Bastl — wooden ribbon microphone
Lousa
A ribbon microphone built from wood – the housing as well as parts of the motor. The name is Styrian: Lousa, the ears.
What is it?
Wood, magnets and a touch of aluminum.
Because I love wood, I built my own ribbon microphone. Not only the body is made of wood, but also parts of the ribbon motor.
Lousa is Styrian for ears – fitting for an instrument whose only job is to listen.
Audio sample
The prototype on the drums
Lousa · Prototype 2022
Prototype, opened: perforated cover and motor
In the heart
the ribbon motorThe ribbon
A wafer-thin, corrugated aluminum foil – so light that it follows every movement of the air.
The magnets
Two strong magnets hold the ribbon between them. When it vibrates in their field, a tiny voltage is created: the signal.
The motor
The frame that holds the ribbon and magnets in position is partly built from wood.
The housing
A wooden body with a drilled hole pattern through which the sound reaches the ribbon.
In progress
From a single piece of wood.
The microphone in the video is still the prototype. The next Lousa is in the making: its housing is being carved from a single piece of wood on the CNC mill.
The first parts are milled – more as soon as it makes its first sound.
in development
The two milled halves
New Lousa, assembled
