Topic: how anal are you about storing your microphones?

[MRC01]

Moisture is supposed to deteriorate these things, right?

Do you bake the dessicant dry, wait for it to cool off, and put it into a sealed bag with the mic?

Do you toss the mic into a bag and not worry about it?

Just how important is it? Has anyone observed humidity damage during storage?

[willndmb]

i just have mine in my bag in my house
nothing special

[DSatz]

MRC01, wherever did you hear that moisture causes microphones to deteriorate? Condensation of moisture in the capsule (i.e. actual water droplets forming) will interfere with the functioning of any condenser microphone. But once it evaporates, the microphone should be fine again, if it was any good to begin with.

So you don't need to take any special measures to avoid ordinary, non-condensing humidity in storage. Mainly what you need to avoid in storage is dust. And theft. OK, well--dust, theft and packs of marauding jackals. And angry men swinging pickaxes. For ribbon microphones, the list of things to avoid would include iron filings along with ordinary dust. But otherwise it's just the usual dust / theft / jackals / pickaxes.

Cardioids sometimes have special dietary restrictions. If your microphones are made of straw, teach them basic fire safety and don't use them to close-mike a vocalist who's been drinking kerosene, unless you're using an asbestos windscreen. Stuff like that--just common sense, really.

--best regards

[easy jim]

So you don't need to take any special measures to avoid ordinary, non-condensing humidity in storage. Mainly what you should avoid in storage is dust. OK, well--dust and packs of marauding jackals. And angry men swinging pickaxes. For ribbon microphones, the list of things to avoid would include iron filings along with ordinary dust. But otherwise it's just the usual dust, jackals, pickaxes.

Cardioids sometimes have special dietary restrictions. If your microphones are made of straw, teach them basic fire safety and don't use them to close-mike a vocalist who's been drinking kerosene, unless you're using an asbestos windscreen. Stuff like that--just common sense, really.

 

[eric.B]

MRC01, wherever did you hear that moisture causes microphones to deteriorate? I think you may have misunderstood, or else your source didn't know what he was talking about. Condensation of moisture in the capsule (i.e. actual water droplets forming) will interfere with the functioning of any condenser microphone. But once it evaporates, the microphone should be fine again, if it was any good to begin with.

So you don't need to take any special measures to avoid ordinary, non-condensing humidity in storage. Mainly what you should avoid in storage is dust. OK, well--dust and packs of marauding jackals. And angry men swinging pickaxes. For ribbon microphones, the list of things to avoid would include iron filings along with ordinary dust. But otherwise it's just the usual dust, jackals, pickaxes.

Cardioids sometimes have special dietary restrictions. If your microphones are made of straw, teach them basic fire safety and don't use them to close-mike a vocalist who's been drinking kerosene, unless you're using an asbestos windscreen. Stuff like that--just common sense, really.

--best regards

uh oh ladies and gentlemen.. he's got a sense of humour..   

[Tim]

yeah, that was pretty funny and totally unexpected

more please

[MRC01]

all humor aside, that's good to know - thanks

[bhtoque]

I thought someone hijacked his account. 

Greatest Post Ever!!

+T

JAson

[firmdragon]

sadly i don't treat my gear as good as I should.

[boojum]

I follow the manufacturer's guidelines.  I keep the Schoeps in their little plastic cigar tubes, wrapped in lint-fee cloth placed in a plastic container.  The others are stored in the case they came in.  Too expensive to be cavalier with. 

[John Willett]

I store mine in either specially made flight cases or their original foam-lined cases - no silica gel, it's not needed (if it were it would have been delivered with the mics).

[aegert]

MRC01, wherever did you hear that moisture causes microphones to deteriorate? Condensation of moisture in the capsule (i.e. actual water droplets forming) will interfere with the functioning of any condenser microphone. But once it evaporates, the microphone should be fine again, if it was any good to begin with.

So you don't need to take any special measures to avoid ordinary, non-condensing humidity in storage. Mainly what you need to avoid in storage is dust. And theft. OK, well--dust, theft and packs of marauding jackals. And angry men swinging pickaxes. For ribbon microphones, the list of things to avoid would include iron filings along with ordinary dust. But otherwise it's just the usual dust / theft / jackals / pickaxes.

Cardioids sometimes have special dietary restrictions. If your microphones are made of straw, teach them basic fire safety and don't use them to close-mike a vocalist who's been drinking kerosene, unless you're using an asbestos windscreen. Stuff like that--just common sense, really.

--best regards

and I thought he was really Ineac the all knowing Microphone computer ROFL.. JK D thanks for all the info even if you are anly joking... ROFL

A

[Javier Cinakowski]

I wonder if he saw my thread about a pickaxe through the drawer of a cd burner?

That was good stuff.  You got anymore old  equipment sitting around?

When I was in high school and would have parties we would play a game called "smash!".  This game was good fun.  Go find an old appliance or electronic device (microwaves, stereo's, etc...)  Then place the item on a stool at one end of your basement.  At the other end of the basement get some friends and some baseballs.  First one to "smash!" the item wins!

 

[landshark]

Oh, AVOID the angry men swinging pickaxes, THAT's what I've been doing wrong!  Thanks!  <grin>  +t for humor's sake <grin>

[NOLAfishwater]

so is it no necessary to store mics with silica? My buddy who is an electrician gave me a bunch of them, so I keep one with all my mics and equipment. Call me crazy. Another question. I see alot of tapers not using windscreens indoors. Is it really necessary in order to protect them from smoke.