Topic: Why am I getting pops in my stealth recording?

[HarpDoc]

Just recorded a show using homemade omni mics (Panasonic caps with Linkwitz mod, mounted in mesh baseball cap)>ST-20 pre>H120. There are a ton of pops in the recording. I've been able to get rid of them with the glitch finder/replacer in Sound Forge 7, but this is incredibly time-consuming (it sometimes interprets claps from the audience as glitches). I've had this happen with other recent stealth recordings too, even though I had different (but also homemade) mics and a now-defunct H140. It even happened with a recent recording where I was sitting down and not really moving for the whole show. At the recent show, I was dancing a bit (trying not to move my head--musta looked silly) and being bumped by others on the floor. Prior to this show, I used Caig contact cleaner on everything. I had the preamp velcro'd to the H120, with a high quality 2" cable connecting them. When I run tests around the house, no pops, so I'm confused. I'm guessing it's from my homemade mics somehow. Could static electricity on the mic cable or metal connections be doing it?

I'm awaiting a new CA preamp and CA cards, so this may be a moot point very soon, but I'm still curious. Thanks.

[Dede2002]

Simple.If you drive, don't drink. If you tape, don't dance

[travelinbeat]

Simple.If you drive, don't drink. If you tape, don't dance

qfmf+t

[boyacrobat]

pops most  likely from your interconnects due to movement
even handling unit when checking levels

dosnt take much for it to happen with 3.5mm connections .

always remove 3.5 mm connections when not in use to
help contact keep its force on pin going in.

specially on hot days

i would check all my wired connections to and from at solder level
for possiblle loose connection or bad shields.

chris 's gear should sort it out hopefully

g

[HarpDoc]

Simple.If you drive, don't drink. If you tape, don't dance

Damn, it takes discipline to be a taper! Thanks for the suggestions.

[Sean Gallemore]

i'd blame it on the h120.  lower end recorders will have this problem

[ilduclo]

pops most  likely from your interconnects due to movement
even handling unit when checking levels

dosnt take much for it to happen with 3.5mm connections .

always remove 3.5 mm connections when not in use to
help contact keep its force on pin going in.

specially on hot days

i would check all my wired connections to and from at solder level
for possiblle loose connection or bad shields.

chris 's gear should sort it out hopefully

g

for sure, +t for the detailed respondie, One of my ways of finding the bad connection is to tape ambient sound at real high gain, using headphones to listen as you record. Wiggle all your connections and you should find whichever (or however many) are causing it. Toss or repair that bad gear! good luck!!

[aegert]

Cell Phone Interference!

Did you or anyone around you receive a text message?

Mics and cable susceptible to this.. Try building cables that have  2 conductors with a drain experiment at home..

Hook up rig walk around house... Turn on microwave and stand next to it.... then have some one call your cell phone then have them send you a txt message...

You will be really surprised what the recording sounds like...

ALWAYS TURN OFF CELL PHONES WHEN YOU RECORD!

A

[Dede2002]

Simple.If you drive, don't drink. If you tape, don't dance

Damn, it takes discipline to be a taper! Thanks for the suggestions.

You're welcome

[esteyes]

you do not mention if this is the first time out with this set of caps and this happened or if this just appeared after having used them successfully previously.

you imply the pops are heard equally in both channels.
have you looked at the waveforms in an editor? is it happening to both channels at EXACTLY the same time? is it possible you were just overloading the mics (like could happen if this were their first gig)?

i would begin with looking at things that are common to both channels - the mic cable end that plugs into the Church Audio pre. maybe the ground is poorly soldered... check the cable between the pre and deck - i prefer to use right angle ends for all 1/8" mini cables... is it possible you miswired the capsule ends of the cables?? is the battery for the pre in good condition?

just reread your first post... is there any common equipment used between prior pop events and this one? like cables...

then i would do the ilduclo method. set the rig up and mimic the activities you were doing when the pops occurred...

hope this helps
neil