Could I damage my Condenser Mic with Voice?

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Alanfc

Alanfc

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hello-

OK I hope the mic is ok; I think I did something dumb with this LD Condenser mic. An MXL V67

I was singing real close, real loud, and I couldn't figure out why my voice sounded distorted on playback, even when I tried redoing many ways, compressing, pulling the input level from my preamp into my DAW way low. I thought "I want Presence ! and the proximity effect" I was singing like 2 inches off the mic through a pop filter.

Total mental lapse. Its a condenser ! duh

anyway I was wondering :

a) could a human voice be powerful enough to damage the condenser mic? I was practically yelling. Sort of like an alto version of the rasp like the guy from Nickelback, but like if he was singing opera. (ouch)

b) how could I test it.?

thanks for your patience. I found alot of "did I Kill My Mic?" threads here but nothing close enough to my great story.

Thanks
 
Well, the V67 has a fairly high max SPL. Could you have gotten that much sound out of your lungs? I maight have said yes if you weren't using the pop filter. More likely you were just clipping in your signal chain. Once it is clipped on the recording then nothing on playback is going to fix it.

As for testing it just see if it sounds good under more humane treatment.

Another possibility is that if you were that close to an unguarded LDC you were spraying it with a fine mist of water droplets. THAT is definitly something that will do an LDC no good. So if your V67 still is sounding bad try drying it out under a warm light for a few hours.
 
Sure, Linda Ronstadt has blown out more than a few Neumann mic diaphrams, per George Massenburg...

Once, singing karaoke, I damaged one of the speakers there.
The KJ was pretty pissed, but I DID ask him to turn down the volume a bit beforehand. (he didn't)

Thankfully no eardrums! (yet at least) :D

Chris

P.S. Usual long term damage to a condenser is it being
exposed to moisture-so use a mesh pop screen.
 
Thanks guys

so Chris,

a "KJ" is a Karaoke Jockey?? Thats a new one for me
 
sufferin suckatash!

with all that loud singing and raspiness people dont realize how much moisture it produces. but i have to go with the clipping idea since you were using a pop filter....when i get a few friends to rap on something, want to get up on the mic like its their gf and they have a breath mint (neither of which they seem to have) and i think bad breath might be something that could kill a mic too....tends to kill me....i'm still trying to figure out the reasoning behind eating pizza and then getting on the mic....must be a good luck charm or something
 
I believe Brent Casey wrote in one thread that sound cannot hurt a condenser mic or its diaphragm, even if the sound goes above its SPL handling, the actual mic will not be injured ever! However, moisture will mess it up in no time!
 
Yup, I'd say you're over driving something. I don't know what you signal chain is but somewhere along that line you've got something to hot.

Blessings, Terry
 
Mr Funk said:
I believe Brent Casey wrote in one thread that sound cannot hurt a condenser mic or its diaphragm, even if the sound goes above its SPL handling, the actual mic will not be injured ever!
Click to expand...
Well maybe not sound, but if you were singing loudly close to the mic without a pop filter then your plosives would be essentially 'blowing into the mic' which can be damaging.
 
Can you guys imagine that some condensers have a membrane of less than 1/1000 of a milimeter? (0.9 micron).

Can you also imagine that a loud rockvocalist can do 150 dbA at close distant, a couple of inches for example.

Do you think that would damage this hi end microphone?
 
Unless you're Chewbacca, I wouldn't worry about blowing out a mic with your voice (unless it's a ribbon mic).

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com
 
Thanks everyone I feel alot better.

luckily I was using my pop filter. I was singing about 2-3 inches away. The mic still sounds really clean and normal when I speak into it now and when I sing from the proper distance. I have since been experimenting with all the other mics in my large collection (one other mic), found my SM-57 to sound great for my voice. Thicker sounding and and syrupy sweet (?!), and great for my voice, totally helps me.

My next buy is going to be a higher grade model that could give me the same coloration (aha thats the word I was looking for) as my SM-57 but better. Or maybe the -57 is all I need.?

Anyone have any recommendations on mid-high end mics with this thicker character? Dynamic, condenser, ribbon, tube, whatever.. I'd hope for under $500 or so but I'm open to anything.

thanks

Alan
 
Good for you Alan.
Some others have to spend a LOT more $$ to be as happy with how they sound.
You're one of the lucky ones who shine on a '57.

A logical try for you would be the "hi-fi" version of it,
the Shure SM7 (or SM7B), to further expand your sonic
options. You may have to get a more powerful mic pre than
the one you have though, as it takes more gain.

Chris
 
I just used one of my overhead mics (AT Pro37) for vocals.. WOW! After getting level checks I heard what sounded like cartoons in my headphones. I went downstairs to see that my drummer was watching Popeye... the volume was all the way down to one on the TV! Needless to say, I didn't need to sing close to the mic at all, I probably could have sang downstairs! I would have to give mad props to the AT Pro 37s, they sound awesome, even through my Behringer Tube Pre-Amp!
 
Thanks for the idea Chris-

my new mic shopping is now pushed back a bit, since I've learned this about a mic I already own (!)

Once I get into shopping, my research and other suggestions have brought up these for thick character:

Shure SM-7 (!!)
Beyer M88 ("beefy" someone characterized)
EV RE- 20

I have only seen Beyer M88 TG's and not plain M88's. Does this screen on the M88 have any effect I wonder?
And what would be the difference on an SM-7 and SM-7 B?

by the way, With my voice into SM57, the input gain on the VTB-1 was at about 2'oclock/+30 db to get up to the zero light on its input meter. I found that when I mic'ed the Marshall for guitar , going over those 1st two lights gives me undesirable sizzle. Thats all straight now. The next tick up on the input gain meter is actually zero, but I think once I fill up that light its getting to +6. I will monkey with it if/when I get one of these other high-grade mics.

thanks again
 
mr. Omen-

I must have been typing when you replied-

the AT Pro 37, thats Audio Technica right? And its a dynamic?
 
The VTB-1 has (more than) enough gain for any of those three choices, so you're O.K. on the pre.

The M88 (or M88TG) is a special fave with me.

Be aware, however, the M88 has a "smooth" brightness on the top.
It sounds like a an elegant, refined version of the more gritty
SM57. Not a criticism, just an observation on the '57.
It also takes a higher degree of microphone technique than a SM57, and (especially) the RE20-which is super forgiving.
Has wolloping proximity effect if not careful, but a beautiful tone
for many voices. The EV RE20 probably works on more voices than
most any other vocal mic's, other than maybe a RCA 77, is my understanding. The used EV PL20's tend to sell for less than a
used RE20 (same mic/different paint job).

That's why I prefer my EV RE15 or EV 666 (direct ancecstor of RE20) when self recording. Going into a pro studio, the M88TG
would be brought along though, and the EV's.

The different screen on the M88TG has been beneficial for me as
it seems to lessen plosives/sibilance than the "classic".
Plus if a TG drops, it's unlikely it'll get damaged like the non-TG version. Sound difference is minimal IMHO, (very) slightly less transparent, not worth being concerned about.

Get all three! :D

Chris
 
the AT Pro 37, thats Audio Technica right? And its a dynamic?
Click to expand...

Yes, Audio Technica, they are mini-condensors. I was a little skeptical when I got them. I was really set on the AKG C430s for overheads but I was a little disturbed when the music store told me they don't carry AKG any longer and I really needed some good overheads for a session. But when I hooked up these little puppies I was pleasantly surprised. I really hadn't ever heard of them at the time, nor do I hear much about from people on this board. I think I found a goldmine though!
 
Alanfc said:
hello-

OK I hope the mic is ok; I think I did something dumb with this LD Condenser mic. An MXL V67

I was singing real close, real loud, and I couldn't figure out why my voice sounded distorted on playback, even when I tried redoing many ways, compressing, pulling the input level from my preamp into my DAW way low. I thought "I want Presence ! and the proximity effect" I was singing like 2 inches off the mic through a pop filter.

Total mental lapse. Its a condenser ! duh

anyway I was wondering :

a) could a human voice be powerful enough to damage the condenser mic? I was practically yelling. Sort of like an alto version of the rasp like the guy from Nickelback, but like if he was singing opera. (ouch)

b) how could I test it.?

thanks for your patience. I found alot of "did I Kill My Mic?" threads here but nothing close enough to my great story.

Thanks
Click to expand...

The good news: A condensor mic will only travel to its stops. It is a capacator and cannot be damaged by just a loud source. The diaphram will close up on the backing plate and essetially short out the element. It will not damage the electronicsw but will sound horrible.


The bad news: Your voice COULD damage the human ears. It all depends on how talented you are. HeHEHEEE.
 
thanks Acorec

Luckily I wasn't wearing headphones at the time- I was just doing some yelling, er , singing test clips into the DAW solo; experimenting with preamp & RNC settings
 
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