Topic: SP cardioids unused for 6 years... not working now... YIKES!

[su6oxone]

So I had bought some Sound Pro cardioid mics in 2001 (SP CMC-3) and used them to record a few shows successfully in 2001 and 2002.  Worked great.  Didn't record many shows afterwards and so I carefully "coiled" them up very loosely (wide circles) and put them in a white cardboard box (from retail computer hardware) in my closet where they were not exposed to any humidity or extremes of heat/cold.  Not used for about 6 years.  Never dropped or damaged. 

Now, I just bought an Edirol R-09 recently and have used it successfully to transfer some shows that I recorded back in 01 and 02 from my minidisc recorder to the R-09 (and then to my PC).  I used the line-in jack and it worked great.  So today, I decided to test out how well the windscreens worked in blocking wind noise, and so I plugged them into the line-in jack and set it to record standby.  Waited... but no input levels are showing!  I switch it to the mic input but still nothing!  I try switching from low to high gain and no effect.  I yell into the mic after taking off the windscreens but nothing!  I check the settings and everything is fine. 

I plug in my MD player through the line-in and it gets a good signal on the R-09.  Therefore, I must conclude that the mics, somehow during their peaceful storage of 6 years, just up and died!  It's really odd and a bummer since I figured that the $200 I spent on those mics would not have to be respent on new mics. 

Anyone know of mics just dying like that while completely safely stored and which worked fine and were never damaged?  Or is there something else going on I'm not aware of?  Thanks!!

[Church-Audio]

So I had bought some Sound Pro cardioid mics in 2001 (SP CMC-3) and used them to record a few shows successfully in 2001 and 2002.  Worked great.  Didn't record many shows afterwards and so I carefully "coiled" them up very loosely (wide circles) and put them in a white cardboard box (from retail computer hardware) in my closet where they were not exposed to any humidity or extremes of heat/cold.  Not used for about 6 years.  Never dropped or damaged. 

Now, I just bought an Edirol R-09 recently and have used it successfully to transfer some shows that I recorded back in 01 and 02 from my minidisc recorder to the R-09 (and then to my PC).  I used the line-in jack and it worked great.  So today, I decided to test out how well the windscreens worked in blocking wind noise, and so I plugged them into the line-in jack and set it to record standby.  Waited... but no input levels are showing!  I switch it to the mic input but still nothing!  I try switching from low to high gain and no effect.  I yell into the mic after taking off the windscreens but nothing!  I check the settings and everything is fine. 

I plug in my MD player through the line-in and it gets a good signal on the R-09.  Therefore, I must conclude that the mics, somehow during their peaceful storage of 6 years, just up and died!  It's really odd and a bummer since I figured that the $200 I spent on those mics would not have to be respent on new mics. 

Anyone know of mics just dying like that while completely safely stored and which worked fine and were never damaged?  Or is there something else going on I'm not aware of?  Thanks!!

These mics require power.. If you have a battery box for them make sure the 9 volt battery has been replaced. And if you dont a line input will not power the mics. You need to use the mic input on your edirol. And make sure the plug in power is turned on. Then they should work. I have never seen a pair of mics die that were stored in a box. And for both mics to fail is almost impossible odds.


Chris

[su6oxone]

These mics require power.. If you have a battery box for them make sure the 9 volt battery has been replaced. And if you dont a line input will not power the mics. You need to use the mic input on your edirol. And make sure the plug in power is turned on. Then they should work. I have never seen a pair of mics die that were stored in a box. And for both mics to fail is almost impossible odds.


Chris

Thanks for the reply Chris, your helpful posts are making me a Church Audio fan even before buying any of your highly regarded gear. 

It's true that I didn't use the battery pack I have or the plug in power, but I thought with the mic input they would work.  I'll try with the plug in power turned on...  *fingers crossed*

[su6oxone]

It worked WOOHOO!!  Interesting feeling both embarrassed and relieved at the same time.  No input plugged into the line-in with plug in power, but it did work on the mic-in input with plug in power.  Thanks Chris, you saved me from trashing these mics and my R-09!

[Belexes]

Now, I just bought an Edirol R-09 recently and have used it successfully to transfer some shows that I recorded back in 01 and 02 from my minidisc recorder to the R-09 (and then to my PC).  I used the line-in jack and it worked great.

Are you aware that the R-09 is analog-in and you may have went digi-out of your MD? It may not matter to you, just pointing that out.

[Church-Audio]

It worked WOOHOO!!  Interesting feeling both embarrassed and relieved at the same time.  No input plugged into the line-in with plug in power, but it did work on the mic-in input with plug in power.  Thanks Chris, you saved me from trashing these mics and my R-09!

Man I make mistakes like that every day lol... Dont sweat it. You have some good mics.. I am sure they will work fine for you.

[su6oxone]

Now, I just bought an Edirol R-09 recently and have used it successfully to transfer some shows that I recorded back in 01 and 02 from my minidisc recorder to the R-09 (and then to my PC).  I used the line-in jack and it worked great.

Are you aware that the R-09 is analog-in and you may have went digi-out of your MD? It may not matter to you, just pointing that out.

Thx for the info, although my MD player is quite old (circa 2002) and I don't know about it's digital out capabilities.