Topic: Help with audio glitch in recordings

[guitard]

Folks ~

I'm running Coresound cardiods into a Sony D-100.  I've been having this problem though ~ I get these nasty glitches in the recordings pretty much every time I record.  I do mostly stealth recordings, so I have to keep the tapedeck on my person.  Typically, I keep the deck in my front pocket (a wide pocket that easily allows for me to slide the deck in and out) and run the mic wires under my shirt up to my hat.  I usually set the recording level in the bathroom and check it once or maybe twice during the show.  I noticed this last recording had around a half dozen glitches in it, to include one during the drum solo and that is when I took the deck out to check the levels, so I suspect that slight bit of jostling the deck around caused it.  Of course, I'm very careful not to touch the plug while handling the deck - I gently slip my fingers into my pocket and grab it by the sides.  And I lock the deck controls while recording.  As best I can tell, the plug seats very firmly into the input on the deck.  I've considered taping it down, but I can't really see anyway to do that without covering up a lot of buttons and functions I'd like to be able to see a few times during the show.  Not to mention the problem it would cause if I have to do a tape change.  Any suggestions / advice are greatly appreciated.

Here is a 16 second audio clip with a glitch in the middle of it, and the image (click on it to enlarge it) shows what it looks like in a capture program.

http://media.putfile.com/glitchy-audio

[Brian Skalinder]

First step:  try to duplicate the problem at home, in a non-stealth environment test.  Set everything up, record, move the mics around a bit, the cables, the connectors, etc.  Note at what time you perform each action.  Then review the recording to see if any of those actions cause the spike.

[Church-Audio]

Folks ~

I'm running Coresound cardiods into a Sony D-100.  I've been having this problem though ~ I get these nasty glitches in the recordings pretty much every time I record.  I do mostly stealth recordings, so I have to keep the tapedeck on my person.  Typically, I keep the deck in my front pocket (a wide pocket that easily allows for me to slide the deck in and out) and run the mic wires under my shirt up to my hat.  I usually set the recording level in the bathroom and check it once or maybe twice during the show.  I noticed this last recording had around a half dozen glitches in it, to include one during the drum solo and that is when I took the deck out to check the levels, so I suspect that slight bit of jostling the deck around caused it.  Of course, I'm very careful not to touch the plug while handling the deck - I gently slip my fingers into my pocket and grab it by the sides.  And I lock the deck controls while recording.  As best I can tell, the plug seats very firmly into the input on the deck.  I've considered taping it down, but I can't really see anyway to do that without covering up a lot of buttons and functions I'd like to be able to see a few times during the show.  Not to mention the problem it would cause if I have to do a tape change.  Any suggestions / advice are greatly appreciated.

Here is a 16 second audio clip with a glitch in the middle of it, and the image (click on it to enlarge it) shows what it looks like in a capture program.

http://media.putfile.com/glitchy-audio

It looks like your mics did not get power for a second are you using the Core sound battery box or are you going straight into your recorder? In any event you can try using a product like Dexoit gold on your contacts and see how that works for you. You might also have a cold solder joint on your mic input jack on your deck. I would do what some of the others here recommend. Try to duplicate the problem by narrowing down the fault. Wiggle your mic jack wiggle your mic input, wiggle the mics them selves. I think its a power issue because its both left and right that are effected. The only common link is ground/or plug in power.

Chris Church

[sml42]

It looks like your mics did not get power for a second

My thoughts exactly. Loose connection in your battery box? If it takes regular 9V batteries it would be worth checking the terminal connections...

[guitard]

It looks like your mics did not get power for a second are you using the Core sound battery box or are you going straight into your recorder?

Chris Church

Chris,

You nailed it - it's the battery box.  Specifically, the wires (mic and deck line-in) that plug into it.  The slightest movement of these wires and glitch happens.  I usually keep the battery box in the same pocket as the DAT deck when recording, putting the battery box in first and then the deck.  Since the wire from the battery box to the deck is so short (and sensitive), any movement of the deck will pretty much cause it to fail.  I didn't get any glitch while manipulating other parts of the system (the mics themselves, the 1/8 inch connector to the line-in, etc.).

Here's a pic of that wire connector for the battery box ~



I have tried to take the black plastic encasing off, but short of really prying away at it, I can't find a way to easily remove it (it doesn't seem to be a screw-on connector).  I don't want to damage it any further, so I stopped.  Any suggestions for getting this off?

I got the mics and box from Core Sound at the same time.  They only have maybe 30 hours of use and I've always handled them in a manner that I am sure would be considered appropriate in terms of not doing anything that might cause damage, i.e., pulling them out of plugs by grasping the wires, tossing them into the car seat instead of laying them down, etc.

Once again ~ thanks for the help.

[Church-Audio]

It looks like your mics did not get power for a second are you using the Core sound battery box or are you going straight into your recorder?

Chris Church

Chris,

You nailed it - it's the battery box.  Specifically, the wires (mic and deck line-in) that plug into it.  The slightest movement of these wires and glitch happens.  I usually keep the battery box in the same pocket as the DAT deck when recording, putting the battery box in first and then the deck.  Since the wire from the battery box to the deck is so short (and sensitive), any movement of the deck will pretty much cause it to fail.  I didn't get any glitch while manipulating other parts of the system (the mics themselves, the 1/8 inch connector to the line-in, etc.).

Here's a pic of that wire connector for the battery box ~



I have tried to take the black plastic encasing off, but short of really prying away at it, I can't find a way to easily remove it (it doesn't seem to be a screw-on connector).  I don't want to damage it any further, so I stopped.  Any suggestions for getting this off?

I got the mics and box from Core Sound at the same time.  They only have maybe 30 hours of use and I've always handled them in a manner that I am sure would be considered appropriate in terms of not doing anything that might cause damage, i.e., pulling them out of plugs by grasping the wires, tossing them into the car seat instead of laying them down, etc.

Once again ~ thanks for the help.

Well if this is a new set of mics I would return them I would check inside the battery box first for anything that looks like its shorting out. I would check for loose connections inside the battery box. Then I would if you don't want to return these for warranty repair (if they are still under warranty) Then carefully take a sharp razor blade and cut down the length of the heat shrink, With out cutting into the cable... If you don't feel like you can do that take a pair of electronics cutters Like xcelite 170M and use the dull side towards the cable and cut down the length of the heat shrink.  If you don't feel your up to it I can repair these mics.. For $10.00 + return shipping. Its a easy repair. Call Len first give him an opportunity to fix the problem. Before you take stuff apart.


Chris Church

[guitard]

Well if this is a new set of mics I would return them I would check inside the battery box first for anything that looks like its shorting out. I would check for loose connections inside the battery box. Then I would if you don't want to return these for warranty repair (if they are still under warranty) Then carefully take a sharp razor blade and cut down the length of the heat shrink, With out cutting into the cable... If you don't feel like you can do that take a pair of electronics cutters Like xcelite 170M and use the dull side towards the cable and cut down the length of the heat shrink.  If you don't feel your up to it I can repair these mics.. For $10.00 + return shipping. Its a easy repair. Call Len first give him an opportunity to fix the problem. Before you take stuff apart.

Chris Church

I got them in June 2006, so they are still under warranty.  I just emailed Len.  Hopefully he can fix them and get them back to me quickly.  I was planning on recording a show next weekend, so I'll have to go to my backup mics (Core Sound Binaurals w/ out battery box).

Thanks for your help.

[ilduclo]

My connector on the CS bat box was an unscrew type, maybe Len has changed that. try rotating it. BTW, good luck on getting them back in a reasonable time, figger to wait a MONTH for service, unless something else has changed at CS.

 

[ilduclo]

I listened to the glitch, yes it's for sure a loose connection in the mics/bb as you suspect. This is one of the reasons I quit using CS products (the other was simply slow slow service times)

[guitard]

If you don't feel your up to it I can repair these mics.. For $10.00 + return shipping. It's an easy repair.

Chris Church

Chris,

I've emailed you twice and PMed you twice.  I'd like to take you up on your offer.

Thanks,

Randy

[Church-Audio]

If you don't feel your up to it I can repair these mics.. For $10.00 + return shipping. It's an easy repair.

Chris Church

Chris,

I've emailed you twice and PMed you twice.  I'd like to take you up on your offer.

Thanks,

Randy

OK I will fix them

Chris Church

[guitard]

Just a quick follow up to the group on this mic problem I had.

I followed Chris' advice and emailed Len about it since they are still under warranty.  But I never got a response from Len.  I disassembled them and tried to see if I could find anything that looked obviously wrong - but didn't see anything.

Chris offered to fix them for $10, so I sent them up to him.  I got a call a few days later from Chris and he told me that he couldn't find anything wrong with them.  He put everything back together and put new shrink wrap on where appropriate and did a little work on the mics (the wiring was a little bit loose).

Chris said that since he didn't actually have to repair anything, there would be no charge - I only needed to cover the return postage.  Since I was paying with Paypal, I told him I'd throw a few extra bucks in to cover the Paypal fees.  But he insisted that wasn't necessary.

I got my mics back Saturday and tested them - and they work perfectly.

Many thanks to those that offered advice and to Chris for repairing them.