Topic: Damaged Neumann AK-40 capsule

[OldNeumanntapr]

Yesterday, while running sound for a video shoot, one of my Neumann KM-140 microphones that was on a stand got knocked over. The AK-40 capsule is slightly dented, where it hit the floor. I monitored the sound recording throughout the shoot but I couldn't tell anything obviously wrong in the quality of the sound.

I am wondering if the internal part of the capsule is damaged, or if it is just cosmetic damage. (The little metal screens that circle the barrel of the capsule is slightly compressed, from the impact to the floor. I didn't have a wind screen on the mic, and it was a hard floor.)

I have had these microphones for 15 years now and they have never been dropped or damaged, and I am worried that there might be something wrong now. I'm not going to be using them until next month for the Todd Snider show at SLO Brew so I won't be able to really tell about the sound until then. ( I was running both microphones yesterday in mono, so I really couldn't tell if one mic was sounding different than the other.

I'm just sick about this.

[Marshall7]

That sucks, Jeff.  My only suggestion would be to either crank up the stereo, or go to a bar where they have a live band, and test it out.

[John Willett]

I would discuss this with the Neumann distributor in your country and discuss this with an expert.

I would probably return the pair for checking if they are a matched pair.

[F.O.Bean]

Just another reason why I run indoors with screens! Sorry to hear that bro

[OldNeumanntapr]

Just another reason why I run indoors with screens! Sorry to hear that bro

We were still setting up and I hadn't secured the stand to the floor yet. I was in the back of the room when it happened and the videographer was up front. I saw it going over and I yelled to her to catch it but she just stood there and watched it fall. I about had heart failure. A new capsule is $800. I had the screens with me but hadn't put them on yet. I need to record something and try it out to se if I can hear any difference in the sound.

[F.O.Bean]

Just another reason why I run indoors with screens! Sorry to hear that bro

We were still setting up and I hadn't secured the stand to the floor yet. I was in the back of the room when it happened and the videographer was up front. I saw it going over and I yelled to her to catch it but she just stood there and watched it fall. I about had heart failure. A new capsule is $800. I had the screens with me but hadn't put them on yet. I need to record something and try it out to se if I can hear any difference in the sound.

Damn, HUGE bummer bro

[DSatz]

If this were my microphone, I would get in touch with Neumann USA to ask whether they'd be willing to open and inspect the capsule for any internal parts that might be damaged. To know one way or the other is worth their minimum lab fee in my opinion.

But don't obligate yourself to pay anything beyond that, since Neumann's policy is generally to replace defective capsules rather than attempt to repair them. I'm sure you know what a new AK 40 costs today; I hope you don't have to pay that.

--best regards

[OldNeumanntapr]

A new AK-40 capsule costs $800. I'm hoping I don't have to replace it. I've had these since 1998 and have treated them like glass eggs, so I'm just sick every time I look at it.

[F.O.Bean]

A new AK-40 capsule costs $800. I'm hoping I don't have to replace it. I've had these since 1998 and have treated them like glass eggs, so I'm just sick every time I look at it.

Thats got tyo be the SHITTYIST feeling ever Sorry for your troubles

[OldNeumanntapr]

I set up my KM-140s on a stand in my living room, about 4ft high in an ORTF pattern. I recorded 'Signs of Life' from the Pink Floyd commercial  (store bought) CD 'A Momentary Lapse Of Reason'. I turned up my stereo as loud as I felt I could get away with (without the neighbors complaining).  I ran the Neumanns into the mic inputs of my DA-P1 and recorded about a 3 or four minute test. I couldn't hear anything obviously wrong with the sound, which made me feel a little better.

I got this reply from Neumann in Germany:

( I did gently shake it a bit and nothing rattles so I guess nothing is broken inside. The front diaphragm also looks undamaged.)

*************************************************************************
things to do, for a quick mechanical check:

1. anything rattling inside?
    > needs to be taken apart and checked in service

2. looking at the front side, does the diaphragm, or what you can see
through the holes, still look well-tensioned, or can you see "waves" on the
diaphragm?
    > probably terminal damage; probably increased bass sensitivity

3. are the rear-entry slits damaged?
    > can lead to a lop-sided cardioid pattern. Might be hardly
noticeable, can also result as severely lop-sided.

Regarding sonic damage, the most effective thing to do is to direct-compare
it with your other KM140s, checking for relevant differences in
a. overall sensitivity
b. bass response
c. high treble response
d. in case of rear-entry slit damage: lateral sensitivity (hold the mic at
90°, and rotate while speaking into it. Does the sound / sensitivity
change)

If this comparison test doesn't produce any relevant differences, you
should be safe to assume that nothing has gone wrong.

If still in doubt, sending the mic in for a service check would be the
alternative.

Let's hope for the best, and good success!

Martin Schneider
(Mic Development)
Georg Neumann GmbH  l  Ollenhauerstr. 98  l  13403 Berlin  l  Germany

[F.O.Bean]

Whew, thats good to hear. Heres to hoping that nothing is wrong

[OldNeumanntapr]

Thanks. I've been just sick to my stomach every time I've thought about it. I really hope that it is just cosmetic damage. (That's bad enough!)

I just bought a ticket for Todd Snider for next month at SLO Brew. I'll hang the KM-140s from the front center ceiling post and get a more accurate picture of the sound, and if there is any coloration detectable.

I will also be trying out my new Tascam DR-100mkII at the same show. UPS should deliver it in the next couple of days. My first ever non-tape, recorder.

[F.O.Bean]

Thanks. I've been just sick to my stomach every time I've thought about it. I really hope that it is just cosmetic damage. (That's bad enough!)

I just bought a ticket for Todd Snider for next month at SLO Brew. I'll hang the KM-140s from the front center ceiling post and get a more accurate picture of the sound, and if there is any coloration detectable.

I will also be trying out my new Tascam DR-100mkII at the same show. UPS should deliver it in the next couple of days. My first ever non-tape, recorder.

Welcome to the digital age. Trust me, you WILL NOT miss DAT. I was SOOOOOOOOOO sick of buying DAT tapes and then dealing with bad heads and digi noise when xferring them Those days are GONE and Ive never looked back. I sold my D8 back in 2003 and just LOVE the newer digital age with HDD's and now flash media

[OldNeumanntapr]

It will be a new experience for me.

I still like DAT, but I can se the handwriting on the wall. These machines are not going to last forever. They always were VERY problematic and temperamental. I remember it cost me a FORTUNE to have my Tascam DA-30 repaired when it broke down, and it was under warranty at the time!

I remember that going from the Sony D5 to DAT was a HUGE increase in sound quality. When I would listen to a friend's DAT of the same show that I recorded with the D5 I would think, 'Geez, why am I even Bothering?'

Doing the work on a computer, instead of at my stereo rack, will be a big learning curve though.

[Marshall7]

Doing the work on a computer, instead of at my stereo rack, will be a big learning curve though.

Hell...I'll still do them for you.

[OldNeumanntapr]

Thanks Dennis!

[JimmieC]

Yeah, is it even called taping anymore?

[OldNeumanntapr]

Good point.

[Marshall7]

Good point.

Time for a name change to "OldNeumanndigital"

[OldNeumanntapr]

Good point.

Time for a name change to "OldNeumanndigital"

Last time I checked, DAT WAS digital.

I was thinking more like 'OldBrokenNeumanntapr.

[Marshall7]

Good point.

Time for a name change to "OldNeumanndigital"

Last time I checked, DAT WAS digital.

I was thinking more like 'OldBrokenNeumanntapr.

AHHHHH But it's digital audio TAPE

[burris]

The vents are what creates the cardioid pattern.  The let sound in from the rear so it can cancel out the same sounds when they hit the front of the diaphragm.  If you were to seal up the vents entirely you would get, as Mr. Schneider likes to say on the Neumann pinboard, "a poor omni."  So the damage you describe will only impact the shape of your cardiod pattern for that mic.  So the mic pair may sound just fine but your stereo imaging might be a bit smeared.  You'll probably never notice the difference!

[Phil Zone]

I bet that they are fine, I have an sm58 that's fallen out of a golf cart and dragged by the cable for hundreds of yard and its been dropped and it is just as good as when I got it, and never has had a windscreen on it.

And no I wasn't in the golf cart at the time.


Good luck