New Mic Distorting

[AMcB]

I just got a Blue Kickball. Whenever the source gets louder it starts to distort. Does this mean the mic is bad? I check cables and what not, no clipping. Just when it gets a little louder it starts to distort, and I'm talking like singing loud it distorts. Help please. Thanks!


It's been sitting in the cold weather could that have anything to do with it?

first good mic, second kickball
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7044396

 

[mushy]

Are you sure it's the mic? What do you have it plugged into?

 

[AMcB]

A focusrite trackmaster pro. I know it's the mic. I tried other mics, other cables, no clipping, just distortion, even if the gain is really low. Thanks!

 

[AMcB]

first good mic, second kickball
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7044396

 

[AMcB]

Come on someone help me out here! I just want to know for sure before I send it back!!!!!! I even have sound clips!!!!!

 

[scrubs]

Although the mic capsule is rated at 162dB max SPL, it still may be possible to overload the capsule/circuitry on a very loud source. Also, on vocals, you may be getting some excess wind that is causing your "distortion." Ty a pop filter and see if it helps.

 

[timthetortoise]

Personally I loathe the Blue Kickball. Worst mic I've had the displeasure of trying out (aside from some no-name ribbon). Wouldn't be surprised if the quality control on them sucks too. Bring it back and let them know what's up. Health regulations be damned if they sold you a faulty mic.

 

[mixsit]

No pad I take it? (Odd I couldn't find the mic on their site..? Would loud voice up close pass 162 db? Sure sounds crunchy. Maby to good effect as a soft limit' on drums?

 

[AMcB]

I tried a pop filter, didn't help. Also tried it on guitar and bass cabs with the same problem. And if I was singing at 160db I think I'd be deaf. LOL. Thanks, I bought it from zzounds I emailer them to ask them if I could send it back, but no reply yet, I sent it about 20 hours ago.... I noticed too that it wasn't on there site anymore and neither is the regular ball. Musicians friend doesn't sell them anymore and they are half price anywere that does so mabye theybare just trying to get rid of them. I want it for screams I bear it soy ds good ok them, but it's not really working out. I paid for 2 day shipping so I could have it for a session today. Luckily I had something else to use.

 

[antichef]

Never seen one of those -- a phantom powered dynamic ?? Anyway, last night I was messing around with another mic I have and noticed that there was a little single turn trim pot inside it (this was a Groove Tube Convertible mic - nothing like the kickball to be sure, but...). I tried turning it with a little screwdriver, and it seemed to control the gain of the little internal amplifier circuitry inside the mic. At one extreme, I got no signal through the capsule, and just got whooshing noises in my headphones. At the other extreme, the mic was distorting like crazy. I wound up gingerly putting it back to about where it was before I started messing with it and all was good again. I guess it's unlikely that the same thing's going on for you, but I think there a little preamp action going on in the kickball, even though it's a dynamic, so it might be worth a look if it's easy to open.

 

[mixsit]

I tried a pop filter, didn't help. Also tried it on guitar and bass cabs with the same problem. And if I was singing at 160db I think I'd be deaf. LOL.

Fair enough. But then yelling into your ear... might.

 

[mixsit]

Never seen one of those -- a phantom powered dynamic ?? ...

The whole thing's kind of interesting. Active, no pad, 160 what, peak', at what distortion? A peaked' drum signal can be cool (I do it on purpose as a limiter/thickener with the 7602, works great.) The same thing on sustained sig.. -voice?
Maybe they called them in for it.

 

[mshilarious]

Never seen one of those -- a phantom powered dynamic ?? Anyway, last night I was messing around with another mic I have and noticed that there was a little single turn trim pot inside it (this was a Groove Tube Convertible mic - nothing like the kickball to be sure, but...). I tried turning it with a little screwdriver, and it seemed to control the gain of the little internal amplifier circuitry inside the mic. At one extreme, I got no signal through the capsule, and just got whooshing noises in my headphones. At the other extreme, the mic was distorting like crazy. I wound up gingerly putting it back to about where it was before I started messing with it and all was good again. I guess it's unlikely that the same thing's going on for you, but I think there a little preamp action going on in the kickball, even though it's a dynamic, so it might be worth a look if it's easy to open.

A trimpot inside a mic could be used to set a bias for a FET at a point that will minimize distortion. Set to either extreme, the mic could behave as you described. They aren't used too frequently, because to properly set them you typically need to scope the output while feeding the mic a test signal. This can be done directly to the mic amp; that is, without mounting the capsule. Or it can be done with a speaker, but that's a bigger pain as you have to have the speaker blaring away in the room. Either way, it's a somewhat labor-intensive process.

So instead, the bias point will more often be set at a happy medium using fixed-value parts that therefore don't need manual adjustment.

 

[AMcB]

I thought about taking it apart and looking at it. But I dont want to void the warranty and make it impossible to return it. Would that void the warranty do you think?

 

[rockerdude]

I have the kikball and it's a POS! I kicked mine down the street and the dog ran after it.It shoudent distort but it sounds shitty.Send it back and get a mxl 990 for the same cash.

 

[AMcB]

I have the kikball and it's a POS! I kicked mine down the street and the dog ran after it.It shoudent distort but it sounds shitty.Send it back and get a mxl 990 for the same cash.

Thanks but no. I use to have a 990 and hated it. I have plenty of mics, I dont need this mic, I just heard it sounded good on screams and since it was only $50 I figured Id try it out. But I still haven't had the chance yet.

 

[antichef]

So instead, the bias point will more often be set at a happy medium using fixed-value parts that therefore don't need manual adjustment.

There you go -- what he said.

But that perspective underlines the relative unlikeliness that the same thing is going on with your mic. As for the warranty, I have no idea. On my mic, I would argue no, because it required no tools (not even a screwdriver) to disassemble the mic and bare the internal circuit board, where the trim pot was clearly visible, inviting you to turn it with a screwdriver -- that's the way I see it, anyway -- but your situation could be different for a lot of reasons, so I'd merely be speculating.

 

[AMcB]

I just talked to a guy from zzounds (were I ordered it from) It will be fine to return, and he was really nice and apologetic about it. Thank you for everyone's help! I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something stupid before I ait another week to get a new one.

 

[mixsit]

Hey, just got me curious, yelled like hell into the little rat shack' spl meter and it topped out at '122 -don't know if that's the meter topping out, but it sure looks like a damn far cry from 160 anyway.

 

[GarrenKeith]

maybe it's your preamp