Studio microphones are the lifeblood of any recording studio setup. So, when your prized microphone needs to be repaired, it can slow down the recording process for weeks. Nady microphones, built with delicate wiring and electrical components, often need servicing due to wear and tear or careless handling. For instance, when you drop the microphone, it is likely that the internal capsule -- the main sound-processing component inside the microphone -- has suffered damage. Repairing the microphone requires either replacing the capsule or re-soldering the internal wiring.
Instructions
1. Unplug the XLR microphone cable from the bottom of the microphone. Unscrew the microphone's top cover. This is the grill cover protecting the internal capsule; it can be loosened and removed by hand. Lift the foam cover out of the microphone to reveal the capsule unit.
2. Locate the main capsule inside the microphone's housing. Examine the capsule to determine how it is mounted. Remove any Phillips screws as necessary.
3. Lift the capsule out of the microphone slightly. Notice the two to three wires -- depending on your specific microphone model -- soldered to the capsule. In most cases there will either be a black and red wire, or a black, red and copper wire. Take note of where each wire is soldered to the capsule. Examine the capsule for any broken or loose wires.
4. Plug in a fine-tip soldering iron. Let it heat up for a few minutes. If your soldering iron has a built-in temperature gauge, set the iron to heat to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. However, many soldering tips have a predetermined temperature without a gauge. Check your soldering iron's manual to make sure the predetermined temperature is not above 600 degrees.
5. Touch the heated iron to each wire where it is soldered to the capsule. Carefully remove the entire capsule from the microphone. Use a pair of wire strippers to strip each disconnected wire back about 1/8 inch. Place the replacement capsule inside the microphone's housing. Touch each wire to its appropriate connector.
6. Hold a piece of soldering material over each wire. Touch your heated soldering iron to the soldering material until it melts and absorbs to the wire and connects it to the microphone capsule. Let the soldering material dry for a few minutes.
7. Attach any mounting Phillips screws to the new capsule as needed. Replace the microphone's top grill cover.
Tags: each wire, soldering iron, inside microphone, soldered capsule, soldering material