| The
best maintenance is preventative. Protecting your microphones from
environmental pollutants is the best insurance against loss of
performance. The air is full of contaminants such as dust and
cigarette smoke. These can settle on the diaphragm and degrade its
frequency response. What's more, breath moisture and humidity can
short out the high impedance parts of condensor microphones, causing
thin bass or crackles. Let's look at several ways to preserve your
microphones.
Pop
Filters
Although
the main uses of a foam windscreen are to reduce proximity effect and
give color to the sound operator, the filter also shields the microphone
diaphragm. Breath moisture and food particles have a hard time
making it through the filter. But remember, windscreens decay
over time. They slowly turn to powder which may collect on the
diaphragm. Periodically replace old filters with new ones.
Keep
Them Covered
If you
leave a microphone on its stand without a cover, dust settles on the
microphone capsule and gradually degrades its response. After each
session, put the microphones in the pouches or cases. For long
term storage, put them in a closet or cabinet.
No
Blowing!
Never
blow on a microphone for a mic check. Doing so can force particles
through the grille screen and onto the diaphragm. In many
microphones, the diaphragm is made of very thin metal foil. A
breath blast can bottom out the diaphragm onto the backplate, causing a
spark, which may perforate the diaphragm. To test a microphone,
simply talk into it or scratch the grille.
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