Vocal microphone hum

Chase Brady · From: Ohio, USA

I have an Alesis Groove Tubes AM51 large diaphragm condenser microphone that seems to suit my voice quite well. Unfortunately, it's now picked up a persistant hum. It's the kind of hum that changes as you touch the microphone, mic stand or cable. You can fiddle with the microphone sometimes and make it go away, but it comes back a moment or two later. Any suggestions as to what's causing this and how to get rid of it?

--Chase Brady

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Sounds like a bad/open connection. Have you changed the mic cable? If not that is the first thing to try.

Walter Bowden · From: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

I agree with Jack about suspecting the cable and swapping out for a known working cable. It sounds like a ground/shield issue to me.if the cable is good you might check the plug in the mic itself or try a different input chanell to make sure its not in the mixer or whatever the mic is plugged into.
One thing that kind of stands out to me is you say the hum changes if you touch the mic stand? Is the mic holder made out of non conductive material?
Hope you find it cause hum ain't fun to listen to.
Best wishes, Walter
_________________
Emmons S10, p/p, Nashville 112, Zion 50 tele style guitar, Gibson LP Classic w/Vox AC30, Fender Deluxe De Ville and a Rawdon-Hall classical

Walter Bowden · From: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

I agree with Jack about suspecting the cable and swapping out for a known working cable. It sounds like a ground/shield issue to me.if the cable is good you might check the plug in the mic itself or try a different input chanell to make sure its not in the mixer or whatever the mic is plugged into.
One thing that kind of stands out to me is you say the hum changes if you touch the mic stand? Is the mic holder made out of non conductive material?
Hope you find it cause hum ain't fun to listen to.
Best wishes, Walter
_________________
Emmons S10, p/p, Nashville 112, Zion 50 tele style guitar, Gibson LP Classic w/Vox AC30, Fender Deluxe De Ville and a Rawdon-Hall classical

Chase Brady · From: Ohio, USA

Funny how the obvious things can elude me. I hadn't been using the shock mount that came with the mike. It finally occurred to me that those rubber bands also provide excellent electrical insulation. It didn't eliminate the hum entirely, but reduced it to something easily taken care of by standard noise filtering software. I also have a higher quality (Mogami/Neutrik) cable on order. Thanks for the help!
--Chase

Walter Bowden · From: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Hey Chase. A good condenser mic like you have can be very sensitive to any movements so using a suspension mic holder is wise.

I'm still thinking the mic might have an internal connection issue if you have tried different cables and still have residual hum to the point that you are considering using a filter to "fix it".

Microphones are what capture all acoustic sound sources (vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, horns, banjos "sorry SGF peeps" etc.) and are arguably the most important link in the audio chain. As such, they should be as noise free as possible.

I would think Alesis/Groove Tube support could supply some good info. BTW; If you are using XLR cables I humbly suggest you consider buying a cable tester for proper wiring/phase and grounding issues at a glance.

I still have my whirlwind tester from many moons ago and it is great to have around.

Best wishes, Walter
_________________
Emmons S10, p/p, Nashville 112, Zion 50 tele style guitar, Gibson LP Classic w/Vox AC30, Fender Deluxe De Ville and a Rawdon-Hall classical

Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

Why not just plug a different mic into the cable and see if the hum goes away?

RC

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

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