Condenser mics are very important to any studio’s arsenal. Here are some tips that will help keep yours performing at their prime.
- Always use a pop filter when recording vocals. This will stop the singer’s spit from landing on the diaphragm. The charged diaphragm can attract saliva particles right onto the mic membrane.
- Keep your mic in a plastic bag when not in use. Whether you keep the mic in its case or leave it on a stand, a plastic bag (like an unsealed sandwich bag) will stop airborne dust and the foam from windscreens and storage cases from settling on the capsule.
- Keep the singer at least 6 inches away from the mic to prevent plosives from buffeting the capsule.
- Never turn on the power supply for a vacuum tube condenser mic before connecting the mic.
- Treat your condenser mics like valuable, fragile tools. They might be able to withstand more abuse than you expect, but they will probably last longer if you treat them with kid gloves instead of tossing them into a mic locker when you’re done with them.
- Use the original mic clip and/or keep the shockmount in good condition. I’ve seen many condenser mics do a head-first swan dive straight into a hard studio floor because the clip was damaged or inadequate for the task.
- Use a suitable stand and make sure, in the case of a tripod stand, that the supporting leg is directly beneath the microphone. Even the best stand will topple if the weight of a mic is positioned between two supporting legs.
- Make sure you counterbalance the microphone’s weight with the ballast weight on a tripod boom. Ideally, the mic and the counterbalance should equal each other when the mic is positioned. That way the latch is not holding up the weight of the mic. Doing this will help assure that if a clutch slips, your mic won’t drop onto a player’s head or instrument.
- If you are using expensive condenser mics, investing in a heavy-duty, high-quality stand is like buying insurance. Don’t risk your expensive mic by putting it on a cheap stand. Sweetwater offers premier stands from Latch Lake and Triad-Orbit that are ideal for supporting expensive condenser mics.