Korg Forums

I bought an RK-100S recently. I'm having trouble finding a cheap-ish headset microphone for use with the vocoder, because the jack doesn't have plug-in-power.

Can anyone recommend a dynamic (Not condenser) headset mic for this purpose, or a headset with battery power? I don't want to spend a lot of money because I don't play public gigs on a frequent basis -- and because it's for a vocoder.

Also looking for SOME kind of guidance here.

There's no mention or recommendation of a mic anywhere on Korgs site or in the documentation.

There's a place that sells replacement mics for original microKORG, - it does terminate to a 1/8" plug but it is a condenser mic. I can only assume that when the manual says it does not support mics with 'plug-in power' they are referring to condenser mics?!? What is that all about anyway, why not explicitly state dynamic vs condenser microphone?!?

Trouble is, even if we were to go out on a bit of a limb and assume it has to be a dynamic mic, it's near impossible to find one. Sennheiser has one but its intended to be plugged into a body pack,- will that work? I was digging around the garage for an old SoundBlaster mic just to test the thing. Unsuccessful.

The only other idea I have is to purchase a $150 Sennheiser mic AND an iRig that converts XLR to 1/8" but that's a poor solution for a keytar that's supposed to be portable, not to mention there's no guarentee it would even work. There's got to be a better way to use the vocoder...

How about a clue Korg?

I just did another web search and found a super-cheap headset mic on eBay that just might work with RK100S. I think I'll get one and give it a try.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/1615234417 ... ps&lpid=82

RR5280 -- any luck with the dynamic you'd posted? Just got an RK-100s and am interested in trying the vocoder out.

Any luck with the $15 dynamic you linked? Would love to give the vocoder a try, but don't want to blow a ton of money (just added the RK 100-s to my stable and am already in for a bunch of self-inflicted add-ons). Thanks!

Yes. This cheap headset does work quite well with RKS-100. It should be fine for recording. I've only tested it in a quiet room, so I don't know how well it will work in a live performance.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/1615234417 ... ps&lpid=82

Thanks for the quick feedback. I actually found the same version on eBay for a few bucks less after shipping, and gave it an order. I figure I'll try out to see if it works and how I like it, and if I ever get to a point where I need a better quality one it looks like guitar center has something for $80.

Hey, I know the last reply is from around 6 years old (time flies like an arrow!), but I'm encountering exactly the same problem. Looking for cheap headset I could use and sadly all eBay links are long dead. Could anyone aid me and point me in the right direction?

Best Regards,
Ryuuto

The one I use which works really well with the RK100s 2 is the Stage Line HM-30 (https://cpc.farnell.com/stageline/hm-30 ... dp/MP33756)

I finally found a combo that works.

I am using a Shure WH20 (not exactly cheap, but on Amazon at reduced price) and a DISINO XLR to 1/8" mm adapter. The adapter was key. I had a different one that simply was not working at all.

Was trying everything from shoving an XLR mic booster in between the Shure and the 1/8" adapter I had been using previously.

Shure WH20: https://a.co/d/fttyvH0

DISINO adapter: https://a.co/d/e22XAEL

I recently bought one of these RK100S 2 and wanted a mic for it.
I couldn't find an inexpensive dynamic mic, just like everyone else.

I played on a Yamaha KX-5 for about 20 years, it was my main ax really.
But those were never made to be a professional instrument, so eventually
it just got played out. It had several problems that I hope the RK solves.
First the KX-5 was designed to go with the original DX-7, which had a
velocity range of 1 - 100 instead of 1 - 127, so when using the KX-5 on
other keyboards the response was a bad match. I custom designed new
patches for this situation. Second the original wind controller was heavy
and my mouth would get tired holding it. I got one of the second generation
wind controllers (lighter weight) just before the KX-5 finally crapped out.

So I really didn't want a heavy mic for the RK based on those experiences,
something visually unobtrusive like the tan Countryman. But all those mics
are either true condenser mics (uses a higher supply voltage) or an electret
mic (which is permanently polarized) that still requires 'bias voltage' to
operate. Most devices that would use an electret provide this bias voltage
on the mic jack (like laptop computers) but the RK does not. Seems silly.

I bought this mic from eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255456681070

At only $20, it matched my preference! It is a 2.4Ghz wireless with a little
dongle that plugs into the RK, and the headset looks a lot like a Countryman.

Having used this mic for a while I am very pleased with it. It works very
well in this application. The sound on the vocoder patches is excellent.

This kit comes with a USB Y-cord for charging both transmitter and receiver
at once, rather a thoughtful inclusion. There is also a TRRS adapter, a 3.5mm
to 6.5mm adapter, two windscreens, a USB dongle soundcard,
and a nice zipper case to put it all into. All that for $20.

Interesting to know about the velocity range of the DX-7.

Electret microphones require a power supply for the amplifier in the microphone capsule. Usually, this comes from a single 1.5V battery, often inside the microphone jack, and this is sufficient for most needs. The output level of an electret mic is comparable, in most cases, to that of a dynamic microphone, so the two microphone types should be interchangeable.

2.4GHz can be a crowded band, especially in a busy stage scenario, so there is a high chance of interference from other devices using the band. At a musical production recently, there were no less than seven different detectable access points. It might be worth being prepared for that type of situation.

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