It seems condenser microphones are fragile and need to be handled like instruments. I wonder if people use windscreens with their mics for protection from accidental damage? or primarily for wind/noise reduction? or perhaps both?
I think it's worth pointing out that the self noise of a measurement microphone, which is regularly stated in dB(A), significantly limits its use.
Because of the (A) filter curve, the low frequencies are excluded from the evaluation.
This would also be important to find out with windbreaks.
best regards, Bernd
Because of the (A) filter curve, the low frequencies are excluded from the evaluation.
This would also be important to find out with windbreaks.
best regards, Bernd
Though the primary use is wind noise or vocal plosive ("popping P sounds") reduction, a "BBG" (Baby Ball Gag) type wind screen can provide a fair amount of shock impact reduction if the mic is dropped:
Open cell foam, or "furry" wind screens won't do much impact reduction at all, but can be fitted over a BBG for increased wind noise reduction.
Microphone high frequency response is affected by windscreens, some indoor tests need to be performed to determine how much the change is.
The center ring on the BBG will change the polar response of the mic, while open cell foam, or "furry" wind screens generally just roll off HF evenly from all directions.
Art
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You need a pre polarised capsule! Most older B&K need 200V polarisation voltage.
Looks great and price also seem to be good!
From the optics it also looks like they do their own electronics and even capsule designs and not just relable Chinese manufacturers. Seems to be a solid mic.
I was not aware that there are used prepolarised B&K capsules on the market? I only know the older ones and these need polarisation. 👍
Windscreens always introduce some frequency changes, you would need to recalibrate your microphone. Even the protection grid often already makes some errors! (calibration curves are always made without the grid!)
And these hard ones can even produce reflections and mire nasty erors.
So only use when you REALLY need them and then know what you are doing.
And these hard ones can even produce reflections and mire nasty erors.
So only use when you REALLY need them and then know what you are doing.
The 4189 was released to market in 1994, and is B&K's best seller, so they are definitely around, or the later 4940, 4966 or even 4964.
The other major manufacturers all have equivalents, so there is a reasonable choice, if not exactly an abundance.
There is actually a standard for microphone drops, IEC 60068-2-32, 1 metre onto a wood surface.
B&K note when their microphones meet the test, but it seems a bad idea to try it.
Best wishes
David
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I also don't really see the point of testing it either?
Just don't drop your mic?
Or if some people know they are clumsy, just make some protection around the sensitive part, install mic on beam, remove protection.
Do this in reverse for removing the mic again.
Some microphone capsules are designed/optimised with the protection grid in place, and are still able to maintain -0/+1dB from 3Hz to 40KHz. But despite being used with the protection grid in place, when subject to a blunt force such as a strike on the ground, tends bend the protection grid inwards, and can damages the diaphragm.
I have dropped a measurement microphone on more than one occasion. More than one person I spoke to have had accidents too. Despite trying to anticipate the (im)possible, accidents happens. That’s why there are called Accidents.
Killing a ECM that costs $40 less painful than a $40 one, which is a lot less painful than a €4000 one.
G.R.A.S. states
“If you accidentally damage the diaphragm on a GRAS microphone, we can — in most cases — replace it at a very reasonable cost and with a short turn-around time.”
Well that’s nice.
Better than buying a new capsule for $$$$
I have dropped a measurement microphone on more than one occasion. More than one person I spoke to have had accidents too. Despite trying to anticipate the (im)possible, accidents happens. That’s why there are called Accidents.
Killing a ECM that costs $40 less painful than a $40 one, which is a lot less painful than a €4000 one.
G.R.A.S. states
“If you accidentally damage the diaphragm on a GRAS microphone, we can — in most cases — replace it at a very reasonable cost and with a short turn-around time.”
Well that’s nice.
Better than buying a new capsule for $$$$
May I ask what the moments are you dropped them?
Was that during transport, in the process of mounting them, somebody knocking over the microphone stand or just but "accidentally" hitting them off the table?
I can’t recall exactly. I think the first time was a flimsy tripod. The second time was a loose mic clamp.
These days I make sure I have plenty of slack in the cable- a metre or two longer than necessary so that the cable is loose rather than being under tension.
The microphone that are 1/2”, on a preamp that is 1/2”, mounted in a tube that I also 1/2”, well they are pretty light. Perhaps dynamic mics and MEMS have taken over the mass mass market precisely because they are so rugged. Bad frequency response better than no frequency response.
I got a price back from Placid. €389.
Less than Earthworks M23.
Less than current MicW M215 pricing, at least here in Australia.
Very tempting… perhaps I will procure one for testing.
These days I make sure I have plenty of slack in the cable- a metre or two longer than necessary so that the cable is loose rather than being under tension.
The microphone that are 1/2”, on a preamp that is 1/2”, mounted in a tube that I also 1/2”, well they are pretty light. Perhaps dynamic mics and MEMS have taken over the mass mass market precisely because they are so rugged. Bad frequency response better than no frequency response.
I got a price back from Placid. €389.
Less than Earthworks M23.
Less than current MicW M215 pricing, at least here in Australia.
Very tempting… perhaps I will procure one for testing.
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I am just a bit confused how to find a solution for protecting the microphones if the rest of the equipment isn't up to quality? I mean that with no offense (since people always seem to misread).
I used to work for a acoustic consultancy company.
We used quite expensive B&K microphones there, mostly because the calibration certificates were very expensive (for legal reasons)
There were a lot of interns and other people using these as well.
We only had two minor accidents, both were human failure by not following proper procedures and/or using the wrong equipment.
One of them is to make sure there is strain relief in the cable.
This can be as simple as putting something heavy (enough) on the cable, or otherwise taping it to the floor (although I can imagine you don't ant that at home).
Second, is to make sure that a test setup is a no-access zone.
Third, when you're done or want to switch, immediately put the mic in its case or otherwise like a basket or something. When mounting, do the reverse. So bring that case or basket to the mic stand, don't go walking around with equipment.
People find that often excessive, but I 100% agree with you that with expensive equipment you don't want to run into risks.
As an additional layer, I would suggest having a protective cap on it and remove it when you're about to measure, and put it back on as soon as you're done.
Most definitely never use flimsy stands for expensive equipment.
That is just asking for all kinds of trouble.
A simple trick I learned back in my recording/broadcasting days: tape or bind the mic cable to the bottom of the pole stand, as close to the ground as possible. You prevent stumbling over the cable and, when pulled, the stand doesn’t go down easily.
I personally would just mount a concrete tile on the bottom of a high quality microphone stand.
Maybe with just a quick release so the cable quickly disconnects.
But moving a cable away from any potential walking paths solves most problems.
Like just simply routing it to the ceiling instead of having it on the floor.
Or use 210cm high poles.
Or have no cable at all, go for a super small remote controlled computer.
Maybe with just a quick release so the cable quickly disconnects.
But moving a cable away from any potential walking paths solves most problems.
Like just simply routing it to the ceiling instead of having it on the floor.
Or use 210cm high poles.
Or have no cable at all, go for a super small remote controlled computer.
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Know any holders for 1/2” (or 1/4”) microphones (or copper or stainless steel tubes)?
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At that price definitely worth consideration, so I had a closer, second look at the specification.
The noise for the PCR24 looks suspiciously low.
Usually the more tensioned membrane that produces a flat response to 40 kHz also reduces the sensitivity, so the noise floor in SPL is worse.
They claim a 40 kHz response, have a lower sensitivity but the noise floor barely any different, hmm.
Still looks fairly nice, buy one and satisfy everyone's curiosity 🙂
I plan to put an XLR connector on the end of a 1/2" carbon fibre tube and have an in-line holder, minimum diffraction and sound field disturbance.
Also cheap, carbon fibre but it's an old ski pole🙂
Or use thin walled aluminium, cheap and easy.
Best wishes
David
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