Topic: Strange Distortion on Bass. How bad is this? (sample included)

[Liquid Drum]

Recorded Rush last night. The sound was truly amazing (especially for an arena). I had levels on my h120 set to 12 on both channels and safety clip on (set at 1sec). After the show the levels were down to 8 so the safety clip did SOMETHING although I don't hear it. The recording had potential but imo is completely useless as the bass distorts all the way through. I don't think its the mics I just think the levels were too hot and the safety clip didn't do enough. I wish I checked my levels more but had no chance as security were 1 metre in front all night (I could have sworn he saw my mics several times lol).

What do you think of the sample? Can it be repaired to a certain degree? I know its impossible to get rid of distortion fully but if anything that COULD improve the sound even a little bit would be better than nothing.

Ah well, my first bad recording in nearly 2 years taping. Quite annoyed with myself but I guess these things happen (plus was my first time taping with my Iriver, previously used Hi MD).

Source: Sennhieser MKE40 (MM-HLSC) > SPSB-1 (No roll-off) > Iriver h120 (Rockboxed)

Heres the sample:-

http://www.mediafire.com/?arnngmjdifo


Thanks,
Simon.

[Liquid Drum]

First post updated!

Another question, what do you think caused the distortion?? It surely can't be the mics overloading it really wasn't that loud (was actually one of the quietest concerts I've seen). I personally think the levels were overloading a tiny bit (hence the mild distortion). I could be wrong though.

 

[Nicola Fankhauser]

hi

there is an enormous amount of bass in your sample, 40db louder compared to the mids. since the levels don't clip, your mics were most probably overloaded, even though subjectively it was not that loud. concerts are often drenched with bass you normally don't hear, but feel. your mics' membranes just did not make it with all that air flowing forth and back...

regards
nicola

[Liquid Drum]

This is strange though because the MM-HLSC are meant to take up to 138spl (and thats without a battery box). This is quite worrying...

 

[Nicola Fankhauser]

hi

I recently bought the MM-HLSO, which should take about the same SPL, and they distort like hell even at moderate loud concerts. I'm very disappointed, too. I built a 9v battery box to see if it's because of lacking powering (an R-09 does provide plug-in power, though not as much as 9v) - but the distortion is the same, only that levels are now higher...

regards
nicola

[Arni99]

hi

I recently bought the MM-HLSO, which should take about the same SPL, and they distort like hell even at moderate loud concerts. I'm very disappointed, too. I built a 9v battery box to see if it's because of lacking powering (an R-09 does provide plug-in power, though not as much as 9v) - but the distortion is the same, only that levels are now higher...

regards
nicola

strange, i never had distortion with my HLSO´s even at loud amplified bassy shows standing 15 meters infront of the right stack using my MZ-RH1 HI-MD recorder with a 9V bbox on line-in.

[Liquid Drum]

So anyone got any ideas on how to minimize the distortion? I want to raise the high-end a bit but fear it'll make the distortion worse than it is now.

Any pre-sets/filters or settings I should tweak? (I'm using Audition 1.5 by the way)


Thanks.