Topic: Storing your Schoeps active setup

[EarlyMorningRain]

^ eeks, yes do tell if anyone knows more of this.......

[acidjack]

Someone brought up a good point... how often do you use it?  If it's twice a year, you might do well to disassemble and put everything in museum grade storage between shows.  If it's twice a week, you don't want to wear out the threads, get sweaty hands on the nextel, etc, and you are better off to leave it assembled.

I'm using my "main" mics (the Schoeps and DPAs) at least 1x week/ea I'd say....

[johnw]

All foam deteriorates over time as far as I can tell. I've had DPA, Neumann, AKG, Windtech and Schoeps windscreens. All of them showed signs of deterioration, the schoeps in about 1 year. It starts with seeing black dust if you thump them. That black dust can become charged and stick to the capsule and gunk it up. I would imagine pelican foam would do the same thing especially since when you pull it apart it kind of shreds. I previously kept my caps attached to the Nbox actives and in B1 windscreens inside film cans. When I noticed dust I started storing them in the vials. Since I rarely record these days, I just attach them before the show. I haven't noticed dust from my Schoeps B5D screens or Shure 81s FWIW, but I'm sure they degrade as well.

[tim in jersey]

As an aside, can the KCx plastic caps and the "short" vials for MK4/41's be purchased seperately? I think I remember Posthorn's site saying they are discontinued (or not for individual sale)?

[hi and lo]

As an aside, can the KCx plastic caps and the "short" vials for MK4/41's be purchased seperately? I think I remember Posthorn's site saying they are discontinued (or not for individual sale)?

Still available! $6 for the short vials and $12 for the tall ones.

[tim in jersey]

As an aside, can the KCx plastic caps and the "short" vials for MK4/41's be purchased seperately? I think I remember Posthorn's site saying they are discontinued (or not for individual sale)?

Still available! $6 for the short vials and $12 for the tall ones.

Thank you. I think I just had my first senior moment. Coulda sworn I recently read they are not for individual sale...

[H₂O]

Someone brought up a good point... how often do you use it?  If it's twice a year, you might do well to disassemble and put everything in museum grade storage between shows.  If it's twice a week, you don't want to wear out the threads, get sweaty hands on the nextel, etc, and you are better off to leave it assembled.

I used to do 3-4 shows a weak and during 2002-2004 period I would live the bodies in the bag but always put up my capsules - I have never had any issues with the threads on my mics - and I was screwing them on and off 8 times a week.  The only threads that ever wore out where my A20s plastic threads and that was after about 6 years of heavy use.

To each his own though.

[newplanet7]

The foam you are looking for is usuallly anti-static pink.

So does that mean that all the foam in the Pelican cases (the black "pick and pluck" stuff) can develop a static charge and should NOT be used?  If this is the case it's somewhat distressing as I'm sure I'm not the only one who uses Pelican cases to transport and store their mics.

I work in a custom cable facility and all of the anti-static packing foam we
use for components is pink. Not to say all anti-static foam would be pink.
I am sure it comes in other colors. Pelican cases I am not sure about. Look at their intended purpose.
For example
The cigar boxes everyone uses why would a cigar box need to be anti-static? I highly doubt it is to be honest.
On the flip side though, no one I am aware of has reported any problems with static and cigar boxes

[mattmiller]

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=135480

[SmokinJoe]

OK.  I'm convinced.  I think I'm gonna switch to vials.  Or maybe use caps on bodies more often (non-active), in which case, stored in the original velvety box.

[Walstib62]

On the static issue, foam windscreens are neoprene foam, right? The mic OEM's sell that foam to be placed onto the capsule, so it must be safe(?). So wouldn't neoprene foam to fine to store mics?

[page]

OK.  I'm convinced.  I think I'm gonna switch to vials.  Or maybe use caps on bodies more often (non-active), in which case, stored in the original velvety box.

my heavens good sir, no need of that crazy talk round these parts!   

[F.O.Bean]

I have had my large DPA screens for 12 years now, and they ARE NOT DETERIORATING AT ALL