C4 crackling

[jason_tsh]

Hello there,
I have a problem with one of my C4s. It crackles. It sounds like the sort of crackly sound you get when you use phantom power with a slightly dodgy mic cable. I've tested it through various preamps, mixers and cables, and it's definately a problem with the mic itself.
Any idea what the problem is?
I use the C4s at every recording session pretty much, mainly as overheads, sometimes as a snare mic (works great taped to a beta 57), and sometimes for other stuff..
Thanks,
Jason

[Alan Hyatt]

Sounds like perhaps there is some moisture in the capsule. Call Brent and he can help you out to get it fixed. 877-563-6335

[jason_tsh]

I can't really afford to phone america I'm afraid..
Maybe if Brent gets a spare minute he could email me and tell me what to do?
If it's too complicated to email instructions, then I'll have to phone I guess.
Thanks for your help sofar. :)
Jason

[dpaulku]

Jason,

From another forum, an owner of C4s posted this:

"The C4's are very good for the money. I seem to be clinging to those too.. Supposedly for damp situations where I don't want to run schoeps.. Because, ya know, they say you can just put the C4 caps in the oven at 150F to 'dry them out'. I haven't run'em since Claypool at the Royal Oak T in July.."

As they say, YMMV. If you still run a CRT monitor and have the time... assuming this problem is still on going... you might try placing the caps on the rear grill/vent of the monitor and let that gentle warmth "bake" them for a few days. I doubt if the temp ever exceeds 90 deg and if you leave the monitor on for days (like me) the constant exposure should drive out any mosture it that indeed is the issue.

The only other possibility that I know of is if the cap is not completly secure on the body. Check the threads to see if you're using them all.

HTH

[Ausrock]

Jason,

Firstly, where are you?

I've not had the problem occur here but a friend had an MXL603 doing similar things and I suggested he place the mic about 4"-6" (100-150mm) from a 60 watt light bulb for at least 8 hours. This fixed the problem and he hasn't had a re-occurence so far.

ChrisO :cool:

[Brent Casey]

Hello Jason,

Have you been able to isolate the problem as to which capsule, or amplifier body is exhibiting the noise? Or is it both head amps and all four capsules that are noisy?
The tapers and Ausrock are right on in their advice: Applying heat to the capsules can often dispel any crackling demons that happen to be inhabiting your signal path as a result of moisture/humidity.
If there are further problems, please contact me via Brent@pmiaudio.com and I will get you taken care of.

Regards,

Brent Casey

[Nigel Russell]

Hi Jason

I'm with Ozrock on this one tho I'd suggest a slighly lower wattage bulb.....40 seems to work very well.

[jason_tsh]

Thanks everyone for replying and helping me out.
Hi Brent,
Yes, it seems to be just one of the cardioid capsules.

I'm from the UK. Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, to be precise.

I'll do what everyone has suggested, and dry it out. It's great that they're so reslient. I'd never of assumed that you could just bung them near some heat for a few days, hehe.

I also have a cheap LDC that makes a fairly loud click every few minutes. Sometimes less often, sometimes more often.

I'm assuming I'll need to leave the heaters on in my live room a bit more. I'm also guessing it'll help maybe if I make sure I put ALL the mics away, with silica gel in their boxes, after every day. I'm pretty lazy, and tend to leave the mics setup when I can, if for instance I'm tracking for a few days in a row.
I'll let you know how I get on with the C4.
Thanks everyone,
Jason

[jason_tsh]

Well, I tried the monitor thing, but my monitor doesn't get very warm. I then tried the oven thing, at 150 degrees, which I only did for about 10mins, if that, and it's melted the opaque plastic ring on the underside of the capsule. It's bubbled up, and now it's impossible to screw the capsule back onto the body.
It's very frustrating, as I'm recording drum sessions for 2 different bands over the next 2 days, and I now don't have a matching stereo pair of overheads.
:(

[Marik]

Well, I tried the monitor thing, but my monitor doesn't get very warm. I then tried the oven thing, at 150 degrees, which I only did for about 10mins, if that, and it's melted the opaque plastic ring on the underside of the capsule. It's bubbled up, and now it's impossible to screw the capsule back onto the body.
It's very frustrating, as I'm recording drum sessions for 2 different bands over the next 2 days, and I now don't have a matching stereo pair of overheads.
:(

Oh man... I feel your pain :(

Just out of curiosity, why oven and why 150 degrees? I suspect it is Celsius :eek:

[Brent Casey]

Well, I tried the monitor thing, but my monitor doesn't get very warm. I then tried the oven thing, at 150 degrees, which I only did for about 10mins, if that, and it's melted the opaque plastic ring on the underside of the capsule. It's bubbled up, and now it's impossible to screw the capsule back onto the body.
It's very frustrating, as I'm recording drum sessions for 2 different bands over the next 2 days, and I now don't have a matching stereo pair of overheads.
:(



AAARGH!!!
Ok, get in touch with me - Brent@pmiaudio.com.

Brent...at PMI Audio....dotcom

[Ausrock]

I overlooked the post suggesting an oven at 150 deg, had I noticed it, I would have sounded a warning, as apart from "flying in the face" of good common sense, once re-read it is obviously only hearsay........"Because, ya know, they say you can just put the C4 caps in the oven at 150F ......".........FFS, who said that? :confused:

Since reading of Jason's misfortune just after he posted, I have been kind of lost for words over the whole thing.

:cool:

[Marik]

I overlooked the post suggesting an oven at 150 deg

Huh, same here.

[jason_tsh]

Hi Brent,
I emailed you just after posting my last post here. :)
I did think the oven suggestion seemed very scary, but there you go. Tons of the things I've learnt about recording and equipment seems to fly in the face of what I'd assume was the "right way" to do something, and the way I looked at it was that it's one capsule, and a capsule which is currently no use to me. I tried the other suggestions first though. I didn't just read the thing about the oven, and put a few cakes in there next to the C4 for good measure, hehe, although, actually, those cakes sound pretty good.. :p
Anyway, I've emailed the wonderful Brent, so I'm sure I'll sort it somehow.
Thanks everyone for your help though.

(thinks - maybe I should stop recording under water? :rolleyes: that might stop me getting moisture in the capsules...)

I'm joking by the way. ;)

[Brent Casey]

Hi Brent,
I emailed you just after posting my last post here. :)
I did think the oven suggestion seemed very scary, but there you go. Tons of the things I've learnt about recording and equipment seems to fly in the face of what I'd assume was the "right way" to do something, and the way I looked at it was that it's one capsule, and a capsule which is currently no use to me. I tried the other suggestions first though. I didn't just read the thing about the oven, and put a few cakes in there next to the C4 for good measure, hehe, although, actually, those cakes sound pretty good.. :p
Anyway, I've emailed the wonderful Brent, so I'm sure I'll sort it somehow.
Thanks everyone for your help though.

(thinks - maybe I should stop recording under water? :rolleyes: that might stop me getting moisture in the capsules...)

I'm joking by the way. ;)


Well, I guess you're asking for trouble when you mix kitchen appliances and audio gear. I was in a hurry to get to a gig the other day and I inadvertantly grabbed the microwave oven instead of my hard disk recorder. All of the tracks came out way too hot...


Badoom tishhhhh...groan.

[Brent Casey]

By the way, I have oven baked a few C4 capsules in my time. Works great...However, I generally use a temperature that is habitable for human beings ~120-130°F and a duration of 3-5 minutes. The temperature should not approach the 5-second rule - In other words, you should be able to hold your finger comfortably on the hot surface for 5 seconds or so.

Brent Casey

[Reid Mason]

By the way, I have oven baked a few C4 capsules in my time. Works great...However, I generally use a temperature that is habitable for human beings ~120-130°F and a duration of 3-5 minutes. The temperature should not approach the 5-second rule - In other words, you should be able to hold your finger comfortably on the hot surface for 5 seconds or so.

Brent Casey

I thought the 5 second rule applied to food dropped on the ground!

[Brent Casey]

I thought the 5 second rule applied to food dropped on the ground!

Oh. Yeah, you're right.
Unfortunately, I got mixed up on that one and ended up eating a cardioid cap that dropped on the floor last night.
Hopefully, it will stay "on axis"...

[Marik]

Oh. Yeah, you're right.
Unfortunately, I got mixed up on that one and ended up eating a cardioid cap that dropped on the floor last night.
Hopefully, it will stay "on axis"...

Are you gonna recycle it? Let me know your "fishing" technique.
Also, I am very interested to know how it would be for vocals, as for certain voices I am currently shopping for some colored capsules giving that warm and pleasant feel of air/atmosphere.

I thought the 5 second rule applied to food dropped on the ground!

Reid,

With all due respect... I mean... :confused: that one is also a 5 second rule, but is another one... Brent's rule came first.
From my first hand experience (anyway, that's what counts on the board, right?): July in Phoenix, AZ... 120°F... in 5 seconds you have to get out the house, jump into the car, start and warm it up, and turn on air conditioning :eek:

[Ausrock]

Geeez, a couple of the best days this summer (just ended) were about 114deg........nice and dry heat, air con inside, the pool outside :D Much better than a couple of weeks later when the temp was back in the 90's and the humidity had shot up.

:cool: