Use Earbuds to Make a Directional Microphone - Mini Spy Mic

Using earbuds to make a microphone = nice hack. Earbuds to make a directional microphone = great DIY project. Using everyday items you have around your home you can make an effective microphone that isolates the sound it picks up using your earbuds. Even better, when you are done you can still use the earbuds for listening to music. In this video I will show you the basic hack, the Dialed In enhancement and ultimately the cool "spy-like" alterations that we will make in the future. At the end of the video I show the directional microphone in action and explain the basic premise behind why and how this works. This premise will be used in a future build when we Dial it in to make a parabolic microphone using household items.

To make this project you will need the following items:
- Earbuds (to use for a microphone)
- Headphones or 2nd set of earbuds for monitoring the result
- 2 liter bottle, plastic cup or other similar item
- Metal clothes hanger
- Recording device (audio recorder, computer, etc)
- Tape

In previous videos I have used earbuds and earphones for making small speakers using 3 different methods:

[rickhenry]

Cool idea using the earbuds as the input !

[timfield]

My recorder like yours...both mic and headphone jacks work, but not at the same time..I can't listen as I record..?

[pierpa_pierpaolo]

Strange that it works? But it really works!!! But I need something similar that allows me to get at least 20\30 times amplified a set of voices and words through a wall. Instead of using a headset, it is better to use a high-gain microphone capsule. Now I plan to build a dish but I want to use a spy fm module and amplify the audio signal using empty, perforated capsules (from coffee) to make it a directional mic. Then I use a metal coffee canister as the dish so that I can get a more accurate and reliable audio wavelength. I look forward to comments and suggestions for getting and recording through a wall. Thank you very much. Hi.

[TsannelKoKo]

Hey man...thanks fir the video.i was wondering if i can use the accessories of the parabolic microphone to make a bug fm transmitter or something better..
Can u make a video ?
Thank u.

[dawsonlutgen]

I have a guitar tuner that has a mic and headphone jack would this work its the only thing I own with those two hook ups great vid btw

[tomasotreasaigh]

Pointing it away from the sound and then pointing towards the sound while bringing it closer at the same time was a poor example of an otherwise very good idea for a directional mic.
If I wasn't an optimist then I might think you were being fraudulent, lol. Thanks for the video and peace from Ireland mo chara x

[magnuswootton]

i bet you could make a "sound kinect" with 1 of these per pixel. (it would be a depth map.)

[StoneyClipz]

instead of a recording device like you have can i just use an old iphone ? would that work

[myyoutube]

Some twats are using directional sound devices and pointing at me or near me . How do I counter and catch it.

[pierpa_pierpaolo]

Okay!!! But I prefer the stereo version. It's better!!!

[arctictimberwolf]

yep, that's what I was thinkin' <33---whuue----<<<
Now build a soundfield mic array & plug that thang into the pc then use python to find the direction of arrival & Location of that little Birdie chirpin'
Good job kiddo!!!

[burtwonderstone]

You're trying to sound like kipkay