Avoiding potential damage to mics

[e_rock]

I have a couple of mics, nothing too special. A Beyer soundstar mkII and a cheap XML 990 condenser. I also have access to friends' mics. I am going to start experimenting with them but I want to make sure that I don't do anything that could potentially harm the mics.

From years of playing live, I know a dynamic mic can easily handle very loud guitar amps, but what about the condenser? Can I harm it by close micing a very loud guitar amp? What about a bass amp? Or a kick drum? Can these mics handle the low frequencies?

Is there a rule of thumb about avoiding the use of certain mics in certain situations? I know that certain mics will handle certain situations better, but I just want to make sure I don't damage anything while I experiment.

 

[BudgetMC]

No juggling microphones... EVER!

 

[RRuskin]

I have a couple of mics, nothing too special. A Beyer soundstar mkII and a cheap XML 990 condenser. I also have access to friends' mics. I am going to start experimenting with them but I want to make sure that I don't do anything that could potentially harm the mics.

From years of playing live, I know a dynamic mic can easily handle very loud guitar amps, but what about the condenser? Can I harm it by close micing a very loud guitar amp? What about a bass amp? Or a kick drum? Can these mics handle the low frequencies?

Is there a rule of thumb about avoiding the use of certain mics in certain situations? I know that certain mics will handle certain situations better, but I just want to make sure I don't damage anything while I experiment.

keep capsules covered when not in use.
be advised that foam lining in boxes will break down over time and deposit very nasty crud in and on your mics. Said crud can ruin mic capsules.

 

[KineticSound]

Is there a rule of thumb about avoiding the use of certain mics in certain situations? I know that certain mics will handle certain situations better, but I just want to make sure I don't damage anything while I experiment.

More my own personal rule than anything else, but run an internet search on the mic you're using to learn it's max SPL (Sound Pressure Level) rating. Don't feed the mic more than it can handle... the higher the SPL, the higher dB's the mic can handle without distorting.

If your friend ever loans you a ribbon mic, be careful not to feed any phantom power down the line. If you do, it will be the last time he loans you a mic.

 

[pezking]

I have a couple of mics, nothing too special. A Beyer soundstar mkII and a cheap XML 990 condenser. I also have access to friends' mics. I am going to start experimenting with them but I want to make sure that I don't do anything that could potentially harm the mics.

From years of playing live, I know a dynamic mic can easily handle very loud guitar amps, but what about the condenser? Can I harm it by close micing a very loud guitar amp? What about a bass amp? Or a kick drum? Can these mics handle the low frequencies?

Is there a rule of thumb about avoiding the use of certain mics in certain situations? I know that certain mics will handle certain situations better, but I just want to make sure I don't damage anything while I experiment.

The thing you want to worry about isn't the frequency of the sound, but the SPL.

Ribbon mics are the most delicate microphones. Never put one in a high SPL; kick drum's are a definite ribbon killer! And has been mentioned you're better off not feeding it phantom power - though if the output is balanced it won't make the blindest bit of difference if you do it by accident.

Condensers and dynamics are more robust and can withstand higher SPLs, and I think you'll find it very hard to actually damage either type of mic with high SPL, though they will start to clip eventually

 

[darrin_h2000]

I use 57s on all amps...run bass direct through a sansamp GT2 modeler for obvious reasons, but if you have to mic a bass...use a kick mic.

I do run a distance condenser on lead guitar tracks to make them sound bigger...rythem gets a 57 off axis in an isolation cabinet...so I can have drums bass and rythem guitar going in all at the same time...you get a better groove going when they can be together like that.

 

[valverec]

I've not heard of anyone damaging a condenser by exposing it to loud sounds. In fact I've seen plenty of engineers put $4000 condenser mics in front of a kick drum and never seen one go down. So I think you're safe. If you look at the SPL rating as others have said, that'd be a good place to start to see if your mic can deal with it without distorting. It's usually the electronics that start distorting first.

 

[e_rock]

Cool, looks like I'll be in good shape to play around. I don't know anyone with a ribbon mic, so I'll be safe from ticking off my friends! The MXL is rated at 130dB maximum SPL. I won't have any trouble there. Thanks all!

 

[Weasel9992]

Store them in a temperature controlled space. No smoking around the mics (or around the rest of the equipment for that matter).

Frank