New Tube Mic-tips?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RezN8
  • Start date Start date
RezN8

RezN8

Blick-um, blick-um...
I'm getting my very first tube microphone and I was wondering if you all could give me your tips on care and handling and any precautions.

For instance- how long should I let the tube warm up?
Is it better to hang the mic upside down like I see on MTV? :o
What is the average flight of an unladen swallow?
 
Congrats! First burn in at 30 minutes after that opinions vary. If I know ahead of time I am gonna do a session with a tube mic (or pre) I turn it on and get the rest of the studio set up (20 minutes or so)
If I get the idea during a recording that a tube would be nice here, 5 minutes should do it
 
RezN8 said:
I'm getting my very first tube microphone and I was wondering if you all could give me your tips on care and handling and any precautions.

For instance- how long should I let the tube warm up?
Is it better to hang the mic upside down like I see on MTV? :o
What is the average flight of an unladen swallow?
Click to expand...
1. 20 to 30 minutes of warmup is usually enough.
2. Depends if the singer has to see the lyrics.
3. Answered in 2002: http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=303415&postcount=34
 
RezN8 said:
What is the average flight of an unladen swallow?
Click to expand...

I just saw Eric Idle's Broadway show last weekend and they did that bit. Great stuff!

Other than that, I have nothing to offer to this thread.
 
Brilliant!

Tnx for the replies guys!

On #2, I thought it might've related to heat rising and that was why people flipped tube mics upside down - so the heat wouldn't interfere with the diaphragm. Wasn't sure.

Anyway, cheers!

Thanks, Rez
 
RezN8 said:
Tnx for the replies guys!

On #2, I thought it might've related to heat rising and that was why people flipped tube mics upside down - so the heat wouldn't interfere with the diaphragm. Wasn't sure.

Anyway, cheers!

Thanks, Rez
Click to expand...

Nah, it's so the drool drains out of the mic when guys like Mick and Keith come in to do vocs.

-RD
 
Used to be that way, the mics would melt down, so I'm told
 
1. Now you know why every damn studio in the world worth a damn has a Lava Lamp. I power up the tube mic and the Lava Lamp, and when the lava is flowing, I know the tube mic is ready. Seriously, it depends on the temperature in your studio, and the specific tube/mic combination. I used to use a Solid Tube, but I've used NTK for a while now. When you take the NTK out of the case, it feels like cold steel. When you touch it and it feels like a warm body, it's ready. How long that takes can vary from 2 minutes on a 95 degree summer day to 40 minutes in an unheated studio in a New England winter. But- it will always match the Lava Lamp.

2. Apparently, old PVC diaphragms were subject to distortion from rising heat waves. Mylar was made for sattellites, and doesn't seem to be particularly heat sensitive. . As Harvey points out, it makes it easier to see the lyrics/music/cue sheet. Besides- don't you want to look cool like all those pictures in Spin?

3. European or African?
 
I believe it's "What is the air speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow?"!








Who's the other one?

I am, and this is my servant "patsy"!
 
RezN8 said:
I'm getting my very first tube microphone and I was wondering if you all could give me your tips on care and handling and any precautions.

Is it better to hang the mic upside down like I see on MTV? :o
Click to expand...
I read on forums how it would cause heat damage to a tube mic if it were used upside down. I emailed Audio Technica technical support and asked if it was alright to hang my at4060's upside down and if this would cause any harm to the tubes. The answer was that it would not cause any damage to the mics as long as I did not hang them by the wires!

I find when I close mic my acoustic guitars that unless I invert the mic the shock mount gets in the way.
 
Yo Philgood- if you're going to correct him, it's "unladen".-Richie
 
Last edited:
Yo Richie, if you're going to correct him watch your typing.
 
Nothing to see here, move along.
(That's why I generally refrain from correcting spelling, syntax, etc., no matter how bad it is. I'm fully aware that I live in a glass house, and should not throw rocks.) -Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
Nothing to see here, move along.
(That's why I generally refrain from correcting spelling, syntax, etc., no matter how bad it is. I'm fully aware that I live in a glass house, and should not throw rocks.) -Richie
Click to expand...
I too, live in a glass house, but since I broke all the panes long ago I can throw all the rocks I wish to.
 
You guys have houses?????

We used to live in a hole in the ground covered by a peice of tarpoulin.

Or was it a shoe box in the middle of the road?

No a lake!! We used to live in a lake!
 
kahuna said:
I read on forums how it would cause heat damage to a tube mic if it were used upside down. I emailed Audio Technica technical support and asked if it was alright to hang my at4060's upside down and if this would cause any harm to the tubes. The answer was that it would not cause any damage to the mics as long as I did not hang them by the wires!
Click to expand...
OK, the actual truth is this. For the longest time, Neumann actually recommended using their tube mics in the normal positions (right-side up) since the heat from the tube would drive out moisture and humidity from the capsule - a good thing. I't's still a good idea.

So where'd the practice of hanging them upside down come from? It came from the movie industry and the pop singers, back when ribbons were still the rage. Ribbons can sag, so it was common practice to turn them upside down after a while to equalize the ribbon sag. It also makes it easier for singer to read sheet music if the damn mic and stand are out of the way.

So does it hurt or help to hang a mic upside down? For a ribbon, it's a good idea to reverse them every so often to avoid a sag. For tube condenser mics, it can help with moisture if you leave them upright.

But the final choice is no big deal. Use whatever makes it easiest to get the job done - you ain't hurting the mic either way.
 
Do ya think that hanging upsided down once in a while work on my old lady?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top