Was wondering if anyone knows the specs of the internal mic in the Powerbook G4 (1 ghz PowerPC). All I know is it's omni. I like the way it sounds for certain things, and was thinking of getting a similar external mic for recording. Then again, much of what I like about it might be how relatively strange it sounds. I will probably start recording many more things with this internal mic in the future; only problem is the noisy fan.

I'd maybe pick up a PZM from Evilbay.

They can be surprisingly good.

Thanks Rodabod for the reminder. I would like to pick up a PZM very soon. I think it's highly interesting that it became rote advice in the '80s for the beginning recordist to aquire a PZM as their first or second mic, and now they aren't sold at most big-box music retailers. Don't get me wrong, though - I am not without microphones. I really am curious about what the deal on this laptop internal mic is.

It will be a small electret capsule similar to this:

http://devices.sapp.org/component/pmic/wm60a.pdf

Similar devices are found in the original PZM microphone which is why I suggested it.

Wow, excellent. Very exciting information to behold.

Thanks again.

I dig this thread. Sometimes the sound of a shitty computer mic can be pretty charming? Eh? Eh?

One time I made a 1 track recording of guitar bass and drums with the Powerbook G4 mic...for some reason every instrument came through loud and clear. I think it probably had to do with the placement of the computer in relation to the relatively low volumes of each instrument...but still... Mysterious. I wouldn't mind getting ahold of one of those PZM dealies to screw around with for room sound on some drum recordings and that sort of thing.

chrisD I empathize with your fan noise problem. At times in the past my "recording setup" has been an iBook with borrowed (errr pirated) Cubase and the built in mic...lets just say fan noise played a big part in killing my "gotta rush and get my ideas down" buzz. I will soon escape this for good when I give this fucking computer away (trade up to a better mac) and get on with my life(still find some way to make horrible recordings with better gear).

On a related note, does anybody have specs on Electrical's "Staples Mic"?

also, where would a mic such as this be found?

chrisD wrote:On a related note, does anybody have specs on Electrical's "Staples Mic"?

Heheh. You mean the "Stapes" mics?

There are a range of microphone like this.

Again, they mainly use miniature omni electret capsules such as the Panasonic which I suggested earlier.

Try the Behringer ECM8000. Behringer make some crap, but these are ok apparently. They are also good to mod.