VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

sdaeley17 · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 3:19 am Post subject:

Some happy news! About to order a decent power conditioner ala Frank's advice (figure it's a good investment anyway, and may protect and improve the performance of my other equipment.) and I just heard back from MassDrop. They are happy to do either a return or a refund incl. my return shipping if this last method doesn't work. Only problem is that it'll take 3-4 weeks for the replacement to arrive. Since I'm not in dire need of a replacement, that should be just fine.
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Frank F · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:37 am Post subject:

Good luck

F2
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sdaeley17 · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:38 am Post subject:

Thank you, Frank! I sent you a pm, if you wouldn't mind having a look-see!

Sean
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

paulstefano · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:29 am Post subject:

Good to hear. Good luck.
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Frank F · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 8:02 am Post subject:

I might also suggest unplugging devices from the electrical circuit. Start with only minimal devices working and add others one at a time til you find the odd unit.

Plug the odd piece into a different circuit and you may have fixed the issue.

Otherwise ditch the Mic.

F2
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

DenaliDave · Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:16 am Post subject:

I'm using a CAD e100s as well. I got mine on ebay, and the seller claimed the mic was a "floor model" and practically brand new.

It came with the box and everything, except like everyone else one side had the elastic bands broken. By the way, does anyone know how to change those? I'm thinking about getting that Rycote universal mount just so I don't have to mess with the bands breaking.

Yes, I've been having "humming" sound problems with the CAD too. Not right off the bat, but 2nd time I used it I had a strong electrical buzzing sound.

I got a new power strip from Sweetwater that is supposedly quieter/shielded. I got new cables (I was using Mogami Gold anyway?) ... But the thing that seems to have fixed it is this in-line XLR EMI/RF filter. I don't notice any sound changes, but it does seem to strip that electrical interference.

I also have a TLM-102 now too, and it doesn't hum like the CAD. I also notice it hums when I get near it (like try to move/position it). The gains aren't turned up high, so it's not "to hot". I think the gain on my Apogee Duet was 1 O'clock, a little more than halfway.

I ordered the "Sescom SES-INLINE-EMCF Inline RF Filter" from B&H and it seems to be solving any problems I was having.

It was frustrating because everything I tried seemed to "work" and then stop working. Moving the mic, changing cables, unplugging everything else in the room.

Since the mic seemed to generate more "noise" when my hand got next to it, I'm thinking that wearing one of those ground bracelets people wear to work on electronics might not be a bad idea.

Anyway, it's a great mic...I'm kind of mad I bought the TLM-102. I had both plugged into my Duet on stands about 3' apart and did back and forth comparisons with no EQ, compression or anything at the same gain level and distance from the mic. The TLM sounds thin, weak, tinny and full of treble. It honestly sounds "cheap" compared to the CAD, and it's not like my interface is cheap or anything!

I have heard different mics sound better/worse on different people?
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vkuehn · Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:06 am Post subject:

Welcome to this little secluded world, Dave. I will defer to those with more time-in-grade here to explain to you the llama-care detail and other hazing-like traditions. But if you do bring the required chocolate, please set the chocolate dish somewhere near me.

Painful to read this post. I think you have a gremlin loose in your recording space. Neither of those mics should be so touchy-feely sensitive to the problems of hum. And broken elastic bands on the CAD are NOT universal. (At least not yet. Mine are surviving quite well so far.)

I've never laid hands on one of the TLM series but G-A-S reached out and rubbed my back this week and whispered in my ear: "I'll bet you would sound just a bit better if you had a Neumann." If you were trying out some also-ran models and brands you picked up at Music-Go-Round (Are they still in business?) I would not be surprised that getting near or touching a mic might cause hum and other noises.

Your house/apartment may be mis-wired. Try plugging into a different wall outlet. Grab up your stuff and take it to a friend's house and see if it works better there.

You could have a mic cable (or even a SET of cables) where the wires are not correctly connected to the right pin-pattern. I own a soldering iron and have been building and changing cables for more years that I like to admit... and your narrative has me scratching my head. One mic troublesome.... o.k. But TWO mics being touch sensitive? But two GOOD mics being troublesome..... just doesn't sound right!

Frank F · Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:18 am Post subject:

Touchy feely noisy mic usualy scream "bad ground".

Check your cables, not once or twice by many times. Check your interface, check your computer.

Start eliminating possibilities by removing parts from the chain, one at a time until you isolate the culprit.

Have fun because it could take some time.

F2
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DenaliDave · Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 3:05 pm Post subject:

Well I got a new power strip from Sweetwater that was highly rated, specifically for EM/RF signal reduction. It's Furman, here's what it said:

"The Furman SS-6B Power Block also provides you with excellent EMI and RFI noise reduction"

Now one thing I *just* thought of when I hear you guys mention ground -- I'm either using my Macbook Pro or Macbook Air to record to -- both on battery power. The interfaces seem to do just fine, but is there a chance because they aren't plugged into a strip there could be a grounding issue?

At any rate that power strip was cheap, and it's built like a tank. I don't think for the price you could find a better one at a big box store so I'm not unhappy I ended up with it Smile

I ought to do a side by side with the TLM and e100 ... I might just have a specific voice the CAD seems to like more. I really, REALLY like the CAD, and am kind of sad that I don't think I'll sound any better on a new mic (as I love gadgets and gear). The only thing I think I want to do is further treat my room (my noise floor is -60 on a bad day already). Maybe some bass traps.
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
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sdaeley17 · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 6:51 am Post subject:

Hi, Dave! Sorry to hear you`re also having noise issues. Funnily enough, that`s the same power strip I got! (though it was twice as much from Amazon Japan. Oh, shipping.) The Rycote shock mounts are awesome, by the way.

Also, thanks for the invaluable comparison between the 102 and the CAD. I`ve been looking at both for a VERY long time, and it`s good to know the little Neumann might not be worth the extra cost of admission. You`re in good hands with Frank, Vernon, and the others here.

Vernon and Dave, I feel your disappointment about not actually needing an upgrade, haha. If the CAD is better than the 102, and is already favorably compared to the 103, how low in the wallet can you go for an upgrade?
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

DenaliDave · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 3:31 pm Post subject:

sdaeley17,

I just uploaded a simply side by side shootout of my CAD e100 vs. the TLM-102 to my dropbox. If you'd like I can either post the link here, or shoot your a message. I need to review the rules again to see what's OK.

I have an Apogee Duet firewire (the original silver one with the big knob) and had both mics connected on stands, with pop filters. CAD e100 was on input 2, the TLM on input 1. This was being run into my Macbook Pro into Twisted Wave at 24 bit, 44.1...

Both mics had the gain set to 45, and both were spoken into at the same volume and distance. (I did the hang loose pinky-thumb thing). Both mics were on stands and within about 2-3 feet of one another. Both mics were using balanced, quad cables with neutrix connectors. One was the Mogami gold brand, and the other I forgot the name.

I didn't do any kind of EQ, compression, gating...nothing after it was captured. The only thing to the sound file I did was normalize to ACX standards of -20 RMS and -3 peak (I just like getting into the habit of doing that).

So, to ME the CAD e100 has more depth, more tenor and seemed deeper and fuller. The TLM 102 wasn't "cheap" -- but not what I expected for the money.

Honestly, I may be biased -- maybe the Neumann is actually more clear and gives a more neutral, natural sound? I'm fine with doing any coloring via EQ/compression/ect inside my computer after its captured. It's a little harder to strip it out instead of add it I've discovered.

Before I was able to join, I was browsing the board and saw this topic. I was screaming, "OH OH OH! ME! I need to chime in! That happened to ME!"

Do you have carpet? I'm wondering if I'm gathering static as I was across my carpet...that might explain the buzzing getting worse when I move closer to the mic for re-positioning. Apparently I've got some kind of charge on me that the mic is picking up.
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
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vkuehn · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 3:58 pm Post subject:

Posting a Dropbox link seems to be a rather common practice in this community. If you get dismissed to combing the llama's fur for doing so, I'll come and help you.

DenaliDave · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:59 pm Post subject:

Alrighty!

Here you guys go:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cjw4x1gfbudrv6t/CADe100vsTLM102.mp3?dl=0

I wish I still had a recording which featured the "hum". It might be worth looking at the spectrum to identify what frequency our hums are happening at, to see if it's the same for everyone.

I have the suspicion that the CAD is a bit more sensitive to RFI, or some component being used isn't shielded quite adequately compared to other microphones.

In any case that's me on the CAD vs. the TLM.
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

The only thing that I can figure is that CAD must be having quality-control issues because I think this is the second thread that I have seen recently about unusual noise issues with the CAD E100S.

It's especially unusual given that the E100s, when operating properly, is one of the quietest mics around.

sdaeley17 · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the sample, Dave! I do have carpet in my studio (just a rug) but I've tried with my mobile studio in a different location with the same results.

Both mics sound good! But I agree that the CAD has a lot more low end to it.
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe