Seeking advice regarding an unhappy Rode NT1000

[Eddy Deegan]

I know little about mics but I bought an NT1000 about 12 years ago in a sale and have found it to suit my purposes quite well. I don't use it much but recently a need to record some vocals has arisen and plumbing it in it's not a happy bunny.

When phantom power is first applied it provides the expected output signal intermittently insofar as it works for anything up to 30 seconds or so, then doesn't, then does, then doesn't etc. with an intermediate time ranging from seconds to maybe a minute between each transition.

I thought perhaps it was due to not using it for a bit, moisture on the capsule or whatever, so left it powered up for 30 minutes or so to see. There was no change in behaviour. I initially suspected cables but having tried a few I think I can safely eliminate them as a cause.

The next step was to eliminate the ART pre-amp I use, so I plumbed the Rode direct into my desk. That made no difference (and both the ART and the desk can provide phantom power) so I'm pretty sure it's the mic itself.

Opening the case there is nothing obvious. The limited connections I can see look good so I'm now at the point where I'll have to find the right hex key to delve further into its innards. That's not a problem but I'm approaching the limits of my confort zone as I'm no circuit-wizard.

The sale price when I bought it was a tad over £100 and were I to have found another at the same price I'd have just grabbed one but I see it's now more than double that these days so I think it's worth figuring out what's wrong with it.

Any advice as to what might be going wrong or what to look for once I've got the (quite small) circuit board out of the chassis would be welcome!

[Philbo King]

If it might have been dropped (or something similar, like being used as a hammer) in its previous life, it'd be good to look at any SMD (surface mount) parts under magnification to look for cracked parts.

Beyond that, if the innards look healthy, you might start by replacing caps. They generally are the least reliable part.

If you need to remove a 2-lead SMD part the easiest way is to use 2 soldering irons, one in each hand. If you don't solder it's wisest to get help from someone who does.

[Eddy Deegan]

Thanks for the input

Though I bought it in a sale it was from a reputable vendor and new at the time so it's not had a previous owner.

It's probably had a minor knock or two in the last decade during relocations etc. but nothing serious I can think of and certainly a lot less than my old stage mic (an SM57-like) has endured, different devices though they are. The NT worked fine the last time I used it a few months ago and it's been in a stable environment since so I'm hoping it's something fixable.

Given its relatively young age replacing caps seems a last resort but in any case removing components isn't something I'd undertake myself.

In the absence of a magic 'aha' insight I'll ask an expert 3rd-party I've been referred to but figured it couldn't hurt to ask here first just in case.

[Drew Stephenson]

Have you tried a couple of days in the airing cupboard? Could be condensation on the capsule and it takes a while to really dry that off.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Yes, I'd second spending a week in the airing cupboard (in an open plastic bag to keep dust out). That would rule out damp as an issue.

Your description sounds like it could be an internal voltage regulation problem, but I dont know enough about the NT to say for sure.

I think Source Distribution are the UK service agents.

[shufflebeat]

For clarity - that’s the mic in the *airing cupboard. You are free to continue your normal routine.

Do people still have airing cupboards?

*working class translation - the hot press.

[jjlonbass]

I've only heard an airing cupboard being referred to as a hot press in Ireland. I didn't know that term is also used in Manchester.

John

[Sam Spoons]

Just for info, shufflebeat is an Irishman living in (or near these days) Manchester. That said it's not an expression I'd heard before and I'm Manchester born and bred*.

* Technically Lancashire born and bred as that all happened before Greater Manchester's boundaries expanded to encompass my home town.

[resistorman]

I had a problem with my NT-4 and Rode just fixed it gratis. Never heard of an airing cupboard or hot press before, but after looking it up it's a sound idea!

[Eddy Deegan]

Thank you for the suggestions

[shufflebeat]

I've only heard an airing cupboard being referred to as a hot press in Ireland. I didn't know that term is also used in Manchester.

John

Mmm… this is something I hadn’t considered but I remember the term being used when we lived in Moss Side but, thinking back most of the folks I was mixing with were Irish, Scottish and West Indian.

I vividly remember the term “airing cupboard” being associated in Ireland with new, posher cardboard houses rather than the old brick terraces so maybe that’s where I’m getting it from.

At the time we had few towels to put in them, let alone microphones.

Progress.

[SimonZ]

Hi Eddy,
It is that time of year (November to March) when mics may be brought out from a fairly cool storage spot and out into a warm room and condensation occurs.

Often no problem for a nice clean capsule, but often enough to spark problems if there is a bit of crud in a crucial spot.
Added moisture from vocal use can tip it over the edge.

So try to get it as dry as possible.

As Hugh has suggested, it could also be the voltage generating part of the circuit having a fault.
If so you should get the same severity problem when recording instruments (i.e. no breathing on it).

If it is worse when doing vocal then it is more likely contamination/moisture combo.

As mentioned by others, Rode are more generous than most with warranty repair, so that would be first course of action.
Get in touch with Source dist. with the serial number and see what they say.

[forumuser832518]

Hi Simon, off topic but are you still modding Oktava 012s? (I sent a pm but not sure if it's gone through due to forum member requirements and being relatively new on here!)
Thanks
Regards
Joe

[Wonks]

Hi Simon, off topic but are you still modding Oktava 012s? (I sent a pm but not sure if it's gone through due to forum member requirements and being relatively new on here!)
Thanks
Regards
Joe

You're OK after three posts for sending PMs. It's probably that Simon is less of a regular here than he used to be, and only drops in occasionally. He may also have email notifications of PMs turned off, so is unaware of the PM.

[James Perrett]

Hi Simon, off topic but are you still modding Oktava 012s? (I sent a pm but not sure if it's gone through due to forum member requirements and being relatively new on here!)
Thanks
Regards
Joe

Sadly Simon died unexpectedly just before Christmas. I've just returned from his funeral this morning where his microphone activities were mentioned (as well has his many other musical and non-musical activities). It was a very moving ceremony.

[Wonks]

How sad. RIP, Simon.

[Drew Stephenson]

So sorry to hear that. My condolences.

[tea for two]

This is devastating for his dear loved.

Sadly Simon died unexpectedly

I didn't read your whole post, I only got this far then I kind of frantically checked da Wonky Wabbit is still posting. Only afterwards I read your whole post.

[forumuser832518]

Hi Simon, off topic but are you still modding Oktava 012s? (I sent a pm but not sure if it's gone through due to forum member requirements and being relatively new on here!)
Thanks
Regards
Joe

Sadly Simon died unexpectedly just before Christmas. I've just returned from his funeral this morning where his microphone activities were mentioned (as well has his many other musical and non-musical activities). It was a very moving ceremony.

Thank you for letting me know and I'm so sorry for your loss and for others that knew him. My condolences.

Regards
Joe

[shufflebeat]

Knowledgeable guy - fine contribution the the Collective Brain.