Will constant clipping cause permanent damage?

[PlayLikePage127]

In a recent recording session with my band I used a CAD m179 (large diaphragm condesner. great mic) on the lead guitarist's amp, placed about two feet away and set off-axis. (while I realize this isn't the best miking for a guitar amp, I was fresh out of dynamics) Anyway, we recorded about 45 minutes worth of material only to find that the guitar amp had been peaking the mic in all of the loud sections, leaving the track with some nasty fuzz. (forgot to hit the -20 db) The mic still seems to be okay, but i was wondering if something like this might cause permanent damage, and how I might determine if any harm has been done??

 

[bubbagump]

Are you certain you were clipping the mic and not the input of your audio interface? That would be my guess as most mics are pretty tough any more adn can handle high SPLs. Me thinks you just need to look at your gain staging.

 

[Lt. Bob]

yeah ....... the pad just lowers the signal going into your input. It doesn't change what the diaphragm's "hearing" so when you didn't use the pad, you overloaded your input.

 

[PlayLikePage127]

I'm pretty sure it occured at the mic itself. I have clip lights on both the mixer and the interface i used and i kept an eye on them through the whole session - besides the amplitude is reasonably low on the waveform, which leads me to believe that the amp was just too much for the mic.

 

[bubbagump]

If that is the case, then the pad on the mic will not help you. If the pad does fix the problem, then the problem is somewhere else in the signal chain and not with the mic.

Any way, to answer your original question, yes, assuming you really are clipping the capsule of the mic, you can cause permanent damage. How would you know... the mic no work no more. However, I still find it unlikely that the mic itself clipped. That thing is rated at 143db, so the amp would have to be incredibly loud. Not saying it is impossible, just not the likely cause. There is always the chance your mic is a dud.

 

[Lt. Bob]

and just 'cause your clip light doesn't light up does not absolutely mean your not overloading the input ....... I've seen it happen. First off , the clip light isn't neccassarily set right .
Also, I have a DAT recorder that , if I'm using the mic input, requires that I set the levels WAY below what the meter says is below clipping. If I don't .... it overloads and sounds nasty.

 

[PlayLikePage127]

Well thanks for the help guys. Like I said, the mic seems fine but I wanted to make sure. Also, the mixer and interface weren't mine so I can't be sure everything is set straight with them.

 

[travelin travis]

Is it just me or does the m179 sound like crap on a guitar amp?

 

[cominginsecond]

Is it just me or does the m179 sound like crap on a guitar amp?

I think it's just you.

 

[Innovations]

If it really was peaking at the diaphram I would be just as concerned for the hearing of the people in the room than the microphone. Microphones are cheaper to repair.