Problem of microphone

[sp chatterjee]

Hi,

I am using mxl 2001 from 5 years, now i have bought mxl cr89 one year back now I not getting sound from microphone, I place the mic under a light bulb for 20 to 30 min. then mic is working well, but after an hour, mic going dead again if i place the mic under a light bulb for 20 to 30 min microphone working well, have permanent solution ?

[Drew Stephenson]

Sounds like condensation on the capsule. If it's got to that stage i'm not sure there is a fix other than a new capsule.
Where are you storing it when not in use?

[Wonks]

Or it could be dirt on the capsule and it needs cleaning. Hopefully no-one smokes in the studio or around the mics as the deposits left can really quickly mess up microphones. They absorb water and reduce the normal high impedance path to ground of the capsulem whch stops the mic working.

So high humidity is the normal culprit, but it's made worse by dirt, dust and organic deposits.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I place the mic under a light bulb for 20 to 30 min. then mic is working well, but after an hour, mic going dead again if i place the mic under a light bulb for 20 to 30 min microphone working well, have permanent solution ?

Wow... The fact that it gets better with heat suggests you have a condensation/damp/dirt problem with the capsule (and/or the impedance converter electronics), but it must be a really bad problem to deteriorate so quickly...

Are you singing into this mic from very close? If so, moisture in your breath could well be causing the problem. And if you're not using a windscreen/pop-screen that will allow more moisture through as well as other contaminants which can settle on the diaphragm and then trap further moisture?

It's possible diaphragm cleaning might help to fix the problem, but that is delicate specialist work...

[John Willett]

The problem is, is that the MXL 2001 is such an inexpensive mic., that any repair would likely cost more than the microphone is worth.

To be honest, it's probably best to just ditch it and buy a new microphone.

If you use it for vocals it would be worth using a pop filter that uses hydrophobic foam that rejects moisture and will stop contaminents from the mouth (eg: smoke particles if you are a smoker) getting to the capsule - the Håkan Pop Killer and the Rycote pop filter use hydrophobic foam.

[Mike Stranks]

The problem is, is that the MXL 2001 is such an inexpensive mic., that any repair would likely cost more than the microphone is worth.

To be honest, it's probably best to just ditch it and buy a new microphone.

But he's not using an MXL 2001!

He's using: http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/studio/CR89/ which weighs-in at about £300. Not an 'inexpensive' mic

[John Willett]

The problem is, is that the MXL 2001 is such an inexpensive mic., that any repair would likely cost more than the microphone is worth.

To be honest, it's probably best to just ditch it and buy a new microphone.

But he's not using an MXL 2001!

He's using: http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/studio/CR89/ which weighs-in at about £300. Not an 'inexpensive' mic

Oops

At £300 it is worth getting the capsule cleaned - but it *is* a skilled job as Hugh said.

But the pop filter advice still stands.

[sp chatterjee]

Sounds like condensation on the capsule. If it's got to that stage i'm not sure there is a fix other than a new capsule.
Where are you storing it when not in use?

I am storing at manufacturer box

[Wonks]

Well that's protecting it from gathering dust between uses. If you can, it will be worth seeing if you can return it to be checked by the supplier. There may be a manufacturing or component fault which can be fixed under warranty.

Is your studio smoke free? If not, it really should be.

[Mike Stranks]

S P Chatterjee:

In what part of the world do you live? Do you have small bags of silica gel stored with the microphone when it's not in use?