“An Ounce of Prevention…”

We’ve all heard that old saying, but it’s true. Too often, musicians and studio engineers tend to wait for a problem to occur before taking action. Make sure you have some contact cleaner always at hand and use it regularly anywhere you have to count on a good connection, such as both sides of an XLR connector. Keep the pots clean on your guitar, bass, or keyboard, or you’ll eventually end up with noise any time you make an adjustment to a volume or tone control, or any sliders and knobs on your keyboard. Also, keep in mind that microphones used up on stage get a lot of moisture on the capsules, particularly when singers have a tendency to get right up close during certain songs. By keeping a small packet of dessicant gel in the mic case (positioned near the capsule if possible), you can keep corrosion to a minimum. What’s more, by keeping the elements dry, you cut down on the risk of bacteria or fungi taking up residence.