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My microphone is borked
- Thread starter Keith_W
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Philbo King
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Did both channels have phantom power turned on?
Can you verify (with another mic or using a voltmeter) that channel 1 phantom power is working?
Can you verify (with another mic or using a voltmeter) that channel 1 phantom power is working?
OP
Keith_W
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- Thread Starter
- #26
Well, I eventually figured out the problem.
I borrowed a friend's Motu to replace the RME, and it immediately developed the same problem (low gain). Now, it can't be the interface or the driver (since they both have the same problem), and it can't be the mic (since I bought a new one) ... so it had to be the cable.
I am too cheap to buy an XLR cable of the proper length, so I made up a long XLR cable by joining a whole bunch of spares. I tested the cable, and sure enough I was getting no readout in pin 3. Weird, because I tested them before and they were perfectly fine. So I disconnected all 5 cables and started testing them individually. When I isolated the problem cable, I opened it up to take a look.
It turns out that whomever who manufactured the cable did not apply insulation properly, and the bare wire in pins 1 and 3 were contacting each other when the cable was twisted. This sends either signal or 48V to the ground (I forget which pin is which), which manifests as low gain. It probably didn't manifest itself before because the screw-in clamp which holds the cable tightly was loose when I inspected it, this allowed the cable to rotate within the enclosure. I removed that cable and re-tested it. The problem has now gone away!
I am glad to close this chapter on what has been a very frustrating experience.
I borrowed a friend's Motu to replace the RME, and it immediately developed the same problem (low gain). Now, it can't be the interface or the driver (since they both have the same problem), and it can't be the mic (since I bought a new one) ... so it had to be the cable.
I am too cheap to buy an XLR cable of the proper length, so I made up a long XLR cable by joining a whole bunch of spares. I tested the cable, and sure enough I was getting no readout in pin 3. Weird, because I tested them before and they were perfectly fine. So I disconnected all 5 cables and started testing them individually. When I isolated the problem cable, I opened it up to take a look.
It turns out that whomever who manufactured the cable did not apply insulation properly, and the bare wire in pins 1 and 3 were contacting each other when the cable was twisted. This sends either signal or 48V to the ground (I forget which pin is which), which manifests as low gain. It probably didn't manifest itself before because the screw-in clamp which holds the cable tightly was loose when I inspected it, this allowed the cable to rotate within the enclosure. I removed that cable and re-tested it. The problem has now gone away!
I am glad to close this chapter on what has been a very frustrating experience.
thecheapseats
Addicted to Fun and Learning
when it's something simple it usually takes longer to run it down... we all have these stories...
OP
Keith_W
Major Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #28
Yes absolutely. Lesson learnt. Don't buy cheap cables! I usually buy the cheapest possible cable.
The money I have spent diagnosing this problem (new $80 mic, driving everywhere to borrow equipment, wasted time, etc.) could have easily bought me a nice XLR of the proper length. That problem XLR cable is back in the system, only this time I have wrapped those bare wires properly and duct taped the clamp so it won't come loose again. I am still too cheap to buy a new cable.
The money I have spent diagnosing this problem (new $80 mic, driving everywhere to borrow equipment, wasted time, etc.) could have easily bought me a nice XLR of the proper length. That problem XLR cable is back in the system, only this time I have wrapped those bare wires properly and duct taped the clamp so it won't come loose again. I am still too cheap to buy a new cable.
thecheapseats
Addicted to Fun and Learning
my lesson learned long ago was always "check the interconnects / wiring first"... a meter, a soldering iron, shrinkwrap, a heat gun and a good clamping system are your friends with xlr conns - simply because they're so damn easy to make/repair, compared to rca, trrs, trs of any size, bnc, etc... buy quality bulk cable (mogami, belden canare), with neutrik or switchcraft xlrs only (avoid any no-name xlr connector always) - and make your own...
Yes, simply my sense of humor. I assumed you know how to run a microphoneIt was a tongue in cheek reply to the post immediately prior! I know that humour does not transmit properly on internet forums.
All the measurements were taken with the same DAC - an RME Fireface UC.
Upbraided by the Swedish Chef?Does anyone here really know what "borked" means?
Trell
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I didn't think it could get sillier. I was wrong.
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For anyone too young to remember, Robert Bork was a nominee for SCOTUS who did not get confirmed on account of his views.
On another note, I started REW up this morning only to find all of its configuration data had disappeared. That led me back to ASR and the thread on how to do moving microphone readings. Fortunately, my UMIC-1 was not Borked, or Garlanded.
On another note, I started REW up this morning only to find all of its configuration data had disappeared. That led me back to ASR and the thread on how to do moving microphone readings. Fortunately, my UMIC-1 was not Borked, or Garlanded.
SuicideSquid
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I initially read that as "Robot Bork", I guess because I'd been primed by the Robot Chicken video embedded above.
Robot Bork would have made an excellent Supreme Court justice. Every ruling would have ended with "Kill all humans".
theREALdotnet
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I avoid cheap cables, especially when they are cheaper than I could make them myself. I also avoid cables that are marketed with promises of sound quality improvements. I go for cables made from components that have a track record of performance and reliability in professional applications (like for example, Mogami, Amphenol, Neutrik), assembled by people who know how to terminate a cable and use the proper tools. And yes, when I buy from an assembler I haven’t used before I tend to open the connectors and check the termination.
bork
1 of 2verb (1)
ˈbȯrkvariants or less commonly Bork
borked also Borked; borking also Borking; borks also Borks
transitive verb
US politics, informal
: to attack or defeat (a nominee or candidate for public office) unfairly through an organized campaign of harsh public criticism or vilification
In any event, seeing one of their own being borked may itself energize the conservative base, even beyond what a conservative nomination would do.—Mark Tushnet
In 1987, conservative judge Robert Bork endured such virulent criticism … that to this day, a nominee sidelined by activists is said to have been "borked."—Claire Suddath
Yeah, that was my first thought as well.
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