Stonker or stinker?
 

In article , Phil Allison
scribeth thus

"tony sayer"

But then, all pommies are pricks.

....Now come on Phil, "all" of them?....


** Fraid so.

.....perhaps you've been -down under- for too long....


Funny how I noticed an awful lot of Aussie accents the other night in
Earls court would you believe, or have they come here to see if its as
bad as you say!...


** The UK would be fine - if not for all the pommy pricks.

Guess Aussies flock to Earls Court, when in the UK, to keep away from too
many insufferable pommies.




......you should come here perhaps to see for yourself.......


...... Phil




--
Tony Sayer

Stonker or stinker?
 

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
scribeth thus
In article ,
tony sayer wrote:
In article , Dave Plowman (News)
scribeth thus
In article ,
Don Pearce wrote:
It can be important when there is a wiring fault in the mic,
particularly with a ribbon mic, where it is possible to put phantom
across the ribbon and blast it out of the gap. If everything is OK,
though, there is never a problem putting phantom on a mic that doesn't
need it.

How do you get DC past its transformer?

With a ribbon the inrush current in the transformer is enough to do
the job. I've heard of permanently bent ribbons that way, although I
haven't seen it for myself.

The inrush current will surely be tiny given the correct standoff
resistors for phantom and the resistance of the primary winding? And the
ratio of the transformer would reduce it even more?

I can't think off hand of any mics that have the centre tap earthed
seems in a way to overcome the advantages of "floating balanced"
operation

I think it was at least an option on some early mics. Could be wrong,
though.

Well that was the thinking, the earthed centre tap would "drain away"
all the induced rubbish....
--
Tony Sayer

Stonker or stinker?
 

In article , Keith G
scribeth thus

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Keith G" wrote in message

"Keith G" wrote


Sorry to say, it's looking like *stinker* atm:

What the MP3 is a recording of, is not self-evident.

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Noisy%20Mic.mp3

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/SelfNoise.wmv

If the left channel is the preamp, terminated with a
low-value resistor, then the right channel may not be
all that bad.

The left channel is switched off....

Switched off, where and how?



Forget all that, the file's been changed - go with this one:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Mic%20Noise.mp3


As earlier, the left channel is switched off - ie. the mic preamp
*isn't* switched on, ie. the mic isn't powered up and there's no signal
either to the mic preamp or from it....




Something very wrong there!. Thats very noisy for a mic amp in fact not
the sort of noise you'd expect at all...
--
Tony Sayer

Stonker or stinker?
 

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article , Keith G
scribeth thus


Forget all that, the file's been changed - go with this one:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Mic%20Noise.mp3


As earlier, the left channel is switched off - ie. the mic preamp
*isn't* switched on, ie. the mic isn't powered up and there's no
signal
either to the mic preamp or from it....




Something very wrong there!. Thats very noisy for a mic amp in fact
not
the sort of noise you'd expect at all...



Shrewdly observed, Tony....

That noise is not entirely unfamiliar with valve gear - it usually
indicates that a valve is feeling a bit hard done by and is planning to
leave; if you are lucky, it can often be temporarily cured by a smart
'whack on the head' - which I suspect is not too clever in the case of a
mic, though.

It would be very interesting to try and make summat of this Cheepy
Chinky, but Don has done the honours with his measuring stuff on a
couple of clips and has pronounced that it would never be better than
****e, even without the noise. I'm not going to argue with that....

(I think I went a little *too cheap* in this instance... :-)

Depending on what remedy the Seller suggests and if I decide to pursue
the idea of a valve mic, candidates for its replacement (at near twice
the price) include possibly an AKG 'Solid Tube' (cardioid), Rode NTK
(cardioid) or a Rode K2 (multi-pattern) - which would make Arny
happy/happier, if nothing else...!! ;-)

Stonker or stinker?
 

In article , Keith G
scribeth thus

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article , Keith G
scribeth thus


Forget all that, the file's been changed - go with this one:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Mic%20Noise.mp3


As earlier, the left channel is switched off - ie. the mic preamp
*isn't* switched on, ie. the mic isn't powered up and there's no
signal
either to the mic preamp or from it....




Something very wrong there!. Thats very noisy for a mic amp in fact
not
the sort of noise you'd expect at all...



Shrewdly observed, Tony....

That noise is not entirely unfamiliar with valve gear - it usually
indicates that a valve is feeling a bit hard done by and is planning to
leave; if you are lucky, it can often be temporarily cured by a smart
'whack on the head' - which I suspect is not too clever in the case of a
mic, though.

It would be very interesting to try and make summat of this Cheepy
Chinky, but Don has done the honours with his measuring stuff on a
couple of clips and has pronounced that it would never be better than
****e, even without the noise. I'm not going to argue with that....

(I think I went a little *too cheap* in this instance... :-)

Depending on what remedy the Seller suggests and if I decide to pursue
the idea of a valve mic, candidates for its replacement (at near twice
the price) include possibly an AKG 'Solid Tube' (cardioid), Rode NTK
(cardioid) or a Rode K2 (multi-pattern) - which would make Arny
happy/happier, if nothing else...!! ;-)



Are you really doing sufficient serious recording to warrant the expense
of all these mics Keith, or like me do you just keep the Studer B67 up
the corner 'cos it looks nice;)...


--
Tony Sayer

Stonker or stinker?
 

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article , Keith G
scribeth thus


Depending on what remedy the Seller suggests and if I decide to pursue
the idea of a valve mic, candidates for its replacement (at near twice
the price) include possibly an AKG 'Solid Tube' (cardioid), Rode NTK
(cardioid) or a Rode K2 (multi-pattern) - which would make Arny
happy/happier, if nothing else...!! ;-)



Are you really doing sufficient serious recording to warrant the
expense
of all these mics Keith, or like me do you just keep the Studer B67 up
the corner 'cos it looks nice;)...


No, of course I can't justify the expense of *any* of this audio gear on
anything like 'sensible' grounds; it's hobby stuff and I buy/have bought
multiple versions of cheap stuff rather than one *better/more expensive*
version to explore, learn and make comparisons. Queer as it may sound, I
have almost certainly learnt more about these valve mics with this one
proving to be a dud than if I had got a good 'un from the off!!

The idea is that, one day, I will distill and consolidate my kit into
the 'best of what I've got' and dispose of the surplus, but every time I
start to do that another bit of kit finds its way here!! (And I bloody
hate the arseache of *selling* stuff...!! :-)

That all said, I believe I've bought enough cheap kit to get an idea of
what it's all about now and I suspect future purchases (if any) will be
aimed a little higher up the foodchain - see the 'you get what you pay
for' in the very first post of this thread; the problem being that, with
audio kit, it's all too easy to pay over the odds for what you are only
*told* you are getting, if you believe the BS that goes with a lot of
stuff....

Stonker or stinker?
 

"Keith G" wrote in message


No, of course I can't justify the expense of *any* of
this audio gear on anything like 'sensible' grounds; it's
hobby stuff and I buy/have bought multiple versions of
cheap stuff rather than one *better/more expensive*
version to explore, learn and make comparisons.

There is some validity to this. Also, there is the practical problem that
"reference grade" microphones aren't cheap.

Queer as
it may sound, I have almost certainly learnt more about
these valve mics with this one proving to be a dud than
if I had got a good 'un from the off!!

Agreed that suboptimal choices can lead to effective learning experiences.

The idea is that, one day, I will distill and consolidate
my kit into the 'best of what I've got' and dispose of
the surplus, but every time I start to do that another
bit of kit finds its way here!! (And I bloody hate the
arseache of *selling* stuff...!! :-)

Especially when the stuff you're selling off is basically trash.

That all said, I believe I've bought enough cheap kit to
get an idea of what it's all about now and I suspect
future purchases (if any) will be aimed a little higher
up the foodchain - see the 'you get what you pay for' in
the very first post of this thread; the problem being
that, with audio kit, it's all too easy to pay over the
odds for what you are only *told* you are getting, if you
believe the BS that goes with a lot of stuff....

The only arguably high end mics I've ever worked with for an extended period
of time (years) were DPA 4006s. They run about 30 times the price of
Behringer ECM8000s, and are audibly and measurably 2-3 times *better*.

Stonker or stinker?
 

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
. ..
"Keith G" wrote in message


No, of course I can't justify the expense of *any* of
this audio gear on anything like 'sensible' grounds; it's
hobby stuff and I buy/have bought multiple versions of
cheap stuff rather than one *better/more expensive*
version to explore, learn and make comparisons.

There is some validity to this. Also, there is the practical problem
that "reference grade" microphones aren't cheap.


While I wanted to compare and experience large and small condensers,
Russian and Chinese cheepies, FET and valve, single and multi-pattern
mics, I could not justify too much expense for what recording I'm likely
to be doing - which is probably only Swim on the piano and clarinet. (If
I could get a Bimbo band to take up residence in my garage it might be a
different story! :-)

Just for fun and if all goes according to plan, when I get the valve mic
issues settled, I will post a series of short piano and clarinet tracks
for comparison purposes. It will be interesting to hear any opinions
that might be offered....


Agreed that suboptimal choices can lead to effective learning
experiences.


Sure, it's called 'learning the hard way'...


Especially when the stuff you're selling off is basically trash.


Tell that to Tony - he's been trying to nick my KT917 for chump change
for months now...!!

:-)

Stonker or stinker?
 

In article ,
Keith G wrote:
Just for fun and if all goes according to plan, when I get the valve mic
issues settled, I will post a series of short piano and clarinet tracks
for comparison purposes. It will be interesting to hear any opinions
that might be offered....

I was working when valve condenser mics were replaced with solid state,
and I don't remember one solitary person wishing to go back to the valve
ones. Even although there were some early issues with things like AKG 451s
overloading before capsule pads were bought. However it was a cheap mic.
The replacement for the C12 - the 414 - had no such issues. What was very
notable was the lack of hiss compared to the valve jobbies.

--
*Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Stonker or stinker?
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Keith G wrote:
Just for fun and if all goes according to plan, when I get the valve
mic
issues settled, I will post a series of short piano and clarinet
tracks
for comparison purposes. It will be interesting to hear any opinions
that might be offered....

I was working when valve condenser mics were replaced with solid
state,
and I don't remember one solitary person wishing to go back to the
valve
ones. Even although there were some early issues with things like AKG
451s
overloading before capsule pads were bought. However it was a cheap
mic.
The replacement for the C12 - the 414 - had no such issues. What was
very
notable was the lack of hiss compared to the valve jobbies.


Interesting - I believe this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=015

"employs a single-sided capsule, one inch in diameter, which is roughly
based on one side of a 414 capsule"

Anyway, I know it's a case of *choob everything* these days and I'm as
fed up with the 'band wagon effect' (for both valves and vinyl) as
anyone else, but I would like to hear the difference (if any) for
myself. I'm not under any 'commercial pressure', so I don't have to
worry about reliability, ease of use or even the odd bit of hiss. The
seller of the dodgy valve mic I have here atm has agreed (without
quibble) to take it back and refund me, so the way is clear to go a
little further up the foodchain, unless I decide not to bother....