Hello,
I'm having some issues with my AKG C414 B uls. Recently, I heard some intermittent electrical noise while tracking that sounds like static or light electrical distortion that sometimes has a clicking sound for a moment and then it goes away. It's very intermittent and I thought it was ground loops or something for a while and then realized it was probably something else after moving connections around. I since did a process of elimination in all my gear and it is the 414. It does not matter what pattern is selected or if the pad or roll off is selected or not but it comes and goes. It seems to be even more frequent now. I also noticed an unnatural distortion sound on some vocals I was tracking the other day that occurred on quiet parts (so not from overloading the transformer) that seemed to coincide with the noise problem. I have attached a clip of the noise on a gearslutz post that you can reference here: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-...-uls-mysterious-electrical-noise-problem.html
Does anyone have an idea as to what this might be?
Thanks for the help,
Matt
I'm having some issues with my AKG C414 B uls. Recently, I heard some intermittent electrical noise while tracking that sounds like static or light electrical distortion that sometimes has a clicking sound for a moment and then it goes away. It's very intermittent and I thought it was ground loops or something for a while and then realized it was probably something else after moving connections around. I since did a process of elimination in all my gear and it is the 414. It does not matter what pattern is selected or if the pad or roll off is selected or not but it comes and goes. It seems to be even more frequent now. I also noticed an unnatural distortion sound on some vocals I was tracking the other day that occurred on quiet parts (so not from overloading the transformer) that seemed to coincide with the noise problem. I have attached a clip of the noise on a gearslutz post that you can reference here: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-...-uls-mysterious-electrical-noise-problem.html
Does anyone have an idea as to what this might be?
Thanks for the help,
Matt
Well, it is pretty difficult to tell, but for my ears it does not sound like semiconduntor generated noise (which is either a constant white-like noise, or popping sounds in irregular intervals)
Remembering my service days I heard similar sounds from electrostatic headphones and speakers, when the high voltage supply was arcing through the armatures, and unfortunately this sounds just like that's what is happening to your mike....
The distortion you mentioned can also be related to this problem, because at the moments of arcing the HV drops on the polarizing electrodes.
Remembering my service days I heard similar sounds from electrostatic headphones and speakers, when the high voltage supply was arcing through the armatures, and unfortunately this sounds just like that's what is happening to your mike....
The distortion you mentioned can also be related to this problem, because at the moments of arcing the HV drops on the polarizing electrodes.
Sometimes dust accumulation between the polarizer electrodes and the foil can cause this, (the charged foil acts like a "dust magnet") which is even worse in humid weather, so it might just need a good cleaning.... how?
I have no idea, but I am afraid that in the case of a condenser mike the "capsule" is too fragile to take apart, clean, and reassemble at home, (especially so without the proper experience) so your best bet is to take it to their authorized service.
I have no idea, but I am afraid that in the case of a condenser mike the "capsule" is too fragile to take apart, clean, and reassemble at home, (especially so without the proper experience) so your best bet is to take it to their authorized service.
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