Warm Up Time

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Newbie-Doo

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Is there any need to let a phantom powered condenser mike or solid state pre-amp "warm up"? Does it make any difference?

Thanks!
 
you should let the pre warm it up a couple of minutes.

I never heard of people letting condenser MICS warm up unless its a TUBE condenser
 
I was just wondering about the warm up because the first time hooked it up I notice the very slight "burning-in smell" of new electronics.

It's one of those cheapo XML990 mics.

Is this normal, or will my house go up in flames the next time I use it?
 
There shouldn't be any "burning in smell" in any electronic device, especially a mic which has very low current levels. Nothing in the mic should heat up enough to make a smell. If it works OK and doesn't smell any more, hopefully it's OK. If it keeps smelling you might want to replace it.

Maybe you just have a supersensitive nose and you're smelling the "new smell' like when you get in a new car. :)

As far as I know, a solid-state condenser mic and pre are "ready to go" within a few seconds of powering up.
 
Newbie-Doo said:
I was just wondering about the warm up because the first time hooked it up I notice the very slight "burning-in smell" of new electronics.

It's one of those cheapo XML990 mics.

Is this normal, or will my house go up in flames the next time I use it?

It is normal for new electronic gear to smell. The best way to break in any electronic device is to run it for 24 hours. Some equipment is burned-in for 24 hours (a part of the manufacturing process) but lately, this has been skipped by many manufacturers as it is a costly step they would rather do away with.

Usually if the equipment can make the 24 hour burn-in, then it will last forever. Most electronic components fail within the first 72-hours. I always leave any new item on for at least 24 hours. My new Allen and Heath board smelled up the studio for a week. But, the smell has gone away and it works great.
 
acorec said:
It is normal for new electronic gear to smell. The best way to break in any electronic device is to run it for 24 hours. Some equipment is burned-in for 24 hours (a part of the manufacturing process) but lately, this has been skipped by many manufacturers as it is a costly step they would rather do away with. ...
I stand corrected. I guess I should have said that I've never noticed a correctly functioning electronic device to smell, (except one of those deodorizers you plug into the outlet), but that could be because my nose doesn't work very well, or that I don't buy much new equipment, or maybe what I do buy has been burned in by the manufacturer. I still don't think a phantom powered mic should smell - 50V@2.5ma=0.125W.
 
I see what you mean. An eighth of a watt doesn't sound like enough to make anything burn. My house is SAFE!!

The 24 hr burn in sounds like a great idea. That will give me time to return it if defective.

Thanks for the info.
 
crazydoc said:
I stand corrected. I guess I should have said that I've never noticed a correctly functioning electronic device to smell, (except one of those deodorizers you plug into the outlet), but that could be because my nose doesn't work very well, or that I don't buy much new equipment, or maybe what I do buy has been burned in by the manufacturer. I still don't think a phantom powered mic should smell - 50V@2.5ma=0.125W.

Most condensor mics have either op-amps or discreet transistors in the signal path. Even with the very low wattage, they still stink up the place. Used equipment or burned in equipment will not have this smell. Open up any electrical device and take a whiff of the circuit board. You will know it then.
 
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