Topic: Can mic caps be off all of a sudden?

[Dutchman1101]

All of a sudden both sets of my MBHO caps are both off about 4 to 5 decibels. I have the 603a actives and I have tried with the bodies and the active cables trying to eliminate as much as possible. I have done a lot of testing and the most definitive to me is to leave everything the way it is and just switch caps. After doing this the problem follows the caps. What do you think is causing this? I mean it's both sets Both sets were not this off a month ago. Each set was a decibel off, tops.

[BC]

did they get wet?

[Brian Skalinder]

Is there any more self-noise than before, when the mics were more closely matched in dB output?

Keep in mind MBHOs carry a lifetime warranty.  If they were my mics, I'd politely request / demand a warranty service call with MBHO for this new symptom.  Here's the guy I talked to when I thought I had a problem (found out the mics were fine before I sent them off for warranty work):

Music Trade Center, Inc.
Marcus Demuth
12 Morgan Avenue
Brooklyn, NA 11237
phone:    +1 718 508 2370
fax:    
e-mail:    mbhous@yahoo.com

[bhtoque]

I've just had the same thing happen with my little used MG 21 caps.

They are now almost 10db apart, when almost perfectly matched before. And they were not used, moved or exposed to outside factors between uses when the change occurred.

JAson

[leehookem]

humidity sucks

[Chuck]

Maybe it was all that bombastic bass you get taping Panic?


...sorry, I just had to do that Harrison...

I'm with the rest in saying, yes this can happen... humidity, drastic changes in elevation or tempurature, shock from being dropped... these can all have a negative impact on microphone. If you do indeed isolate the problem to the microphones, call Marcus. He is very good to deal with.

[philR]

could be the connection between the caps and active cables.  that's what happened to my 140's not too long ago.  send them in and get them checked out ASAP.

[Dutchman1101]

I've done tests where they are hooked up by the actives and I attached them to the bodies. They are off no matter what I do. I think I should call and get them checked out. I'm going to do a few more tests though just to make sure.

[Govt Mule]

humidity sucks

that"s my guess, but send them in anyway,

[china_rider]

I would guess water/humidly also.  I *heavily* recommend keeping mics in a pelican case.  They are humidly/water proof and even have vents to keep the internal pressure stable.  In my opinion it is the best $20 you can spend to keep your gear safe.  There are different sizes but the 1060 fits my 480s with 61,61,63 caps perfectly.

EDIT:
And as an added bonus if you ever got a wild hair up your butt you could run over the mics in the case with your car with no damage. 

[philR]

our avg humidity here in CO is about 20%.  unless harrison is sweating all over his mics.   

[Dutchman1101]

our avg humidity here in CO is about 20%.  unless harrison is sweating all over his mics.   

I have been know to get sweaty I have them in a Pelican most of the time. Like Phil said we dont have that much humidity here. I just tested them again and both sets are off. The Cards more so but both sets are off at least a few decibels. I'm going to call MBHO tomorrow if I'm not to busy at work.

Does MBHO's lifetime warranty transfer?

[Chuck]

I would guess water/humidly also.  I *heavily* recommend keeping mics in a pelican case.  They are humidly/water proof and even have vents to keep the internal pressure stable.  In my opinion it is the best $20 you can spend to keep your gear safe.  There are different sizes but the 1060 fits my 480s with 61,61,63 caps perfectly.

EDIT:
And as an added bonus if you ever got a wild hair up your butt you could run over the mics in the case with your car with no damage. 

Pelican case *plus* desiccant (silica gel packs)
They are cheap and suck the moisture out of the pelican case when the microphones are placed in there.

[china_rider]

I would guess water/humidly also.  I *heavily* recommend keeping mics in a pelican case.  They are humidly/water proof and even have vents to keep the internal pressure stable.  In my opinion it is the best $20 you can spend to keep your gear safe.  There are different sizes but the 1060 fits my 480s with 61,61,63 caps perfectly.

EDIT:
And as an added bonus if you ever got a wild hair up your butt you could run over the mics in the case with your car with no damage. 

Pelican case *plus* desiccant (silica gel packs)
They are cheap and suck the moisture out of the pelican case when the microphones are placed in there.

Agreed.... T+

I ordered a pack of the silica gel for about $10 that came with enough packs to cover all my caps.  Also when you buy electronics keep the packs that come with them.  I use the packs on all my caps.

[SparkE!]

You can "recharge" the gel packs by baking them at low temperature (200 F or so) for 30 minutes to an hour.