C1 Distortion Problems

[IsaacHughes]

I have been having problems wih my C1 Distorting at what seem to be rather low volume levels. For instance, I cant use it for a Drum overhead at all, or even a room mic with a good bit of distance from the kit (10 feet) , without getting this crackly distortion.
When I look at the waveform in CW9, its wierd because I can see peaks that are slightly higher than the distorted (clipped) ones, indicating that perhaps it is only distorting in certain frequency ranges. This is the older C1 without the Pad, so that could be it, but I dont think I am hitting the 131db Max SPL the mic is theoreticly capable of. I have a theory that the problem is with My AudioBuddy Preamp, in that it only supplies like 30 something volts of Phantom power, instead of 48, and that causes the Mic to distort at a lower volume level, Like a tube amp does when you put a variac on it.

My I/O is the Delta 1010.

I am pretty sure that It is nowhere else in the chain that is causing the problem, my Audix OM-2 Dynamic has no problems.

Ideas anyone?

 

[Richard Monroe]

Sounds like you may be right. At 30v, you are probably losing some headroom. I don't use C1, but I do have a C3, and I've never even tried using it on a drum kit. Have you tried the wind screen on it? If you're short of headroom, you may actually be popping it a little.-Richie

 

[caryindy]

I believe your problem is the Audiobuddy. Don't believe what the signal lights are telling you - the distortion starts well before the clip light comes on.

 

[Tom Hicks]

"For $79 street price, you get 41.4v of phantom power, two channels of mic pre or DI, two 1/4 inch outs (unbalanced and balanced), worthless clip and signal LEDs, and relatively clean gain with little noise. "
http://www.piemusic.com/mp/buddy.html

41.4v isn't 48v,so some mics will load differently.But neither is it 30v.I believe Isaac may have just estimated that number.
I am using an NT1 and a V67 with my audiobuddy,both with chinese capsules similar to the C1(even coming from the same factory) and both of them have tremendous amount of clean gain with the unit.So much so that if you imagine the gain rotary knob as a clock face,the 9:00 position would be the max I have ever had to use it.Leaving tons of headroom to spare.
Perhaps you could send Alan Hyatt of SP an email.He is great at the personal touch for his customers.At the very least he could give you a definative responce about what may be a possible defect in the mic.

 

[ozraves]

My thought is you've got too much gain on the Audio Buddy. I haven't found a mic yet with a phantom power problem on it and I own a C1 which I've tracked through the Audio Buddy on several occasions.

I'd be more inclined lower my gain setting and/or try an inline pad, which Shure makes a very fine one.

--Steve
www.piemusic.com