Chris Long
New member
Tarnation--what's the name/number of that Cinemag?
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Tarnation--what's the name/number of that Cinemag?
crazydoc
Master Baiter
I'm not sure how the mic is assembled (I don't have one) but try this. Unscrew the bottom ring and take the body tube off. Lightly sand off the coating around the top of it where it makes contact with the rest of the mic when put together (where it won't be seen). Maybe the anodization is preventing it from being grounded to the rest of the mic chassis, and it is picking up 60 cycle hum.
dgatwood
is out. Leave a message.
Probably means the whole pot is turning, not the knob. I can't imagine any way a splined knob could spin on the shaft. Pull off the knob and tighten the nut more and it should fix the problem.
tarnationsauce2
Welcome to the jungle.
The Cinemag CM-9887. I installed one in a ribbon that's similar to the one you have. Only mine is a different brand.
Removing the inner mesh and replacing the transformer makes the mic have an ultra-smooth condenser type sound. Very enjoyable and more useful. I find some cheaper ribbons a bit too dark without some help.
If you get it, I can tell you how to wire it.
C
chance
Well-known member
I just spoke with a metalurlgist (spelling) and he said I should ask what alloy they are using for the ribbons. He also said that aluminum is a very thermal metal meaning expansion and contraction. He also asked if the ribbon folds were sharp or "radius'd" also what is the angle of the folds. I didn't have this info, but he said to call back anytime. Anyone?
T
Testing123
New member
Does it change if you touch the case?
crazydoc
Master Baiter
No, it's the knob turning on the shaft. The knob has a brass split pressure insert (smooth interior), and the switch shaft has a flat for a set screw. But for $95, if that's all that's wrong, it's still a great bargain.
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Somnium7
Noise Criminal
Actually U.S. Geological Survey
http://www.usgs.gov/
Should be an interesting gig. Pay is good enough for me to start thinking of where to make some upgrades in my signal chain.
I
Ironklad Audio
New member
would it be possible then that letting the mics sit around at room temperature for a few days could fix the problem, or do they still require retensioning?
dgatwood
is out. Leave a message.
Oh. I assumed they used a splined nut/pot since you couldn't find a set screw. Dunno. Both of mine slip if I push them hard enough past their limits, but they don't slip easily, so it's not a big deal.
On one of my two variable power supplies, I heard something rattling around inside. As I looked at it more closely, one of the screws holding the output connector fell out, and I immediately knew that the nut (and, as it turns out, the completely ineffective lock washer) was not doing its job....
Thirty minutes of tweezer hell later, I got it back together correctly.... *sigh*
If anybody wants pictures of the inside of the power supply, let me know....
BTW, why are they all shipped with the switch set to 220V?
dgatwood
is out. Leave a message.
You know what would be really cool? A small, end-address cardioid ribbon capsule for it. Use a blocking capacitor to keep DC away from the ribbon, and a 12AX7 has about twice the desired voltage gain for a full size ribbon. Obviously, a smaller ribbon for an end-address design would have lower output, so that probably would put it in the ballpark. Best of all, it would probably be the first of its kind....
RightOnMusic
asshat
i had the same problem with 3 of the PSUs i have.Oh. I assumed they used a splined nut/pot since you couldn't find a set screw. Dunno. Both of mine slip if I push them hard enough past their limits, but they don't slip easily, so it's not a big deal.
On one of my two variable power supplies, I heard something rattling around inside. As I looked at it more closely, one of the screws holding the output connector fell out, and I immediately knew that the nut (and, as it turns out, the completely ineffective lock washer) was not doing its job....
Thirty minutes of tweezer hell later, I got it back together correctly.... *sigh*
If anybody wants pictures of the inside of the power supply, let me know....
timboZ
New member
Chance, what % of mics do you still have to ship out.
C
chance
Well-known member
Well, all the mics are all out of the wherehouse and are at the studio. I hope to get a lot packed this weekend, so watch your E-mail so I can have them shipped on Monday or Tuesday. Unfortunately it looks like I must go to Chicago this Monday to Friday.
With these ribbon problems we're having, I am a little nervous about another GB. They are "cheap mics" and I guess this is one of the drawbacks (QC), but I don't like negative feedback. Yesterday while speaking to China, they asked again "how many and what mics are bad"? I flat out told them that "the mics are all over the world and we don't have the time to open up every mic"
I feel that China will make some sort of restitution, perhaps in a future buy. How does everyone feel about the cost vs the ribbon problem? As for the 310 and the 583, I am hearing all positive reports from the major studios here in LA
timboZ
New member
I think everybody knew what they were in for when they jumped in on the GB.
I knew I was taking a chance. If it is just a sagging ribbon that can be fixed in a matter of 30 mins. I'm fine with that.
antichef
pornk rock
I hope you mean the reports about the sagging ribbons, and not "negative feedback" in the strict sense of the BBS -- maybe feedback doesn't matter, but to me, you getting neg rep based on the ribbons would be unacceptable.
I don't have my mics yet, but I appreciated what I was getting into as well. I think your approach is perfect -- let the manufacturer know what's going on and go after compensation in the way that suits you best -- if that's some sort of credit on the next GB, so be it. You won't be able to properly distribute a refund of some sort to the current GB participants in a way that won't greatly compound your trouble.
I, for one, have no idea how to tension ribbons, and my efforts will definitely pose a danger to the mics -- but I'll learn! That's a big part of why I'm here. The ribbon sag, and the other issues that have been reported are things I can deal with -- I haven't heard of any DOAs.
I also think that the manufacturer should, and probably does, appreciate that this group (except for me) is important to impress -- even though this order is likely small for them -- as will be the next one -- it is setting expectations about their products and processes in a well dispersed and well placed group of industry professionals and future professionals (except for me), and the impressions they're getting will have a tendency to last for their entire careers. From that perspective, these GBs represent an enormous long term commercial opportunity for the manufacturer, as well as more than enough rope to hang themselves with.
So keep fightin' the good fight
Chris Long
New member
I have only the one that probably has a sag (an ACM-3, haven't gotten it apart yet, but I think I see it through the grill). So it's not a big deal for me, not like some others who bought more. I expected issues at this price point--in fact, I'm happy to be able to dive in and open these things up without the fear of ruining my "investment". So it's fine with me, the way things have turned out, and I'll actually enjoy getting in there and retensioning the ACM-3 if I choose to. I've never done it, but I will know how it's done by the end of this process!
I'm always looking to add another skill to my Life List...
That way, if I get stranded on a deserted island, I'll be able to do most anything needed to survive...like retensioning a ribbon mike.
C
chance
Well-known member
Those are my thoughts too. I like getting intimate with my mics and open them up. Thats how we learn. The average person however, just wants to "plug & play".This metalurgist I spoke with yesterday, wants to (for fun) make some ribbons for us to experiment with. The aluminum will be an alloy that will retain memory. He asked me if the corrogated folds are sharp or are radius, and what angle. He also asked the thickness (in thousandths) He doesn't recognize microns. (can anyone provide these ribbon specs?) He said he can make them very cheap. If this is a solution, I could have them made and sent to China
apl
Stand Up Comity
Cool! The 2 µm (that's micron) ribbon is 0.08 thousandths of an inch.
Chris Long
New member
A memory metal alloy (nitinol, I believe) was used in the stent they put in my dad's aorta this summer! Cool stuff.
Maybe the third picture I posted in Post #1853 would show him something of the nature of the corrugations...I would think you'd need to make a jig or cogged/corrugated press of some sort to get that effect.
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