How to Handle Condenser Stage Microphones Neumann KMS 105 

Good tutorial, buddy. I have this very mic, the wonderful KMS 105, however it's currently busted* and I'm about to pay £240 for its repair. I pondered for ages whether to go ahead with the - bloody expensive - repair or buy a brand-new top of the range Sennheiser e965 at around £420. I've made my decision; I'm cutting my losses and having the 105 repaired. *Busted: it appears that condensation and humidity are a killer for condenser mics - all that breathing and damp projectiling will eventually wreak havoc on your expensive investment. If simply ceasing to exhale during a performance was a basic part of mic technique then perhaps these expensive instruments would never succumb to failure. But breathe out we must, and that's where the problems lie. All that exhaling over the years will create a build up of micro particles onto the delicate gold surface of the capsule, eventually compromising the mic - it'll cut-out right in the middle of that beautifully expressive ballad, sometimes accompanied by a long and distinctive audio 'death-groan'. Check-out this excellent video for a very good example of exactly what can happen: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-A8VaLXWKyJ0.html. The issues demonstrated in this video are exactly the symptoms I'm having with my 105. I've had my 105 for around 10 years. It started to give me problems around year 6 or 7, when, coincidentally, the phantom power broke-down on my mixing desk. I stopped using the 105 but introduced it again when I purchased a new Dynacord desk in Summer 2018. I've been using my old Shure SM58, but don't kid yourself - the Shure has nothing to offer a serious singing voice. As one audio engineer stated: 'Why do artistes pay $10,000 for a sound system then use an SM 58 to connect their voice to it?'. Totally. How to prevent condensation-related failure? Good question, and one I can find no definitive answer to. I've had a vague reference (from Sennheiser rep) to using those little silica gel packs when storing the mic, but little else. I've still to look into the benefits of a mic wind sock as a means of creating a barrier between condensation and mic. When I get my 105 back I'll probably use the sock - whether it's effective or not - mostly to convince myself that I need not worry during my performance and that that it won't cut-out during that beautifully expressive ballad** **I sometimes perform the Glen Campbell version of 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen'. Written in 1896, it's the oldest Pop song I'm aware of; a wonderfully evocative melody that is as popular today as it was over 100 years ago. I was performing this very song one evening when my 'recently temperamental' Neumann KMS 105 just gave-out mid-chorus.. Ola Onabule: wasn't able to catch your name properly at beginning of the tutorial, took me a while to find you on Google - you have a lovely, warm singing voice, man. Greetings from Glasgow, Scotland. Hey, people! - check-out Ola doing his stuff here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hjcFRP1KAjk.html

I accually thought this was Seal for a moment 😎 Cheers for this demo man!

Hi. I just received mine & i tried it for streaming last night. Happy w it. Now is to try this baby on the stage tomorrow. Cnt wait.. Just worried f i shld bring a phantom power…

Great advice. I learned what you just taught in 7 minutes over about 10 years performing. Thanks!

Well done, thank you very much. 🍀

Great basics.... amazing how many singers, even with years of experience, have terrible mic handling. Every wanna-be and experienced vocalist needs to see this... and practice.

Great video

Thank you very useful

Than you!