Nice pic Paul, I believe microvox is very good and indeed very easy to move or keep when you change accordeons... I think it needs 2 bars and a amplifier?
But the question remains...'are they still in business?' I sent a mail to theaccordionshop but no answer so far...

 

[jozz]

I have no idea what you mean here. Where do you see 2-pin versus 3-pin?

most visibly the amount of wires coming from each capsule

but you can also deduct this from other components and wiring

Meaning: the AZS' signal is carried on the '+'-wire, whereas the Harmonik has a dedicated signal wire. The common Sennheiser circuits also come in these variants. Adding in price, but hard to notice a difference in daily use

 

[debra]

most visibly the amount of wires coming from each capsule

but you can also deduct this from other components and wiring

Meaning: the AZS' signal is carried on the '+'-wire, whereas the Harmonik has a dedicated signal wire. The common Sennheiser circuits also come in these variants. Adding in price, but hard to notice a difference in daily use

I see it now. Indeed the AZS appears to have just 2-wire capsules and the Harmonik appears to have 2-wire capsules. I can tell you that the Microvox system capsules are also just 2-wire and the cheap systems Carini (in Castelfidardo) sells are also 2-wire. They all work fine, but a 3-wire may be technically better. I have not heard 2-wire and 3-wire side by side to notice the difference.

 

[Pipemajor]

Of course I did but show me where it says they are still in business... most links are dead or sold out shops... their official website is dead!

If you click on the Eagle Music link, they are there with current prices

 

[Pipemajor]

If you click on the Eagle Music link, they are there with current prices

Also mrmicrophone.com is Microvox's web site with all details

 

[Jomme]

thanks guys!

 

[john29400]

Even though my response is a bit belated, I’d like to share my two cents. AZS microphones are budget-friendly and offer good value for beginners, while Harmonica microphones are known for their professional-grade quality and superior sound. Your choice depends on your budget and recording needs.

 

[Ventura]

the technical advantage of a 3 wire circuit is merely that it should be easier
to design and implement shielding for the wire carrying the audio signal

the 9 volt bias wire and ground wire need no special consideration,
except that if your accordion grill is an Aluminum foundation, you need to
make sure it is well grounded to the circuit.. you will soon understand why..

noise and interference can and will be picked up and amplified, and the
Audio signal wire is in a sense an antenna, open to all electromagnetic
signals such as Cab Drivers audio, Hum from fluorescent lamps or
wall wart transformers near your cables, an this is why it should be
well shielded.

shielded cables vary in quality but in the smaller gauges are often
a wire in an insulating sheath with a 100% covering of carbon-impregnated
(thin black) conductive material wrapped with a copper drain wire that
can be soldered to the circuit. (The circuit boards are typically shielded
with a "ground plane" design built in)

now with this in mind, look again at those 2 very expensive systems pics
above, and note the cheap wiring of the Potentiometers and some other
connection wiring.. the wire leads are unshielded.. so you MUST be very careful
and position them so that you can "hide" these unprotected audio signal wires
behind the metal part of your grill

for this reason, as well as lower cost, i still prefer the foam mounted lightweight
sennheiser capsule Italian systems which are tried and true for many decades

 

[debra]

the technical advantage of a 3 wire circuit is merely that it should be easier
to design and implement shielding for the wire carrying the audio signal
...

Very good post!
I bought a few cheap microphone systems from Carini (in Castelfidardo). No idea what capsules are used (no-name 2-wire in any case).
I replaced all the wiring they provide by (rather thin) shielded wiring, both to connect the mics and for the volume potmeters and the wires to the output plug, mounted (and grounded) on the aluminium grille.
No interference or hum of any kind. (But plugging in a wireless transmitter directly into the plug did give some disturbance. A short cable to the transmitter was enough to cure that.)
These cheap systems work like a charm. The sound quality of Harmonik or Sennheiser may of course be a bit better, but so far I have not noticed any problem. I have used them only in bass accordions so far, so with a full size bayan the experience may be different...
My experience with the sennheiser Italian system is not so good as it tends to come with just 3 capsules which is not enough to give an even capture across the length of the accordion. (It tends to make notes close to the capsules noticeably louder than notes further away.)
Microvox is still the best in terms of sound quality imho (it uses Sennheiser capsules) but I sometimes need to play in a cramped space where feedback becomes an issue with the larger distance of the bar with the capsules from the actual sound source inside the accordion. (An inch of additional distance makes for a noticeable difference in suppressing feedback.)

 

[Ventura]

of course you would notice the wiring and do a better job than
the kit provides for ! no doubt your careful installation
has worked flawlessly ever since

i tried to find the mic kits on Carini on their webpage but i was
hopelessly unable to navigate it.. was going to post a link
to them in the other discussion

BTW have you noticed your namesake products on Amazon ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Debra-D-220-Wireless-Microphone-Bodypack/dp/B08GHBDZHW

 

[debra]

of course you would notice the wiring and do a better job than
the kit provides for ! no doubt your careful installation
has worked flawlessly ever since

i tried to find the mic kits on Carini on their webpage but i was
hopelessly unable to navigate it.. was going to post a link
to them in the other discussion

BTW have you noticed your namesake products on Amazon ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Debra-D-220-Wireless-Microphone-Bodypack/dp/B08GHBDZHW

The microphone category on the Carini site is https://carinidena.it/MS5ECOMMERCE6...FISA'&w_ricsgruppo='10AV'&w_riccateg='1010MI'
On page 5 in this category are their homebrew sets. They come in many variations (in number of capsules left and right.
I don't think they sell the "Debra" mics though.

 

[JerryPH]

On page 5 in this category are their homebrew sets. They come in many variations (in number of capsules left and right.

Thanks for posting. I saw that the "best" that they had in terms of number of mics was a 4 X 2... I would like to think that as a minimum, for a Free Bass system, a 5X3 or 5X4 would be desireable, yet I have still to find anyone that even comes close.

 

[debra]

Thanks for posting. I saw that the "best" that they had in terms of number of mics was a 4 X 2... I would like to think that as a minimum, for a Free Bass system, a 5X3 or 5X4 would be desireable, yet I have still to find anyone that even comes close.

That is a bit of an odd development. When I bought a few sets (that was a few years ago) they had 5 + 1 and 5 + 2. I bought the 5 + 1 sets. Things have changed because they are all powered by a 9V battery whereas the ones I bought back then were powered by 2 AAA batteries (so 3V only). They also came with each mic capsule on a separate small board so you could position them anywhere you liked and add more capsules (by buying extra sets) as well. The new ones restrict you to one long strip with the mics mounted on that. Oh well, change isn't always progress...
Here is a picture of the old set I installed in an (also old) Ballone Burini bass accordion.

As this was a bass accordion I installed the separate "bass mic" all the way to the right in this picture (that's on the lowest notes in the accordion) and the volume control for the "bass" then lets you add extra boost for the lowest notes. I really really liked these sets from Carini. Too bad they are now gone...

 

[john29400]

Even though my response is a bit belated, I’d like to share my two cents. AZS microphones are budget-friendly and offer good value for beginners, while Harmonica microphones are known for their professional-grade quality and superior sound. Your choice depends on your budget and recording needs.

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