Topic: Ruined recordings: Schoeps + Nbox. What could have happened?

[tbugsett]

Does anyone have any suggestions on what possibly could have happened on some of my recordings lately?  I have never had any problems/issues with my rig earlier but recently I recorded some Neil Young shows and they are completely ruined. Here's a link to two samples. It sounds like pure noise.

http://www.eatlime.com/download.lc?sid=538E6075-7A84-FE4E-57C8-618915602BA8

My setup was as usual (see my sig.) Fresh batteries, no loose connections that I'm aware of.  I have no idea what might have caused this. The next two shows I taped camed out just fine and I wrote this off as a one-off mysterious snafu. But then the next two shows had exactly the same issues, only the second of these only occationally and not that severe. Even though I rigged up and tested it all at my hotel before the show where everything seemed fine. Then my latest show came out just fine again.

Sample1 is from the first show. Then after two successfull recordings came the next show which sample2 is from.
 
It's really frustrating not knowing what might have happened and totally deavastating not being able to trust the rig.

I might add that for the first show (ruined) and the second show (fine) I used the MK41 caps and for the third and forth show (fine) + fifth and sixth shows (ruined) I used the MK4 caps. Also for my so far last show which came out fine I used the 4's. Hence I don't think it's anything wrong with the caps. Also the 5 pin binder connection on the Nbox is almost impossible not to connect properly so I doubt there's a bad connection issue.

So really, I have no idea. Any input or suggestions at all would be really appreciated.

Thanks

PS.  The samples are 59MB so I'll gladly provide some smaller ones if that's preferrable.

[Josephine]

Take a close look at the NBox connections for your 9v's.  I'm talking about the actual little metal clips that hug the battery connections.
Occasionally, they'll get pulled out of alignment and that will cause a bad connection.
If you see any look out of line, a pair of needle nose pliers will do the trick.


<edit>  I've listened to both samples . . . I'm pretty sure this ^^ is your problem. 
Gently squeeze those connections together to ensure they'll be tightly gripping the batteries.

[tbugsett]

Thanks Josephine.  I hope you're right! But I still think it's strange though as I rigged up at my hotel and did some test recordings in front of the TV. Everything worked fine then.  Maybe the batteries could have been slightly pulled out of position somewhere a long the line?

[schoepsnbox]

PM's sent

[Josephine]

PM's sent

Best customer service on the planet.

[schoepsnbox]

PM's sent

Best customer service on the planet.

Thanks Val, did you receive the new gear yet?  Should be sometime today if not yet!!

[Josephine]

PM's sent

Best customer service on the planet.

Thanks Val, did you receive the new gear yet?  Should be sometime today if not yet!!

FedEx has it scheduled for delivery for today.    
I am poised and ready to hop to the door when the bell rings.
I'll drop you a note when it's in hand.
And . . . thanks so much !!

[boojum]

So, what was the problem?

[tbugsett]

So, what was the problem?

We don't know yet but with great help from Nick I'll do some testing with the batteries, connections etc and see if I can recreate the noise and by that finding out what it might have been.

[tbugsett]

So, what was the problem?

99% certain it was a battery problem.  Either a bad batch of batteries (most likely) or a loose connection.

[Josephine]

In the dozens and dozens and dozens of shows I've recorded with the NBox, I've had one incident only . . . one time.
It was loose battery terminal connections as I described above.
Nick and I got together "real time" and had the issue solved and fixed in no time flat.
I've since learned to treat those connections a little more gingerly when I'm installing/removing batteries.
NBox = Dependable and an awesome piece of equipment.
 

[tbugsett]

NBox = Dependable and an awesome piece of equipment.
 

Indeed!      Thanks for all the help Val and Nick!  If I could give +T's I would but don't know how...