Hello.

First of all, this is my first time here so please excuse me if I'm in
the wrong place asking the wrong questions...

Secondly, I'm *not* experienced in - or knowledgeable about - pro
recording so I'll keep things simple.

I have a regular need to make high quality recordings of (spoken)
dialogues.

The equipment I have purchased (over the last 18 months) to do this
consists of:

1. a Marantz PMD 670 recording unit (compact flash)
2. a small Behringer UB1002 mixer (hooked up to the Marantz)
3. 2 Rode NT3 microphones (which run into the mixer)
4. XLR cables (x 2) (which connect the mics to the mixer)
5. a double cable with regular stereo "jacks" (to connect the mixer to
the line ins on the Marantz unit.)
5. Sony headphones

As regards set up, that's it in a nutshell.

The problem is this: sometimes, I get absolutely pristine recordings -
perfectly pure and without distortion (at least none that my amateur
ear is capable of hearing).

Then, randomly - but frequently - I get what I would describe as "wind"
in the background. It's *very* noticeable and renders my recordings
unusable. (Apart from being very audible, it causes the rec levels on
my Marantz to "shimmer", as if I was carrying out my recordings on a
beach with wind hitting the mics.)

I have plugged my headphones into the mixer (rather than the recorder)
and have even taken my recording unit out of the equation altogether
and have still had this noise. Consequently, I'm inclined to think it's
either the mics or xlr cables or mixer...

I hired a different mixer - also a Behringer (UB1204FX-PRO) - and am
still getting the noise. As usual, it's sporadic. It just comes and
goes.

Now, about the mics. They can take batteries but can operate on phantom
power, too. I've tried with and without batteries. Still, I can't
figure out or solve the problem.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm going nuts, slowly but
surely...

Thanks a lot,

Hugh