Mic Damage Possibility? at DVinfo.net

John Harvey · April 16th, 2005, 09:51 AM

I know that a powered mic can easily be damaged from too much acoustical pressure when in use. But, can the same be said when the mic is unpluged-non-powered sitting on the table.

Nothing has happened yet, just need to know if I should be cautious in this case.

john harvey

Reading here makes me feel like I'm in college!

Marco Leavitt · April 16th, 2005, 10:59 AM

Similar question here. What about a gunshot? Would that be loud enough to damage a mic?

David Ennis · April 16th, 2005, 11:15 AM

Actually, physics dictates that the mic is safer from excessive displacement of its moving parts when the power is on.

And most mic specs that I've read indicated that the mic could not only tolerate SPL's well above what the human ear can tolerate, but it could operate without distortion!

It's hard for me to imagine anything less than an explosive shock wave damaging a microphone, powered or unpowered, and I've yet to hear of it happening.

David Ennis · April 16th, 2005, 12:03 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Marco Leavitt : Similar question here. What about a gunshot? Would that be loud enough to damage a mic? -->>>

I've seen responsible reports (e.g., a Ball State University researcher) on a wide variety of pistols and shotguns that place the measured SPLs no higher than about 165 dB. If the diaphram of a small diaphram condenser mic is about 1 centimeter in diameter it will sustain a peak impulse force of 0.28 Newtons (about 1.1 ounces) at worst from the sound of a gunshot. 1.1 ounces on one square centimeter is probably about the breaking strength of wet tissue paper.

How much weight could be evenly placed on a small diaprham condenser mic's diaphram without damaging it? I don't know, but if it's not well over 1.1 ounces, I'd be very surprised.

So personally, I wouldn't fear for my mics whatsoever around gunshots.

April 16th, 2005, 09:51 AM	#1
John Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: los angeles, ca Posts: 76	Mic Damage Possibility? I know that a powered mic can easily be damaged from too much acoustical pressure when in use. But, can the same be said when the mic is unpluged-non-powered sitting on the table. Nothing has happened yet, just need to know if I should be cautious in this case. john harvey Reading here makes me feel like I'm in college!

April 16th, 2005, 11:15 AM	#3
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	Actually, physics dictates that the mic is safer from excessive displacement of its moving parts when the power is on. And most mic specs that I've read indicated that the mic could not only tolerate SPL's well above what the human ear can tolerate, but it could operate without distortion! It's hard for me to imagine anything less than an explosive shock wave damaging a microphone, powered or unpowered, and I've yet to hear of it happening. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

April 16th, 2005, 12:03 PM	#4
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	<<<-- Originally posted by Marco Leavitt : Similar question here. What about a gunshot? Would that be loud enough to damage a mic? -->>> I've seen responsible reports (e.g., a Ball State University researcher) on a wide variety of pistols and shotguns that place the measured SPLs no higher than about 165 dB. If the diaphram of a small diaphram condenser mic is about 1 centimeter in diameter it will sustain a peak impulse force of 0.28 Newtons (about 1.1 ounces) at worst from the sound of a gunshot. 1.1 ounces on one square centimeter is probably about the breaking strength of wet tissue paper. How much weight could be evenly placed on a small diaprham condenser mic's diaphram without damaging it? I don't know, but if it's not well over 1.1 ounces, I'd be very surprised. So personally, I wouldn't fear for my mics whatsoever around gunshots. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

April 16th, 2005, 10:59 AM	#2
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Similar question here. What about a gunshot? Would that be loud enough to damage a mic?