Mic Storage and Foam

[arcaxis]

I seem to recall seeing somewhere that it was advised not to store mic's in a box with certain kinds of foam, that some chemical in the foam could eventually cause deterioration of parts of the mic. I've got a nice aluminum case with lined with foam I'd like to use for mic storage and transport, but I'm reluctant. Any ideas on this ?

[DJL]

Put the mic with some silica gel packs in a plastic zip-lock bag, and zip it up, put that into you mic pouch, then it should be ok in your case.

[StevenLindsey]

I've got an old, old SM57 that came in some kinda foam lined case. After a few years that foam underwent some sort of mutation and distributed a sticky film all over the mic. The mic still works but it's still a bit sticky. Probably depends on the kind of foam. Surely they have better packing material these days??

[notCardio]

Only mine were 545's (almost the same thing) and probably even older (they have 4-pin Amphenol connectors instead of XLR). Did yours come in a white plastic case too? I've been leery of putting my other mics in a foam-lined case, too, because of what happened. Seems like nothing will get that crap off! What did you use?

[DJL]

Oh Shure, lol. It was a little white plastic mic case with a black plastic handle and it had green foam in it and the mic case was shaped like a little lunch box. Anyway, that foam shure was nasty.

[t_chance]

I was told at a foam place that any of the greyish foam (that's anti-static) will not degrade.

[StevenLindsey]

Card..... I didn't get it off. I'm very lazy. I thought that eventually it would just degrade and finally fall off. But....it's still sticky and gross. I hide it in my bass drum head - works great there and I don't have to look at it. I think mine came in a black case with a blackish, maybe very dark greenish swamp slime foam. I keep my sm 57s 58 in a bag now.

[nwsoundman]

Grey foam is not "anti-static". Anti-static (conductive. and dissipative) foam is usually black or pink. The grey stuff won't rot though.

Kirk

[DJL]

Originally posted by DJL
Oh Shure, lol. It was a little white plastic mic case with a black plastic handle and it had green foam in it and the mic case was shaped like a little lunch box. Anyway, that foam shure was nasty.

I don't remember what color the foam was when I got it, but its green now. I've still got one of those piece-of-crap Shure cases... I don't know why, but I've still got one. lol.

[jem]

well let's face it, shure sure learn't the'r lesson...
they now come with a small back puch with nothing inside...

but they have those poppy plastics that you can trim here and there to let your mic sit in nicely...

though at church, we use a SKB box with a huge piece of grey foam to fit 12 mics leaving a small space for all the DI boxes...

though i would recommend cleanning of the mic at least once a year... or maybe in two years... i hate to use smelly mics...

[SS454]

When I was interning in a a studio, I had to replace all the foam in one of our mic cabinets. It all fell apart. I don't know what happens to that stuff.
When I was working at a nicer studio, I noticed that they just keep thier mics in a felt lined box in a cabinet. Which makes more sense than foam. Afterall, the mics aren't really going to get knocked around too much in the studio, so no need for the foam. They really just need to be kept out of the way when not in use.