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Re: A strange noise in Rode Nt-1A and NT-2A

Subject: Re: A strange noise in Rode Nt-1A and NT-2A
From: "natureguyusa" natureguyusa
Date: Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:04 pm ((PDT))
Hi Arnthor,

I use the Rode NT1-A microphones and have similar issues when the microphon=
es are exposed to high humidity. The moisture condenses on the large elemen=
t and essentially the mics either stop working, make a popping sound, or ju=
st make noise. The only thing you can do is to keep the mics as dry as poss=
ible. I use some resistive heaters (some resistors powered by a 12 volt bat=
tery)on the back side of the microphone's screen, and under my windscreen t=
o heat the mic up some to stop condensation. The issues usually occur in th=
e early mornings, especially if foggy. Sometimes, I just have to wait for t=
he heaters to do their work before recording. Try not to leave them outside=
 overnight. Once dried out, the microphones return to normal operation.

Hope this helps,
Bruce Rutkoski
Owner
www.natureguystudio.com

--- In  Arn=FE=F3r Helgason <arnthor.helga=
> wrote:
>
> Der listers.
>
> I am a new member to this list. I have run a blogpage
> http://hljod.blog.is =96 Icelandic Soundblog. There are recordings of var=
ious
> natural sounds. They are devided into several categories. See:
> fuglar (birds), vatni=F0 (water), sj=F3rinn (the sea) umhverfishlj=F3=F0 =
(sounds of
> the environment) and recently vindurinn (the wind). More categories will =
be
> set up with English names.
>
> For some time I have used R=F8de microphones for my recordings: NT-2A +NT=
-55
> in a MS-setup and NT-1A in NOS or AB setup. The results have been sometim=
es
> outstanding.
> Recently the following problem occurred:
>
> Last week I was in a summerhouse and left the microphones outside for who=
le
> night on two occasions. I noticed that as the temperature lowered  and th=
e
> dew fell on, something happened. A strange noise appeared. The first nigh=
t I
> had the microphones NT-2A and NT-55 in an MS-setup. Then the NT-2A was
> affected and the second night both the NT-1A seemed to fail. Strangely th=
e
> microphones seemed to start working as the sun started to shine and warm =
up
> the microphones which were covered with a dead cat. The temperature may h=
ave
> been around 4-5=A8=B0 C and the dew had fallen. The microphones seem to h=
ave
> started to fail after around 90 minutes.
> I have created a soundfile with the noise from one of the NT-1A.
>
> Has anyone on this list  had any experience with this? My friend, Magn=FA=
s
> Bergsson, thinks something might be wrong with the cables I used. Some te=
st
> shows that they seem to be in order.
>
> The head of the Technical Department of The Icelandic State Radio, Georg
> Magn=FAsson,  thought the failure might be caused by the moisture and the=
 low
> temperature.
>
> This makes me to think what to do. I have Senheiser ME-62 and 64 which I
> have sometimes used in very harsh conditions, but I think they are a litt=
le
> too noisy. Until 1 year ago I used a battery pack together with the 62 an=
d
> 64, but now I have invested in two packs without batteries and the
> microphones semm not as noisy as usually. They can however never be compa=
red
> with the NT-2A and NT-1A.
>
> Natural sounds, as of birds, here in Iceland are very low and sometimes
> distant.
>
> With very best regards,
> Arnthor Helgason
>
> Arnthor Helgason
> http://hljod.blog.is
> Email:
> 
> 
>
>
>
>
>








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