Author Topic: DMIC-20 intermittent issues/problems (Read 11805 times)

phishn · « **on:** October 17, 2003, 11:19:46 PM »

Hi,

I just got a DMIC-20 and its acting funky. The first time i tried to use it i got just a green power light. I tried again tonight and it somewhat works...I can record sound but the unit intermittently will light up all the level lights, get a cut in sound, then all level lights turn off, then go back to a stable sound level. Has anyone else experienced a problem like this? FYI, if i remove all cables except for the power the unit will still do the same thing....peak out all the levels, then no lights. FYI, I am using phantom power to power up AKG 391's.

hoobash · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2003, 01:22:29 AM »

You have a issue with the power cuting out. It could be in the unit or be in the cable. The levels flasing up and down is a minor power cut out

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2003, 02:23:26 AM »

yep, it also does that when it initially powers on too....

chase · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2003, 01:52:58 PM »

phishn, never thought of that! hopefully it is just your power cable?!

phishn · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2003, 02:25:06 PM »

Could be the power cable..not sure. Will talk to Graham Patten on monday. question is..which cable? the one that goes to the unit or the one that goes to the battery? A taper did let me test the unit with his battery but unfortunately at the time i had phantom power off...so that test didnt tell me anything. There is a strange static/hard drive like sound when putting a ear close to the unit when it does this cycling thing.

gonads · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2003, 02:46:21 PM »

why are you using external phantom power with the dmic20? ditch that and see if it helps.

chase · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2003, 03:05:28 PM »

if indeed it is the cable, i would assume it is the one your friend made for you, double check to make sure all the connections are solid and make sure it is connected to the 6v battery solidly.

phishn · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2003, 04:22:04 PM »

hi gonads, im using the phantom power supplied by the DMIC-20, not external phantom power.

gonads · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2003, 04:28:53 PM »

gotcha.. misread your initial post. Most issues like this are a result of a bad power cable. Good luck!

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2003, 04:34:31 PM »

sonic sense sells VERY NICE power cables for the dmic at a price of about 25 bux.......they are solidly made and have heat shrink on themmmm

chase · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2003, 05:05:28 PM »

i believe that is the exact cable i sent him, the sonicsense one. i never had any problems with it. could be the female 4 pin he made or could have been damaged in shipping. i'll say this, i will NEVER ship UPS again! their policy doesn't cover "shock damage" meaning they can throw your fragile package around all they want and their not liable. i dont even know why i paid for insurance?

phishn · « **Reply #11 on:** October 18, 2003, 09:18:19 PM »

anyone know where i can find a manual for the DMIC-20 48 khz online?

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2003, 11:42:44 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 18, 2003, 09:18:19 PM

anyone know where i can find a manual for the DMIC-20 48 khz online?

graham patten soundpals has it on their website...

phishn · « **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2003, 01:19:57 PM »

One thing i didn't mention is that the green power light does not turn off when these cycles take place. Would the green light turn off if there was a minor power cut?

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2003, 02:04:17 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 19, 2003, 01:19:57 PM

One thing i didn't mention is that the green power light does not turn off when these cycles take place. Would the green light turn off if there was a minor power cut?

w/ phantom on or off??? if phantom is off and the green light is on, you souND PHINE, is this audible on headphones??if not, you should be ok

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #15 on:** October 19, 2003, 02:05:55 PM »

Quote from: diskobean on October 18, 2003, 02:23:26 AM

yep, it also does that when it initially powers on too....

does it do this ONLY when powering on, cause that is normal...

phishn · « **Reply #16 on:** October 19, 2003, 03:13:44 PM »

Hey all, screwing with this thing again for hours I figured out the problem. The cable that came with the unit does not have the right size male end. Think I'll forward it some of these "increase your size" junk mails I get all the time..anyhows, what was happening is that i would put the power plug in all the way, and screw it to tighten. THis must have been loosening the connection since tightening would pull it away from the sides (since it didnt fit snug to begin with) and cause issues. I discovered this when i slowly plugged the unit in..and all was working. Putting the tip of the connecter 1/8 inch in or so and pressing down to make a solid connection was what i found to work. Looks like I need to find a cable that fits properly...

phishn · « **Reply #17 on:** October 19, 2003, 03:20:56 PM »

hey diskobean, where on graham patten's website? I can't find a manual do find a product sheet.

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2003, 04:03:01 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 19, 2003, 03:20:56 PM

hey diskobean, where on graham patten's website? I can't find a manual do find a product sheet.

lemme see, ill get right back to ya...

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2003, 04:13:18 PM »

if you go to the gp website and click on the DMIC, you can scroll down on the left and d/l the brochure.....if you would like strictly the manual...i might be willing to scan mine in a lil bit......lemme know if the brochure has the info you need, or i would know it.

phishn · « **Reply #20 on:** October 19, 2003, 07:30:29 PM »

Ok..the problem is not completely fixed. on the DMIC-20 input i figured i would spread the 2 prongs inside the unit..this tightened the connection so perhaps the cable was the right size but the post in the middle had to be spread out a little. Here's the problem..I can't plug the plug in first, then turn the phantom power on. The connection wont work. I have to turn the phantom power on ahead of time, power up the power cable, and slowly slide it into the DMIC-20 until i see the 2 bottom level lights lit. Then I need to slowly continue to push the plug in and finally tighten it. If i push it in too fast..thats it..start over. Now, if i touch the power cable end in the DMIC-20 unit slightly, it will f-up. Do I have a bad DMIC-20 cable or a bad input on the DMIC unit? I can't see why I cant just plug the power cable in, leave the phantom power off, power up the unit, and flip the switch to get the mics powered up.

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #21 on:** October 19, 2003, 07:58:22 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 19, 2003, 07:30:29 PM

Ok..the problem is not completely fixed. on the DMIC-20 input i figured i would spread the 2 prongs inside the unit..this tightened the connection so perhaps the cable was the right size but the post in the middle had to be spread out a little. Here's the problem..I can't plug the plug in first, then turn the phantom power on. The connection wont work. I have to turn the phantom power on ahead of time, power up the power cable, and slowly slide it into the DMIC-20 until i see the 2 bottom level lights lit. Then I need to slowly continue to push the plug in and finally tighten it. If i push it in too fast..thats it..start over. Now, if i touch the power cable end in the DMIC-20 unit slightly, it will f-up. Do I have a bad DMIC-20 cable or a bad input on the DMIC unit? I can't see why I cant just plug the power cable in, leave the phantom power off, power up the unit, and flip the switch to get the mics powered up.

i dunno, somethings def fucked up....id contact where ya got your unit, and at least try a diff power cable first...if i had 2, id gladly send one yer way...

phishn · « **Reply #22 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:08:43 PM »

yup..once i do get it running with this method..it will run for a while then crap out and not recover but leave a slight static/hard drive sound inside the device. Longest run i got was 40 mins. Keep in mind im only recording background noise for the most part. Seems like when the levels get high...it craps out. Definately calling Graham Patten tomorrow. Their expert was not in on Friday.

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #23 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:24:40 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 19, 2003, 08:08:43 PM

yup..once i do get it running with this method..it will run for a while then crap out and not recover but leave a slight static/hard drive sound inside the device. Longest run i got was 40 mins. Keep in mind im only recording background noise for the most part. Seems like when the levels get high...it craps out. Definately calling Graham Patten tomorrow. Their expert was not in on Friday.

good idea....lemme know the results...

phishn · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:25:10 PM »

That would be awesome diskobean if you could scan the manual. I don't know what I'll find there but you never know....

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #25 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:35:49 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 19, 2003, 08:25:10 PM

That would be awesome diskobean if you could scan the manual. I don't know what I'll find there but you never know....

if i cant get to it tonite, remind me in the morning!!

phishn · « **Reply #26 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:37:16 PM »

thanks...i someday hope to be on the akg team....

AKG 391's-> phantom DMIC-20 -> D8

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #27 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:42:21 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 19, 2003, 08:37:16 PM

thanks...i someday hope to be on the akg team....

AKG 391's-> phantom DMIC-20 -> D8

smart man....i run akg 481's>DMIC-20@48k>D-8..soon to be a v3, instead of the dmic-20, but im still keeping it....

im not a gear whore, im a gear hoard!!!

phishn · « **Reply #28 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:44:21 PM »

current rig is AKG391's->DMIC-20@0K->D8

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #29 on:** October 19, 2003, 08:50:46 PM »

Quote from: phishn on October 19, 2003, 08:44:21 PM

current rig is AKG391's->DMIC-20@0K->D8

+T for being on team akg!!!

chase · « **Reply #30 on:** October 20, 2003, 08:03:50 PM »

just so you all know, i am refunding phishn in full. something is wrong and it must have occured during shipping. (FUCK UPS) you think if i sent this in and exchanged it for a new one, for half the cost of a new one, which is GP's policy, that anyone would be in the market for a new DMIC for a few bucks less than sonicsense and the like?

BCostigan · « **Reply #31 on:** October 20, 2003, 08:07:47 PM »

+T for taking it back....though that's a tough pill to swallow. I can't believe UPS won't cover that...as you've stated what good is insurance on items like this if they don't cover "shock" damage? Break out the sledgehammer and make some "pysical" damage so they'll honor their "insurance"

chase · « **Reply #32 on:** October 20, 2003, 08:13:03 PM »

i thought of that, but i'm sure they'd bust us for sure. i would assume that the delivery guy has to make note of any major damage to the outside of the box at time of delivery.