Draft pitch for a Crowd Supply campaign, planned for autumn 2026. This document is written in English (Crowd Supply is an international platform). To be adapted and refined before submission.
Product specs: 02_PRODUITS_PHYSIQUES/Microphone/FICHE_PRODUIT Product strategy: 02_PRODUITS_PHYSIQUES/Microphone/STRATEGIE_GAMME
Title: Talas -- Open-Hardware Microphones Built to Last
Subtitle: Repairable, documented, hand-assembled in France. Schematics included.
Professional audio gear is designed to be disposable. Open a RODE, an Audio-Technica, or a Behringer microphone and you will find epoxy-sealed circuits, proprietary components, and zero documentation. When something breaks, you throw it away and buy a new one. The manufacturer profits twice.
There is no open-source condenser microphone on the market. Not one. In a world where open-source software runs most of the internet, audio hardware remains a closed, opaque industry where planned obsolescence is the norm and independent artists pay the price.
The Talas One is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with a preamp circuit (AliceOPA, based on the OPA1642 op-amp, inspired by the Alice OPA design by DJJules / JLI Electronics). It is powered by standard 48V phantom power over XLR and is built to deliver clean, low-noise recordings for vocals, instruments, and studio work.
The body is machined aluminum. The circuit boards are designed in KiCAD and manufactured with standard through-hole and SMD components -- all of which are documented in the included repair guide with part numbers and suppliers listed.
Every Talas One ships with:
The Talas Lite is the accessible entry point to the Talas ecosystem. It uses a JLI-2555BXZ3-GP electret capsule (the same capsule found in the CAD E100S, a USD 600 microphone) paired with a THAT1512 preamp circuit. Available in two variants: USB-C (plug-and-play, no interface needed) and XLR (for those who already have an audio interface).
Same philosophy: open schematics, standard components, repair guide in the box.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | True condenser, large diaphragm (34mm) |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz -- 20 kHz (exact curve TBD after final prototype measurement) |
| Preamp | OPA1642 (AliceOPA circuit, inspired by DJJules' Alice OPA design) |
| Power | 48V phantom power |
| Connector | XLR 5-pin |
| Body | Machined aluminum |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Schematics | Public (KiCAD files, CERN-OHL-W-2.0 license) |
| Price | 149 EUR |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Electret |
| Capsule | JLI-2555BXZ3-GP |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz -- 20 kHz (exact curve TBD) |
| Preamp | THAT1512 |
| Power | USB (USB-C variant) / 48V phantom (XLR variant) |
| Connector | USB-C or XLR 3-pin |
| Body | Machined aluminum |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Schematics | Public (KiCAD files, CERN-OHL-W-2.0 license) |
| Price | 99 EUR (USB-C) / 89 EUR (XLR) |
Note: exact audio measurements (SNR, self-noise, max SPL, sensitivity) will be published once the final production prototype is measured. We will not publish numbers we have not verified ourselves.
Every Talas microphone is designed so that any component can be replaced with a soldering iron and 10 minutes. No glue. No proprietary parts. The repair guide in the box lists every component with its value, footprint, and supplier part number. If a capacitor fails in 8 years, you can order the exact replacement for less than one euro.
The full KiCAD design files (schematics, PCB layout, BOM) are published under the CERN Open Hardware License v2.0 (Weakly Reciprocal). You can study them, modify them, or build your own. We encourage it.
We offer a 5-year warranty because we design for longevity. If something fails within that period, we repair it or replace it. A 5% provision per unit sold is set aside specifically for warranty service.
Every Talas buyer gets access to Veza, a self-hosted community platform for sharing samples, presets, tracks, and knowledge. No algorithm. No tracking. No ads. Built with Go, Rust, and React. Hosted on dedicated servers in France.
Details: 03_APPS_&_SERVICES/ARCHITECTURE_VEZA
Talas was started by a single person -- an engineering student and musician in France who got tired of buying audio gear designed to break.
The idea was simple: take a cheap microphone body, remove the mediocre electronics inside, and replace them with a properly designed, documented, open-source circuit. Then publish the schematics so anyone can build or repair it themselves.
The founder works anonymously. There is no face behind the brand -- just hands, a soldering iron, and a workshop. The work speaks for itself.
Talas is not a startup looking for an exit. It is a long-term project built around durability, transparency, and independence.
Every microphone is hand-assembled in France by the founder (and eventually a small team). This is not mass production -- it is artisanal, intentional, small-batch manufacturing.
Assembly process:
Every single unit is individually tested before shipping. No batch sampling. No shortcuts. Test results are logged and can be provided to the buyer on request.
Full BOM: 02_PRODUITS_PHYSIQUES/Microphone/SOURCING_COMPOSANTS
| Tier | Description | Price | Estimated delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supporter | No product. Your name on the supporters page on Veza. Access to the community. | 25 EUR | Immediate |
| Builder Kit | PCBs + all components + BOM + assembly guide. No pre-assembly. You build it yourself. | 69 EUR | Campaign + 2 months |
| Talas Lite XLR | Fully assembled Talas Lite, XLR output. Includes repair guide. | 89 EUR | Campaign + 3 months |
| Talas Lite USB-C | Fully assembled Talas Lite, USB-C output. Plug and play. Includes repair guide. | 99 EUR | Campaign + 3 months |
| Talas One | Fully assembled Talas One condenser microphone. Includes repair guide. | 149 EUR | Campaign + 4 months |
All prices include EU shipping. International shipping: +15 EUR.
All backers receive access to the Veza community platform.
| Funding level | Goal |
|---|---|
| Base goal met | Produce and ship the Talas One to all backers |
| 150% | Unlock the Talas Lite as a reward tier (both USB-C and XLR variants) |
| 200% | Publish a detailed video series: "Build your own Talas mic from scratch" |
| 250% | Develop and release a 3D-printable desktop mic stand (open-source STL files) |
| 300% | Fund the first 50 free Builder Kits for schools and maker spaces |
| 400% | Begin R&D on the Talas Sound Card (compact, open-hardware USB audio interface) |
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Autumn 2026 | Campaign launch on Crowd Supply |
| Campaign + 1 month | Campaign ends. Final component orders placed. |
| Campaign + 2 months | Builder Kits shipped (PCBs + components) |
| Campaign + 3 months | Talas Lite units assembled, tested, and shipped |
| Campaign + 4 months | Talas One units assembled, tested, and shipped |
| Campaign + 5 months | All orders fulfilled. Post-campaign updates published. |
| Campaign + 6 months | KiCAD design files and full documentation published on the Talas website |
Updates will be posted monthly on the Crowd Supply campaign page and on Talas social media.
We believe in being honest about what can go wrong.
Electronic components can go out of stock without warning. The global supply chain is unpredictable. If a specific component becomes unavailable, we will source an equivalent part with the same or better specifications and document the substitution publicly. Our designs use standard, widely-available components to minimize this risk.
Every microphone is hand-assembled and individually tested. This takes time. If demand exceeds our assembly capacity, we will extend delivery timelines rather than compromise on quality. We will communicate delays transparently and promptly.
Some specifications (SNR, self-noise, max SPL) are listed as "TBD" because they depend on final prototype measurements. We refuse to publish numbers we have not measured ourselves. Final specs will be published before the campaign ends, so backers can make an informed decision.
Large-diaphragm condenser capsules are a specialized component with limited suppliers. We have identified sources but have not yet placed bulk orders. If our primary supplier cannot deliver, we have backup options identified, though this could cause a 2-4 week delay.
CE marking and RoHS compliance are required for sale in the EU. We are planning for this but the certification process takes time. We will not ship until compliance is confirmed.
Talas is currently run by a single person. This is both a strength (quality control, consistency, vision) and a limitation (throughput). If the campaign is very successful, we may need to onboard help for assembly, which takes time. We will be transparent about this.
The person behind Talas is an engineering student and musician based in France. They design circuits, write code, make beats, and believe that audio gear should be built to last.
They work anonymously -- no face, no personal brand. Just the work. The project is documented publicly through workshop videos on TikTok and Instagram, showing hands soldering circuits, testing prototypes, and building something real.
Talas is not backed by venture capital. There is no board of directors. There is no exit strategy. There is a person in a workshop with a soldering iron, an oscilloscope, and a conviction that the audio industry can be better.
More about the project: 00_META/TALAS_IDENTITE_PROJET