For the ninth straight year, Austin Ribbon Microphones conducted a “DIY” ribbon microphone build for students of The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS), an event headed by Rick Wilkinson and Bob Kostlan of Austin Ribbon Microphones. Dave Royer of Royer Labs also attended and hosted his own Audio Engineering Society event with the school’s student section of the AES.
“CRAS consistently has the most enthusiastic students that not only are excited to build their own equipment, but want to explore the details behind it,” explain Wilkinson, owner and designer at Austin Ribbon Microphones. “Ten years of DIY workshop experience has proven to me that CRAS is a career-motivated environment for developing confident students in audio and media. When applying for a position at a studio, a CRAS graduate who built a ribbon microphone at an AES Workshop has a huge advantage over someone who only learned Pro Tools. A CRAS graduate who enters the workforce knowing how to solder, build, and repair studio equipment is likely to win the job every time.”
During the event, CRAS students also learned how the mics work as well as design features that differentiate one brand from another, along with repairs, user information, and mic placement. There was also discussion of audio careers. Austin Ribbon Microphones makes DIY audio kits and tools for trade schools, colleges and high schools, and is expanding into DIY guitar pedals, preamplifiers, and tube mic kits.
“It’s super cool that CRAS graduates have stayed in touch over the years,” Wilkinson adds. “Austin Microphones regularly receives images and sound samples from CRAS students who built the microphone at a workshop years earlier, and have used it on projects… some at professional studios where CRAS graduates have landed.”
According to Royer, chief engineer for both Mojave Audio and Royer Labs, the microphone building workshop was interesting to watch. “The students had committed themselves to leaving the workshop with working microphones, and they did just that. During my presentation, I had everybody’s attention, as was evident in the ‘hear a pin drop’ silence in the auditorium during the presentation and the volley of cogent comments and questions that followed. I am impressed with the program and staff at CRAS.”
CRAS student Dempsey Payne notes, “I had a great experience doing the Austin mic build. Having always wanted a ribbon microphone but finding most out of my budget, I was able to leave with a fully functioning mic at a great price, and with no prior building experience. On top of that, I can now easily fix or upgrade the mic having built it from scratch. Most importantly, the mic sounds great with all of the classic characteristics of a ribbon.”
CRAS student Edward Duron adds, “The ribbon mic build process was well organized and divided into three separate sections. It was a fun learning experience with a successful functioning ribbon mic that I’m proud to use on future projects.”
Louis Navarro, another CRAS student who participated in the event, said that the event was an amazing experience. “Rick and Bob were awesome instructors. They did a great job showing us how to build the ribbon mic, patiently and overall they are super fun individuals. Dave Royer’s Mics are a work of art. He is very knowledgeable in his field, some may say he is a genius!”
The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences is composed of two nearby campuses in Gilbert and Tempe, AZ, offering education that includes broadcast audio, live sound, film and TV audio, music, and video game audio, all taught by instructors who have all excelled in their individual fields.
“Being trained on industry standard products that are utilized in real-world applications is ideal for audio engineering students…but actually building your own gear with the help of industry professionals is an experience most will never be able to say that they have participated in,” Hamm says. “We are continually thankful to Rick, Bob, and Dave for their dedication in helping educate and our students year after year.”
