Condenser Mics Picking up AM radio: Why?

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Whenever I record in my current studio (off the side of my garage) using my condenser mics, I pick up AM radio, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. It's sometimes so bad that I can't even use them and have to switch to dynamic mics, which don't have the same problem.

The one exception is a Naiant X-T/D. As a condenser, it does NOT pick up the AM radio. Would you have any ideas as to why? (I've sent this same question to Jon at Naiant.)

More importantly, why I am I getting the radio when using the condensers? My Korg D3200 will even record the radio on the condenser-mic tracks (not always as loudly as they come through the monitors, but it's there nonetheless).

Any input is appreciated.:)
 
moresound said:
WOW ....What microphones are doing that?



:cool:
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Any condenser that's been in that room: Currently, I have 2 Octavas I use as overheads, 1 EV Cardinal and 1 MCA SP1. Before that, a couple MXLs, a couple Nady tubes did it too and I think that's it.
 
Do you live near a transmitter or a repeater?
What did Jon say to this?



:cool:
 
moresound said:
Do you live near a transmitter or a repeater?
What did Jon say to this?



:eek:
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No reply yet from Jon (I just sent him the email). It's very likely I live near either, as I'm in the foothills of north Reno.
 
I heard mics can do that when they got bad...adverse weather ruining them...something like that...not just weather...other factors.
 
Thanks for the replies. I've received 2 other responses: one said it was a grounding problem; the other (from Jon), indicates the Naiant is more resistant by design to interference. The other possibility is that transformerless mics are not good at rejecting interference.

It's quite possible, combined with maybe living near a tower, that all of the above are at play.

The grounding issue may be expensive to deal with, so I may just invest in more Naiant mics in the hopes that solves the issue. :D
 
Could be a mains ground problem, is the mains power got a good earth?

Alan.
 
this might be a stretch but....

i do electrical work and if you're phone cable are run parallel to electrical wires then the phones can pick up radio signals.

it might be possible that you're wiring is like this, amplifying signals through the air that your mics can possibly pick up.

you say it only does this with condensers right? because condensers are electronically powered devices, they might be capable of picking up signals on the intake part of the phantom power circuit, it being amplified by the mic and picked up.

try micing in different places.
 
Man, you guys are WAY overcomplicating this!!!


He just needs to turn of the AM radio that's playing in his studio!! :p
 
Check the cables.

Personally I would swap the XLRs to the new Neutrik EMC ones - those should help.

Also - Canford Audio do an in-line XLR RF filter - I always carry some of these in my kit.

Also - unplug the mics, leaving the cable attached, and see if you still pick up the interference. It could be the mixer that's the problem.

I hope this helps.
 
To my mind it seemed to be something to do with the phantom power. Naiants don't require as much as most condensers. Like one guy said, a phone cable next to a power cable will act like an aerial. Well an XLR with voltage running through 1 of the 3 cores may act similarly. What about different length XLRs?
 
Thanks for all of your replies and suggestions. A few quick responses:

1. I'm not using a laptop, so that is not applicable.
2. The grounding is questionable; however, when running an extension cord from my Korg into the house, the problem with condensers still persists.
3. As far as the phone line, there's no visible way for me to determine if this is interfering.
4. I have tried using mic pre-amp with my Nady tubes, so the Korg was not using phantom power, and the problem was still there.
5. Moving the mics around the room makes it better and worse, depending on the location (I may need to experiment with this more).
6. John, I'll check the cables without the mics. Those adapters/cables seem like a good idea (if expensive).

In all, thanks again. I have a few things to try out and will report back later as the situation evolves.

Bob
 
witzendoz said:
The answer could be here.

Cheers
Alan.
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Yes - and these are the Neutrik EMC connectors that I reccommended above (at the end of the linked article).

n165fig7.gif


n165fig8.jpg


These are the connectors I am using on all new cables I get.
 
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