🚀 go-pugleaf

tompelli@xstor.com (Tom Pellicer) writes:

> Help...
> 
> I have a friend who has let me borrow his Neuman U87 microphone so that
> I could record some vocal tracks.  My board does not supply phantom 
> power, so I borrowed (from another friend) an AKG phantom power unit
> which plugs directly into 120 AC.
> 
> My problem is occasionally the mike level will just drop out for
> a few seconds and then come right back up - almost like someone pulled
> the vocal fader down and up real quick.  I tried a number of different
> channels on my board and it seems to happen on all of them.  I made
> sure that the U87 was switched to the external power, as well.  I also
> tried both jacks on the AKG power unit.
> 
> I don't own another mike that requires phantom power, and I don't
> have another phantom power unit.  Any suggestions?  Please tell me it
> is not the mike.
>

Hi...
I used to freak out thinking that my FAVORITE Neumann U87 was going.
It is really expensive to send it on a "mike vacation" to get repaired!

Don't worry... You probably had it on cardioid and got too damn close...
Your "P" pop overloaded the internal circuitry by momentarily forcing the 
capacitive plates (very large disks inside) together.

Use a windscreen. keep them off the mic. Use a coathanger and snag some 
pantyhose from your neighborhood drugstore. Make a O out of the hanger about
8" in dia. and stretch the hose over it. (Buy NEW HOSE for pete's sake!)...
you can put it on the mic stand and move it out about 6" AT LEAST.

This will also keep the vocalist off the mic.
Use Omni. Much flatter, and I think it doesn't sound so boomy...
you also won't pop so much!

You CAN'T replace a nice mic like a Neumann... Be careful with it...

Oh BTW ... use the pad on the mic before you use the pad on the console!
Much cleaner!
If you have 2 try "mid-side" or L-R bidirectionals= COOL! STEREO!

=brian c carr

ex engineer, ex strat player,
now a solder jockey in SA!



--
carrbc@ephsa.UUCP (Brian C. Carr)
Rivercity Matrix  --  +1 (210) 561-9815/21