Storing microphones (high humidity)

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I live in a city with rather high humidity. Hovers around 80% most
of the year.
I have a small mic collection, two dynamics and two small diaphram
condensers. I hope to add a ribbon mic shortly. Is there a good strategy for
storing these mics? I'm more concerned about the ribbon mic. With the high
humidity, are there any tricks I can use to prolong the mics' lives (and the
life of the ribbon)? Thank you.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On Sun, 8 Aug 2004 17:55:09 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
<williams@nwlink.com> wrote:

>Fill a plastic bag with silica gel and put the mic in it when you're not using
>it.

This doesn't work indefinitely, the silica gel eventually gets
saturated, but there's been a thread here about "rejuvenating" silica
gel.
Get a dehumidifier and put it in the room with the microphones, and
run it all the time (or set it for 50 percent humidity, which may mean
it runs all the time). This will lower the humidity of the whole room
(keep the door closed), saving everything else in it from rust and
mold that is sure to get to everything at 80 percent humidity . Empty
the pan every day, as often as it needs it, which could be three or
four times a day. Or you could run a hose from the pan to a drain or
outside.

-----
http://mindspring.com/~benbradley

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Ribbon mics that have pure aluminum ribbons(which is the majority of mics) are unaffected by
humidity. Only those with ribbons made of an alloy called "duralum", such as the Reslo and
Bang & Olufsen mics, do deteriorate over time from oxidation, and humidity has proven to speed
up the decay a great deal.

--
Stephen Sank, Owner & Ribbon Mic Restorer
Talking Dog Transducer Company
http://stephensank.com
5517 Carmelita Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico [87111]
505-332-0336
Auth. Nakamichi & McIntosh servicer
Payments preferred through Paypal.com
"Hellenason7" <hellenason7@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040808205329.10744.00001901@mb-m25.aol.com...
> I live in a city with rather high humidity. Hovers around 80% most
> of the year.
> I have a small mic collection, two dynamics and two small diaphram
> condensers. I hope to add a ribbon mic shortly. Is there a good strategy for
> storing these mics? I'm more concerned about the ribbon mic. With the high
> humidity, are there any tricks I can use to prolong the mics' lives (and the
> life of the ribbon)? Thank you.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Ben Bradley <ben_nospam_bradley@mindspring.com> wrote in
news:a5ndh09ga8u54gt8dq2jisgitlgkeolnlt@4ax.com:

> This doesn't work indefinitely, the silica gel eventually gets
> saturated, but there's been a thread here about "rejuvenating" silica
> gel.

I toss mine in the toaster oven on Warm for an hour or so. Good for
another month.

I bought a 4-pistol gun case (the size of an average briefcase with thick
foam padding inside). It holds 4 large diaphragm mics in their zipper
cases or plastic bags and 4 shock mounts or 5-6 pencil mics and mounts.

The silica gel lasts longer between refreshes if I keep the mics in the
closed case.

My RCA 77D ribbon sits on a desk stand on display when not in use. I just
think it looks cool.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>It won't hurt to keep some dessicant in with the ribbon mike, but what is
>most important with the ribbon is to keep it stored so that the ribbon is
>upright.
>--scott

And how do I figure out the veritcal plane when I can't see the inside and I'm
not crazy about unbuttoning them. I gots:

M500
M130
M160
M260DX

Are they vertical to the length of the mic? Exactly what am I looking for on
the outside of the individual mics?


--Wayne

-"sounded good to me"-

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Scott Dorsey wrote:
>
> The ribbon mike isn't a real problem. What _is_ a problem are the condensers.
> There's some very high impedance stuff in there that does not get along well
> with moisture. Store them in a bag with some dessicant when you aren't using
> them.


Or just send them to Reno for safekeeping ;>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Kurt Albershardt <kurt@nv.net> wrote in message news:<2nprs3F3c0m8U1@uni-berlin.de>...
> Scott Dorsey wrote:
> >
> > The ribbon mike isn't a real problem. What _is_ a problem are the condensers.
> > There's some very high impedance stuff in there that does not get along well
> > with moisture. Store them in a bag with some dessicant when you aren't using
> > them.
>
>
> Or just send them to Reno for safekeeping ;>

Uh, actually, Kurt, it's MUCH dryer here in Tucson, home of one of the
world's biggest aircraft boneyards. So I think evryone should send
their mics to ME.

Mikey Wozniak
Nova Music Productions
This sig is haiku

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>
>> The ribbon mike isn't a real problem. What _is_ a problem are the
>condensers.
>> There's some very high impedance stuff in there that does not get along
>well
>> with moisture. Store them in a bag with some dessicant when you aren't
>using
>> them.
>
>
Humidity shouldn't be a poblem if the space is air conditioned. Part of the
benefits of A/C is the removal of water. The cooler the air - the less water.

Moving 'em from inside to outside and back again can create a lot of moisture.



--Wayne

-"sounded good to me"-

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"wwww" <berrydoor857@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:100820042021361649%berrydoor857@yahoo.com...
> Actually, the best place to keep them in the Safe Deposit Box of your
> humidity and temperature controlled Bank. Most all banks are.

I don't know about where you live, but this is not at all true around here.
I have worked at banks, and most safety deposit areas in vaults are behind
the big vault door only when the bank is closed. The rest of the time there
is a simple door with a key lock. It's not sealed. In fact, many that I've
seen are open for several inches at the top and bottom, or else they are not
even solid doors but barred. Also, when the bank says "temperature and
humidity controlled", what they mean is that they have an HVAC system in the
building, much like what you probably have at home. Marketing, you know.

Besides, keeping mikes in a safe deposit box makes it kinda hard to use
them, no?

Bill Balmer