Topic: Silica packs for your mics.....humidity is bad.

[KLowe]

Hey,

Just thought I'd pass it along.....for whatever it is worth.

You can get a bunch of the silica packs from your pharmacist.  They have a shit-ton of them just laying around.  Toss em in your mic case and forget about the humidity effen your mics up.

-taping is fun.
K

[Andi]

Pretty simple practical solution to avoid any moisture problems.

[rowjimmytour]

Great idea!!! +t damm why didn't I do that a long time ago. After all I see those damm things ever where.
Peace

[ledblimp]

Well, I guess living in the "dry" death heat of Arizona has one pro to it. 

Las Vegas too!

[drufus]

i got a reusable one with my rode nt4, i wish i could find more

albama isn't exactly "dry" ever, unless your talkin about dry counties

[§†∑∫åµÞ≥¥]

i got a reusable one with my rode nt4, i wish i could find more

albama isn't exactly "dry" ever, unless your talkin about dry counties

Almost any bottle of asprin, Tylenol or vitamins will have one inside.

[F.O.Bean]

i have my mics in a pelican acse w/ pick-n-pluck foam and stuff, would yinz still put one in there

[Karl]

You know, I don't know if you really need to worry about moisture with mics.  I would be more worried with your preamp/ad/recorder, or anything that has a circuit board where moisture can easily get.  Mics are a little bit more resilient to moisture.  Though, it isn't a bad idea to take some precautions.  I would worry about throwing silica packs around your other electronics first--just make sure they aren't going to rip open and get all over the place.

Bean, that foam will not soak up the moisture like a silica pack.

[Tim]

would it be possible to create an atmosphere around the mics that is too dry?

[Karl]

would it be possible to create an atmosphere around the mics that is too dry?

Most certainly not.  I'm also an AZ taper with humidity of zero at times.  Electronics like it dry, as do the chassis of cars.  Cars don't rust here, ever.

[Tim]

so there's no chance of ruining the diaphragm of the mic by drying it out too much?

[John R]

you could always use some rice instead of silica

[sliverx]

if your looking for rechargeable type try a hunting/ firearms retailer they should have some that u bake in the over or microwave...... i worked at Galyan's ( RIP) we had 'em

[shaggy]

regular old silica packs are rechargable.  Lowest heat on the oven, let it go for about an hour or two.  SOmetimes the packs have a seethru coating and some are blue (the red ones are spent).  Just dru them out until they are blue.  Calcium carbonate and a small bag of rice will do it.  I think you can over dry the diaphragm only in areas that already dry.  Bean, Co and Ca are two places, I wouldn't worry about it.

ANDY

[coloartist]

I get alot of these at work. Does anybody want some ? It is dry as hell where I live.

I'll B&P them. 

[keepongoin]

so there's no chance of ruining the diaphragm of the mic by drying it out too much?

that is my thought... i don't want it brittle from being too dry... but i guess it doesn't work that way???!?

i have seen many a $3K guitar get a nice split up in the middle of the top around the bridge by being kept in too dry a climate.

[Karl]

so there's no chance of ruining the diaphragm of the mic by drying it out too much?

that is my thought... i don't want it brittle from being too dry... but i guess it doesn't work that way???!?

i have seen many a $3K guitar get a nice split up in the middle of the top around the bridge by being kept in too dry a climate.

That's wood that you're dealing with.  Mics don't have any parts that absorb or are affected by humidity.

"too dry" is just fine for wood, or guitars.  It's when humidity levels change drastically that there are warping problems introduced.  Stuff like that is I think safer in AZ becuase it stays relatively dry all year here.  I lived in Indiana for awhile, and every day seemed to be drastically different humidity wise.

[Chachi420]

so there's no chance of ruining the diaphragm of the mic by drying it out too much?

that is my thought... i don't want it brittle from being too dry... but i guess it doesn't work that way???!?

i have seen many a $3K guitar get a nice split up in the middle of the top around the bridge by being kept in too dry a climate.

Yeah, that happened to my Martin DM when I moved to COfrom AL for several months during the winter season. It split on the top from the base to the bridge. Martin gave me a free replacement.

[mmmatt]

care and feeding of the DPA 406x series.
To clean them, place the capsule in distilled water only. do not use an ultrasonic bath, as this might damage the capsule.

This shocks the hell out of me.  Who woulda thunk you could give your mic a bath!

Matt

[L Ron Hoover]

care and feeding of the DPA 406x series.
To clean them, place the capsule in distilled water only. do not use an ultrasonic bath, as this might damage the capsule.

This shocks the hell out of me.  Who woulda thunk you could give your mic a bath!

Matt

Seriously Moke?

[Tim]

[kskreider]

My AK40 capsules slide right into film canisters that each have a single silica pack in them.  I recharge them (if I can remember to) by tossing them up by the oven vent as it is cooling down. 

I'll most likely continue this practice even though I moved from humid upstate NY to dry, dry, SF Bay...

[admkrk]

I'll most likely continue this practice even though I moved from humid upstate NY to dry, dry, SF Bay...

uhh,  has global warming realy changed things that much in the last 20 yrs or so?  i made that trip (from w. mass) in the mid '80s and it seems to me that the humidity only went up.  or did i just miss the sarcasm button 

[kskreider]

I'll most likely continue this practice even though I moved from humid upstate NY to dry, dry, SF Bay...

uhh,  has global warming realy changed things that much in the last 20 yrs or so?  i made that trip (from w. mass) in the mid '80s and it seems to me that the humidity only went up.  or did i just miss the sarcasm button 

I live in the south part of the bay in Sunnyvale.  Believe it or not the air is much drier there.  Not to mention that a lot more of my taping will occur up towards the Davis/Sacramento area now that wifey-poo is gonna teach at UCD.  That area is DRY.

[mmmatt]

totally serious!!

406x manual, page two

8< .... Do not use any cleaning fluid other than distilled water. Use of ultrasonic baths must be avoided 8<

8< .... if the mic gets filled with water, it will not be damaged, but possibly turn deaf while the water is captured inside the microphone, behind the protection grid. remove the water by shaking it, and drying with a lint free cloth. 8<

My letter to MBHO
Hello,
I have a couple of qustions about my mics (603 w/ ka200 and ka100lk.  I bought them used and they came with no manual.
1.  What happens if they get wet?  A friend of mine quoted to me that his dpa's could be cleaned by submirsing the caps in water.  Will rain have any permant effects?
***************************************

Dear Matthew Mc Culloch,
 
thank you for your E-mail.
 
Your first question :
After talking with MBHO  we want inform you that MBHO capsules should
not come into contact with water !   Mr Haun said also that up to now,
he never have heard from any microphone-manufactors who supplying
washable capusles.  The microphones are produced for indoor applications
like recordingstudios, radio + tv-studios,  theaters and concerthalls.

I guess DPA's are one of the few washable caps!
Matt

[plucks]

most DPAs are very well suited to resist contact with H2O...heck, they even have an underwater mic!