VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Tom Test]

Hmmmm. I recently started storing a netbook in my booth, which does have wireless (though it is turned off). I'll take out my cell phone, cordless phone, and anything else I can think of and see what happens!
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Tom Test]

Took out of my booth: netbook, wireless mouse; out of my room: cell phone, cordless landline phone. Result - the hiss / sizzle is still there.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Tom Test]

[Tom Test]

Lance, I hooked my daughter's PC up to my network about a month ago. My 2 PCs in my office are hard-wired via ethernet to my Belkin router, but now I have a wireless connection to my daughter's PC in the next bedroom. Might that be it - even it her computer is turned off?
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Tom Test]

My best guess is that it's an RF problem. This new mic I'm using is particularly susceptible to it. My Rode NTK seems to be almost immune to it, to the point where I can produce good-quality audio, so I've stopped panicking.

I've purchased this: Shure A15RF RF Filter
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/260981.html

I'll report back with the results. Thanks to everyone who chimed in - I greatly appreciate your help!
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Eddie Eagle]

If you have one of those mag shield rings that go over ac cords, you might try that.

[TheVoiceOfBob]

[Tom Test]

In case I was not clear, this problem is only happening with one mic - all the others I've ever used have not had this problem.

Update: I purchased a Shure RF filter that helped a bit, but not enough. I removed a power strip from my booth, but there still is a power cord for my Rode NTK power supply that goes in my booth next to my mic and headphone cables (though it is wrapped in aluminum foil). Then I removed all wireless equipment from the booth - problem persists.

Then I found that, much to my surprise, the noise disappears when I connect this mic to my SoundCraft 4 mixer! It's there when this mic is connected to both my other preamps (Speck 5.0 and ART MPA Gold), but why it isn't there with my mixer, I do not know!

My mic modder has offered to replace the screen with something more RF-resistant, but warns it may make the sound a little "gauzy." That's probably the route I'll go, since I've exhausted pretty much all other options.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Eddie Eagle]

Maybe a polarity issue from what you just described. If your power strips have a reverse polarity switch, that might work.

[Mike Sommer]

As a point of general reference: Often when a mic is not connected to a
preamp, there is a hiss; no load. Even a 20dB in-line pad, is considered a
load and will often be enough to eliminated hiss.

Since this mic is the only mic that is generating hiss, then it would be safe
to say there is a problem with the mic. It could be as simple as a lose wire
or even a screw to the housing. The Housing and screen is more than a
fancy protective cover for the mic, it also blocks RF from the capsuel, and
if all the screws and contact points are not firm, trouble will arise.


It could also be wiring in the walls, ceiling or floor. There have been many
instances where such a thing has caused problems in studios. Check your
ground to earth at the box or where ever it is at. If it has been dry, soak
the ground around it. Also try cutting the power to everything in the
house except the studio and see that eliminates the problem. If it does
turn on the breakers until it comes back; then you know where the problem
lies.

If the problem is still there even after shutting down the house, try
powering from another location and shut down the booths power and see if
that helps.

It's basically a process of elimination, until you find the source of the
problem.

But I'm sure the problem is nothing more than a grounding problem in the mic.
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The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

[Tom Test]

Thanks Eddie, Bob and Mike and everyone else who offered suggestions. I am deeply thankful. I'll try out your ideas. Also, I'm going to work with George Whittman soon, and I'm sure he can help me through it too. In the meantime, I am able to get my work out using different mics, so it's not a crisis.

Again, thank you!!!
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com