Why do people hang their condenser microphones upside down?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DarrenVocal
  • Start date Start date
Lessens the voice reflecting off the microphone body? I thought pop filters played a part in that?
 
DarrenVocal said:
Lessens the voice reflecting off the microphone body? I thought pop filters played a part in that?
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Pop filters mainly protect the mic against bursts of air pressure produced by plosives - sounds that end with a burst of air (eg letter p or b). Put your hand a few centimeters in front of your mouth and say "pop". Feel what happens with the last "P".

On most mics, this will create an undesirable pop or "blasting" sound. Ribbon mics can actually be damaged in this way because the air pressure can cause the ribbon to stretch.

Paul
 
No we have our mics the correct way up?

Alan
(from Australia)
 
Steenamaroo said:
It's just everything else that's upside down. ;)
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No, the right way up?

updnhem.webp
 
witzendoz said:
No, the right way up?

View attachment 78961
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I predict in the next few years the magnetic poles are going to do the ol' switcheroo on us we'll be the southern hemisphere. That's gonna suck 'cause then we're gonna have to talk like kiwi's and you guys are gonna have to pick up a Brooklyn accent.

But, maybe... the Brits will start driviing on the right side of the road!!! :laughings:
 
Chili said:
I predict in the next few years the magnetic poles are going to do the ol' switcheroo on us we'll be the southern hemisphere. That's gonna suck 'cause then we're gonna have to talk like kiwi's and you guys are gonna have to pick up a Brooklyn accent.

But, maybe... the Brits will start driviing on the right side of the road!!! :laughings:
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This reminds me, I have always wondered why when in outer space there is no up! However when space ships meet in the movies they are always the same way up?
Oh and aliens always speak english, oh and they always invade the USA but not everyone else?

Alan.

Oh and the Brits do drive on the correct side of the road.
 
witzendoz said:
This reminds me, I have always wondered why when in outer space there is no up! However when space ships meet in the movies they are always the same way up?
Oh and aliens always speak english, oh and they always invade the USA but not everyone else?

Alan.

Oh and the Brits do drive on the correct side of the road.
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Didn't say 'Correct', did I. ;)

But wouldn't it be cool if the earth tumbled as well as rotated?? Then it wouldn't matter which way the microphone was facing....
 
Actually, Britain is planning a change to driving on the right to fall in line with the rest of the EU.

However, because the change is not popular, it will be phased in.

From Sunday, April 28, all trucks (lorries) will start to drive on the right. However, the change for cars and motorcycles will be delayed until June 1 to give drivers a chance to prepare.
 
Bobbsy said:
Actually, Britain is planning a change to driving on the right to fall in line with the rest of the EU.

However, because the change is not popular, it will be phased in.

From Sunday, April 28, all trucks (lorries) will start to drive on the right. However, the change for cars and motorcycles will be delayed until June 1 to give drivers a chance to prepare.
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It should work out okay... the Law of Gross Tonnage would pevent any mishaps. If he's bigger than you, get out of the way.
 
Ya gotta hang your microphones upside down when your under water. Just sayin'
 
Bobbsy said:
Actually, Britain is planning a change to driving on the right to fall in line with the rest of the EU.

However, because the change is not popular, it will be phased in.

From Sunday, April 28, all trucks (lorries) will start to drive on the right. However, the change for cars and motorcycles will be delayed until June 1 to give drivers a chance to prepare.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna go ahead and take that as fact. Nothing would surprise me these days.
 
Am gonna experiment and attach a microphone to a fan and record that way ..... Till the cord gets bound up.
 
I enjoyed the jovial response to this question. There are pros and cons. Invert the mic outdoors to keep birds from crapping on the condenser, or sudden rain. The downside of mic inversion is when the mic falls out of its shock mount.

Upright, tube heat might keep the condenser stable despite vocalist mositure. But heat goes somewhere no matter how the mic points. The Kingson Trio recorded with two Sony condensers vertical and offset 90 degrees. Then the top mic would get the heat of both.

I keep a large condenser mic upright on a stand with a wide heavy base, on a piece of carpet. Keeping a mic in one position avoids variables in sound and electrical performance. As previously suggested, it is preferable to invert the singer in order to minimize the damage from a fall.
 
1) to reduce heat dissipation to the capsule adding longevity of life to the soldier joints on tube mics
2) less "pop and breath"
3) conveniently out of the way to make room for hand held instruments ...guitar, etc.
4) micing as overheads
 
Not that it answers the question... but I once duct taped a mic to the end of the handle of an old Hoover upright vacuum, for lack of an extra mic stand!! Stood the vacuum on a milk crate, and voila!! 25 years later and I still have a few people that'll never let me forget about it!

Actually, I usually hang the LDC upside down when doing vocals. Leaves space a music stand if a lyric sheet is needed. Plus my pop filter fits in place better that way. Micing acoustic guitars, amps, etc., it's usually mounted upright.
 
superelixir said:
I thought people did this with tube condensers, so the heat rises away from the capsule...
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Aside from all of the prerequisite nonsense, (which I've thoroughly enjoyed) this indeed seems to be the consensus among engineers. I'm told that the capsule can be damaged over a period of time from the considerable heat that the tube can generate. Thus, I hang my tube condensers upside down.
 
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