On Thu, 2005-12-08 at 20:57 -0500, Paul Winkler wrote: > On Fri, Dec 09, 2005 at 03:23:03AM +0100, Esben Stien wrote: > > Paul Winkler <pw_lists@xxxxxxxxxx> writes: > > > > > I am not familiar with the term "static mic". > > > > The static microphone uses a capacitive membrane; a condensor mic. > > Ah, thanks, maybe it's just not a common term in the US. > > > > Neither dynamic nor condensor (aka capacitor) mics are inherently > > > fragile at high SPL. > > > > This is not the way I understand it. > > Well, there are plenty of condenser mics that can handle 140 dB SPL > without harm or audible distortion. That's extremely loud. Of course it > depends on the mic in question, but even my cheap MXL condenser mics are > rated at 130 dB at 0.5% THD, which is still much louder than a typical > rock concert. > > Mechanical fragility if you drop it is another question entirely. > I wouldn't want to drop one of these cheap MXL mics. Not that > they're badly made, but they ARE cheap. > OT - I recently purchased a Rode S1 condenser mic. It's mostly for stage use although it works great for instruments in the studio. Rode guarantees it for 5 years no matter what happens to it - you can beat it to death with a hammer if you want. Anyway, about the third gig I used it some drunk staggered up to the stage during a break and knocked my mic stand over. The mic hit the floor from about 6 feet up directly on the ball. It sounded like someone fired a cannon. Didn't do a single bit of damage to the mic other than denting the screen just slightly. -- Jan 'Evil Twin' Depner The Fuzzy Dice http://myweb.cableone.net/eviltwin69/fuzzy.html "As we enjoy great advantages from the invention of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and this we should do freely and generously." Benjamin Franklin, on declining patents offered by the governor of Pennsylvania for his "Pennsylvania Fireplace", c. 1744