Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior?

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kawika
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2017/07/25 06:09:42 (permalink)

Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior?

OK...I dropped my mic. And, it needs to be fixed.
 
But I'm curious if anyone has experienced this problem. The mic (AKG C 414 B) takes a 1.5 minutes to regain it's output.
 
It seemed weird so I tested it by doing the following: (1) set the mic in front of my cell phone which was emitting a metronome sound. The input registered on the track was constant (e.g., -12 dB). (2) Picked up the mic and talked into it at 0dB for about 10 seconds. As I was talking the input level slowly depreciated. (3) Place mic back in front of cell phone to which it was now at -30dB. (4) waited 1 1/2 minutes until the mic was outputting the initial -12 dB.
 
Note: This did not happen with other mics.....and....this did happen in other daw/sound cards.
 
Anybody have ideas about this particular malfunction.

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    JonD
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    Re: Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior? 2017/07/26 20:53:07 (permalink)
    I think you answered your own question (Mic was dropped, now acting erratically).
     
    It might be as simple as a loose/broken connection inside, but unless you have some basic soldering skills, I'd leave it to a professional.

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    TheSteven
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    Re: Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior? 2017/07/26 22:27:41 (permalink)

    Loose connector or worse.
    The mic capsule is essentially a capacitor and now it's not getting properly charged.

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    bitflipper
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    Re: Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior? 2017/07/27 04:29:31 (permalink)
    I've seen similar symptoms. It was with a ribbon mic rather than a condenser, but both depend on mechanical parts being precisely positioned. In a condenser, the critical components are the fixed and moveable halves of the capacitor, which have to be very close together but can never touch one another. If either side's mounting were to come loose, the distance between them could change just by singing into the microphone or bumping it. That would definitely cause varying output levels, perhaps even cutting the mic off altogether.
     
    I would definitely advise sending it to AKG or an AKG-authorized repair place. I'm normally a DIY-type guy, but even I wouldn't mess with the mechanical parts in a microphone. It would not hurt, however, to open the basket and have a close look first.
     


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    Cactus Music
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    Re: Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior? 2017/07/27 15:20:47 (permalink)
    All I can say is don't drop any mike with the exception of a SM 58! 

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    kawika
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    Re: Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior? 2017/08/14 02:22:10 (permalink)
    Yup....don't drop...yer right thanks guys
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    bitflipper
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    Re: Anybody familiar with this strange mic behavior? 2017/08/14 22:29:37 (permalink)
    So did you ever get it fixed?


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