Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (
More info?)
On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 23:02:35 -0500, Monte McGuire wrote
(in article <monte.mcguire-F45AB3.23023428112004@news.verizon.net>):
> In article <PIOdneFrvqq6qDfcRVn-rw@comcast.com>,
> Ty Ford <tyreeford@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> While micing an old fender amp recently, I found I had to keep the amp gain
>> way down to avoid a rather nasty rasp. Does anyone have SPL specs on a 77DX?
>>
>> My m160 didn't have a problem, but the DX was complaining.
>
> I suspect it's due to a misaligned or stretched ribbon more than an
> inherent SPL limitation. The sound you're hearing is the ribbon
> scraping on the pole pieces, or maybe there's a tiny iron filing in the
> gap causing a rasp with ribbon excursion. This has happened to me with
> one of my BK-11s, but it didn't happen on the same amp with another
> BK-11.
>
> Ribbons are excursion limited, so the SPL limit is not a constant with
> frequency. At the limit, the ribbon rips and you get no more output.
> Below that, the field is not linear so you get odd order distortion as
> the ribbon travels through a part of the field that's weaker.
>
> The solution? Re-ribbon the mike. You may be able to get away with
> using a pantyhose popscreen to reduce some of the excursion caused by
> wind from an amp, but it's not a sure fire fix. You might also be able
> to physically re-orient the mike if the ribbon is stretched, and maybe
> it'll sag between the pole pieces, instead of into one or another.
>
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Monte McGuire
> monte.mcguire@verizon.net
Thanks all,
I think the culprit was my new mic cabinet. Shelves are too close together
for the 77DX to stand up. It's been lying on its side for 8 months. I'm going
to experiment with lying it on its other side.
From this we learn that those warnings about how to store a ribbon mic MAY
WELL BE TRUE.
Regards,
Ty Ford
-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com