Topic: Mics in the Sun?

[colinw]

possibly a stupid question! 

I haven't taped many outdoor festivals and the ones I have done are mostly in tents.

This summer I plan on doing a few long festivals out in the (hopefully) sunny weather for hours and hours. I am running two rigs - Busman bsc1 and also Church Audio CA14 omnis.

Should I be concerned about the mics being out in the hot sun for 6+ hours for multiple days? I have seen others use umbrellas on hot days, but I wasn't sure if this was only for certain mics or some other reason.

Will the mics get "too hot", or doe sit not matter?

[F.O.Bean]

I've recorded festivals millions of times, and I've never had the mics get "too hot" I only use an umbrella in the rain!!! They will get hot but not enough to fuck up a good recording

[Gutbucket]

It's preamps and recorders that tend to have overheating problems running in tight-packed bags.  Keep some free airspace around the gear in your bag and shade it with something so its not baking in the sun.

[Phil Zone]

That's a great topic actually, I was wondering that myself. But I do know that colonw is right about the recorder and preamp betting to hot, and the other thing is make sure that the batteries don't get to hot.

[cashandkerouac]

i agree. the umbrella is not required, but it's not a bad idea.  i sometimes use one over my mics if temperatures are in the 90s or 100s and winds are low. 

another thing to consider with an umbrella in sunny weather at a festival is the probability of being deluged by beach balls.  the umbrella could be a liability if a situation like that breaks out.  on the one hand the umbrella will protect the balls from directly hitting your mics, but each time a ball hits your umbrella you'll hear it on the recording.  (in most cases) i'd rather have a smaller footprint and risk the direct hit.   

[vanark]

I taped in Mississippi at an outdoor festival at the end of June.  It was not fit for a human to stand outside all day.  I ran with an umbrella on my mics and tried to keep my bag in the shade as well.  The biggest challenge was keeping the recorder from running hot.  But, I would definitely run with the umbrella in Mississippi in the summer.

[Marshall7]

I never had any problem with the mics, but twice my R-4 over-heated and stopped (losing the file, of course) due to heat.

[jazzgtrl4]

I was actually just thinking about this. Headed to HSMF and it can get hot up there. plus ill be running my Telefunken tubes...!? hope they don't get too hot...!?

[Church-Audio]

possibly a stupid question! 

I haven't taped many outdoor festivals and the ones I have done are mostly in tents.

This summer I plan on doing a few long festivals out in the (hopefully) sunny weather for hours and hours. I am running two rigs - Busman bsc1 and also Church Audio CA14 omnis.

Should I be concerned about the mics being out in the hot sun for 6+ hours for multiple days? I have seen others use umbrellas on hot days, but I wasn't sure if this was only for certain mics or some other reason.

Will the mics get "too hot", or doe sit not matter?

Any condenser mic can be damaged in direct sunlight... and extreme heat for extended times. It has a tendency to stretch the diaphragm of the mic. But if the mic is covered up by a windscreen as most mics outside are. There should be little or no issue. You might damage them more by having them inside a hot car all day then outside where air can blow around them and cool them down. Dont worry about it. If you were to take a pair of large diaphragm condenser mics and leave them in the sun all day with no windscreens in direct sunlight then yeah you could have some issues. My mics will be ok.

[stevetoney]

FWIW, I'll sometimes (or maybe it's usually) put an umbrella above my mics during a festy even if it's a sunny day just as a precaution for potential weather changes as the day wears on, especially if I think I might not be there with my rig for every minute of the day.  Keeps me from having to worry about it if a storm comes up and I'm back at my tent or taking a nap or at another stage or whatever.  I've been asked why the umbrella when it's sunny and that's usually the only reason. 

[F.O.Bean]

FWIW, I'll sometimes (or maybe it's usually) put an umbrella above my mics during a festy even if it's a sunny day just as a precaution for potential weather changes as the day wears on, especially if I think I might not be there with my rig for every minute of the day.  Keeps me from having to worry about it if a storm comes up and I'm back at my tent or taking a nap or at another stage or whatever.  I've been asked why the umbrella when it's sunny and that's usually the only reason. 

100% agreed. I run an umbrella even if thereis a 10% chance of rain, because I run two rigs at festies and can't be in two places at once, just like tonedeaf

[cashandkerouac]

FWIW, I'll sometimes (or maybe it's usually) put an umbrella above my mics during a festy even if it's a sunny day just as a precaution for potential weather changes as the day wears on, especially if I think I might not be there with my rig for every minute of the day.  Keeps me from having to worry about it if a storm comes up and I'm back at my tent or taking a nap or at another stage or whatever.  I've been asked why the umbrella when it's sunny and that's usually the only reason. 

100% agreed. I run an umbrella even if thereis a 10% chance of rain, because I run two rigs at festies and can't be in two places at once, just like tonedeaf

don't the superstitious folks in the section give you the stink eye when you put up you're umbrella in sunny weather?  i've had a couple of people on the east coast give me a hard time for hoisting an umbrella in sunny weather (for fear that i would attract the rain).  they were just busting my chops a bit, but they were serious.  i found it kinda funny since the rain was coming anyway.     

[colinw]

thanks everyone, good advice all the way around. I tested out my new clamp last night with an umbrella I broke the handle off and it worked really well.

I am taping this weekend and will take the umbrella with me, make the call on whether to use depending on weather - looks like sunny and less than 5% rain all weekend 

[Phil Zone]

thanks everyone, good advice all the way around. I tested out my new clamp last night with an umbrella I broke the handle off and it worked really well.

I am taping this weekend and will take the umbrella with me, make the call on whether to use depending on weather - looks like sunny and less than 5% rain all weekend 

Good luck, have fun!

[jagraham]

I'm sure mics can get too hot but I would really be more concerned about the recorder in any case. I had 2 recorders fail by just turning off out of nowhere on a hot day one time. Never happened again but I know it was the heat. As far as the mics go, it's much more of an issue if they get wet than hot.