VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Well, as has happened so many times, I was online shopping after a couple of beers and pulled the trigger on a CAD E100S. Having experienced it before, I still love the sound of it. BUT....shortly after plugging it in, I started getting this strange washing background noise...definitely not normal or acceptable. It comes and goes. I guess CAD is still having QC issues. Damn shame. Other than that I love how it sounds.

vkuehn · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:24 pm Post subject:

We've read a number descriptions of misbehavior of the CAD series, but one doing the laundry here on a Wednesday rises to a whole new level!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Yes something sounds like it's been put through the wringer cool

paulstefano · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 4:25 am Post subject:

Ooh good, a pun thread. Perhaps it's time to wash your hands of the CAD?

Seriously, though, it's a shame this keeps happening to owners. The E100 was on my early radar of mics I wanted, but after all the horror stories, I don't even want to try.
_________________
http://www.paulstefano.com

DenaliDave · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 9:49 am Post subject:

If you get a good one, it's a gem. If you get a bad one, its a lemon.

I've wasted hours of my time trying to diagnose the buzzing sound with my CAD. Poured money into contact cleaner, cables, ground loop isolatesr and special power strips.

In the end, it seems to be inside the mic itself. Static builds up around the grill and won't discharge unless I grip the entire top of the mic inside my palm, grounding the microphone. That only works for a time until the static begins to build back up on the mic grill all over.

Static also seems to build up on the XLR pins as well. Some of that "DeOxit" contact cleaner/conditioner fixed that issue -- but the mic grill is the largest source of static build up.

In the meantime, there is some slight audio artifacts showing through due to the poor internal grounding (I suspect).

I don't have the tools or the inclination to rip the CAD open and beef up the internal grounding. I think that would fix the issue. I think if someone had the tools and time, they could do a fix for less than $20 in solder flux and materials.

I'm considering rubbing the metal grill with an dryer sheet to see if that might keep static from building up on the metal grill. Who knows?

Either way, it's to much of a pain to deal with and waste time with. I need a mic that works and works consistently. It's a sad state of affairs that the CAD e100s is so unreliable. They have a good mic that just needs some better quality control in the factory.
_________________
"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Okay, here is a sound sample, compared to my U87ai. See if you can hear what I am hearing....

CAD E100S sample

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Wow, that's terrible. It's completely unacceptable what they are getting away with. I need to delete all my old blog posts praising the CAD E100s!

I had an excellent one - well, for three years. Then it started getting noisy and overall not sounding great. Changed it for the redesigned (since 2014) Rode NT1 which I prefer in sound, plus it has a lower working self-noise. The CAD is 3.7 dBA, while the NT1 is 4.5 dBA...but the NT1 has a much hotter output, so you don't have to crank the gain.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Here's the kicker....I bought it new from a pretty prominent gear seller....when I sent them that file, they assured me that {paraphrasing} "that's just how the CAD sounds and there's nothing wrong with it"---which I know not to be true since I had a CAD (which I sold--hey I am a gearslut) about four years ago. But they will let me return it. Which I definitely will.

sdaeley17 · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 9:25 pm Post subject:

Well, Elwood, you sold me. I am never getting that mic. I'll admit, even after my CAD/Massdrop debacle, I'd still browse the usual places for it, but no more.

I DID pick up the Blue Mouse after our little chat, however...
_________________
"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

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Sean, did you listen to the audio sample?

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

No mic is supposed to sound like that, lol!
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

sdaeley17 · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 10:21 pm Post subject:

Hi, Elwood,

Finally had a chance to listen. Very similar to what I experienced, although mine was much more prominent. It still sounded like you had an air conditioner or fan going in the background, and there were a few sizzles of electricity at the ends of phrases. Very strange indeed. Glad you could get a return/refund.

Warmest Regards,

Sean
_________________
"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: Sat Jun 25, 2016 1:14 am Post subject:

That's not nearly as bad as what mine sounds like...

Lips Are Sealed

_________________
"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

Foog · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:52 pm Post subject:

You guys are scaring me. I've been happily using mine (bought used) for the past couple of years, and am now worried that one fine day it is suddenly going to start doing something noisy and unpleasant.
_________________
Andrew Fogarasi

Bish · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 6:54 am Post subject:

I don't think you've got anything to worry about. I've had mine a while as well, and it performs just fine. I think they really had a problem when the relatively small company was hit with a wave of suddenly becoming "flavor of the month" a couple of years ago when the VO community seemed to discover the mic. To meet demand, they probably ramped-up production and cut some corners on QC in an effort to get them out of the door quickly. Success has its own pitfalls I guess! Not a good situation by any means, but if you were in on the early wave (or a used model from before any wave), then I'd be confident that you've got a good one. If you ever want to sell it, just advertise it as a "pre-surge" model Smile

_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.