SCHOEPS MK xx - Manual (Page 21)

Care of Colette Series Condenser
Microphone Capsules
Please be careful to avoid placing capsules in
a dusty environment. Keep them in their cases
(or in the wood case of the microphone ampli-
fier) when not in use, since any dust that gets
inside the capsules can adversely affect their
functioning. In combination with humidity it
can lead to condensation and thus popping
and crackling noises (often described as ”frying
sounds”).
What to do if …
the microphone is noisy (clicks and pops) in high
humidity?
– If the microphone is brought from the cold
outdoors into a warm environment, snapping
or clicking noises can result from the con-
densation of moisture. In such a case the
microphone should be given time to reach
room temperature, and as a rule it will then
perform flawlessly.
– Sometimes dirt can get into the contacts at
the end of the microphone amplifier or of
an Active Accessory where the capsule is
attached; this, too, can cause impulse noise.
You can clean the contacts yourself by using
compressed air (without lubricant) from an
aerosol can. If that doesn't help, you can
scrub them with a new, clean toothbrush
dipped in isopropyl alcohol, holding the
microphone amplifier or Active Accessory
so that the contacts face downward. Shake
off any extra fluid; under no circumstances
can it be allowed to flow into the amplifier!
Be careful to wipe the contacts dry.
If this treatment does not eliminate the noise,
it is possible that dirt has gotten inside the
capsule itself – in which case the capsule must
be sent back to the factory for cleaning. We
strongly urge customers not to open a cap-
sule or attempt to clean it themselves. Doing
so would also void all warranties. Neither
should the contact rings of a capsule be
cleaned with any kind of liquid. Windscreens
are recommended when micro phones have to
be used in dirty or dusty environments in order
to avoid problems of the kind described above.
Possible Problems
Wind Noise and Polar Pattern
Noise problems may be a consideration when
choosing a microphone pattern (directional
characteristic) for a given set of recording con-
ditions. Pressure transducers are considerably
less prone than pressure gradient transducers
(such as cardioids or supercardioids) to pick
up noise from air currents or mechanical
vibra tion. SCHOEPS omnidirectional capsules
are pressure transducers, as are our switchable-
pattern capsules in their omnidirectional set-
tings. If strong wind is anticipated, or physical
vibration of the microphone, perhaps a pressure
transducer such as the MK 2 S should be used
instead of a cardioid or supercardioid. The dis-
tance between the microphone and the sound
source should then be reduced by about half
if possible.
Wind Noise and Windscreens
Air motion (wind, vocal ”popping” on sung
or spoken consonants, motion of the micro-
phone on a boom arm, or air currents due to
heating or air conditioning systems) can cause
noise that should always be dealt with. Even if
it doesn't cause overload, it will detract from
the clarity of sound. A wind or pop screen
should be used, but should be chosen carefully
to avoid changing the microphone's character-
istics too much. Many screen types which are
effective at reducing wind noise also have a
tendency to reduce a microphone's direction-
ality and/or its high-frequency response. Basket-
type windscreens are generally more effective
than foam-type windscreens when directional
capsules are being used, and their main side
effect is to create some unevenness in frequency
response (see our main catalog for details).
Vibration
If noise from mechanical vibration enters a
stand- or boom-mounted microphone, a shock
mount (elastic suspension) should be used, and
SCHOEPS GmbH · Spitalstr. 20 · D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach) · Tel: +49 721 943 20-0 · Fax: +49 721 943 2050
www.schoeps.de · [email protected]
Care and Maintenance / Possible Problems
Capsules
21