Microphones on Airplanes

[goldenechos]

I read somewhere that Ribbon mics can be damaged by the changes in pressure...

Is there any truth to this? Can any microphones be damaged in air travel?

I would like to take my Beyer m260, Oktava ML52 and AT4047 to Chicago next week...

I know this question is probably ridiculous, but my poor head is wrecked with terror about planes anyhow!

tony echos

[Dave Nutz]

i think as long as you dont take a home built mic through security, you wont have any problems.....i cant help you with pressure stuff though.

[JohnDavisNYC]

i can't imagine it being a problem.... i can't imagine all microphones are shippied by sea and surface.

john

[Mr. Dipity]

I read somewhere that Ribbon mics can be damaged by the changes in pressure...

Sudden changes in air pressure. As in a blow of air from a kick drum, or slamming shut the door of a mic case.

[cgarges]

i think as long as you dont take a home built mic through security, you wont have any problems......

Or a Copperphone.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Zeppelin4Life]

Ribbon mics, changes in pressure will result in the air currents, which could easily damage ribbon mics. but the chance of a door flying open in flight is pretty damn slim. especially after all the new door regulations after all thoes DC-10s in the 70s had door cargo door problems. but........ .just food for thought, the pilot headsets use mini condensors

think about all the microphones on a plane

the headsets, the phones, the PA, the CVR, etc

youll be fine

[Frost]

My lawson ships with a air tight case. it has a pressure valve to equalize the pressure when you arrive at your destination. I dont know if it helps but I use it anyway.

Frost

[X-ian]

The maximum change in air pressure in a commercial airplane will be eight thousand feet. The cabins are pressurized at 8,000 MSL (Mean Sea Level). So if you take off from Denver it's only a 2,000 ft. difference. Small planes without pressurized cabins fly between 12,000 and 15,000 MSL so you are better off in a commercial plane. My question would be what is the air pressure between the diaphragms in a condenser mic, and are there any holes to release the pressure. Maybe a smart mic guy can answer that. It?s an interesting question.

[KFT]

I wonder if the Discovery Channel's "Myth Busters" could check into this. Did you see the episode when they examined the myth of silicone breast implants growing and possibly exploding in a pressurized airplane cabin during flight?

[soundguy]

myth busters should investigate wether or not blondes have more fun.

dave

[matt250321]

Mythbusters also did an awesome experiment on the old tale that a duck quack doesn't make an echo. They brought in an acoustical expert to run some tests in their huge wherehouse that obviously had lots and lots of natural reverb. The guy set up some mics into some analysis program. It turns out that of course duck quacks do echo, BUT the sonic nature of the quack itself has "echo-like" qualities to it, which may result in people not noticing the real echo. Not sure if thats how they explained it but something along those lines. Pretty cool stuff.... Sorry its a bit off topic.

[johnny7]

In the 50's all the ducks used a little slapback...

[Zoltar]

My question would be what is the air pressure between the diaphragms in a condenser mic, and are there any holes to release the pressure. Maybe a smart mic guy can answer that. It?s an interesting question.

I was reading something this summer that said that yes, there are holes for just this reason. The very next day I flew from Nashville to Detroit with a 414.

here is the link:

http://www.solorb.com/dat-heads/micfaq.html

and here is the quote from that site:

Omni mics are absolute pressure transducers and inherently would have
response down to DC but for a small air leak built in to allow them to be
shipped by air, not explode in tornados, etc.

It is actually a little bit of an interesting Q&A, particularly if you want to "stealth record a Dead concert"

[Wire]

When you order it when it's new and it comes to you by any other shipping than Ground it has been in a plane, if it was such a problem you couldn't get 2nd day or overnight shipping on stuff like that and people have been doing it forever!

But if you mics do break...Sorry and you shouldn't have listened to me!!

** you should have no problem

[Mr. Dipity]

Mythbusters also did an awesome experiment on the old tale that a duck quack doesn't make an echo. They brought in an acoustical expert to run some tests in their huge wherehouse that obviously had lots and lots of natural reverb. The guy set up some mics into some analysis program. It turns out that of course duck quacks do echo, BUT the sonic nature of the quack itself has "echo-like" qualities to it, which may result in people not noticing the real echo. Not sure if thats how they explained it but something along those lines. Pretty cool stuff.... Sorry its a bit off topic.

There are few things more disappointing in life that having urban legends disproved on you before you've even had time enough to believe them for a while.

For future reference, please separate the pronouncement of an urban legend from the disproving of it by at least one comment, so that those of us who've never heard of the legend can have at least a few seconds of blissful disinformance before we have to deal with the cold, hard cruelity that is reality. Thank you.