Re: Gear and humidity

[Josh Snider]

in article , Lars at
wrote on 9/16/03 14.45:

> How much "relative humidity" can typical audio gear (amplifiers,
> guitars, drums, microphones, mic preamps, mixing desks) handle?
>
> I have a room that has a 50% "relative humidity" that I intend to use
> for recording and practicing with my band. I have no idea if this
> humidity is "normal" or not, but to me it looks like a pretty high
> figure. What made me even think about it is that there happens to be a
> hygrometer on the wall; it actually doesn't seem particularly humid in
> there.


Somewhere between 40% and 60% is good all around. Any lower and guitars may
dry out and crack, and static charges build up more easily on electronics.
Any higher and guitars will enjoy it, but could fall out of tune more
easily, and its possible you could corrode components in electronics. It's
important to note that this is "non-condensing relative" humidity (that is
humidity relative to the temperature in the room, which I assume for this is
about 20C or 68F, non-condensing IIRC means that there is no visible vapour
condensing to fog, or condensing on windows or other cooler then air bits)

J

--
josh.snider
cave.productions
416.524.6927

[P Stamler]

>Tape likes 30% to 70% relative humidity and it's usually more touchy
>than the equipment.
>

True -- but not all equipment. Some Neumann microphones, for example, have a
real problem with high humidity. I had a KM-84's capsule die on me while
recording an opera at about 90% relative humidity, 85 degrees F. or so.

Had a long talk with the main SR englineer at the Ravinia festival one time
(mid-to-late 1980s) about his choices of microphones. I saw a lot of AKG C-451s
hanging over various sections, but nary a Neumann -- he said they simply
wouldn't hold up to the humidity. His main pair was an ORTF arrangement of --
SM-81s. Said nothing else could be counted on in that environment.

Peace,
Paul (still remembering Salome)

[Scott Dorsey]

P Stamler > wrote:
>
>Had a long talk with the main SR englineer at the Ravinia festival one time
>(mid-to-late 1980s) about his choices of microphones. I saw a lot of AKG C-451s
>hanging over various sections, but nary a Neumann -- he said they simply
>wouldn't hold up to the humidity. His main pair was an ORTF arrangement of --
>SM-81s. Said nothing else could be counted on in that environment.

Sennheiser MKH-series mikes! The RF electronics means there is no high
capsule bias voltage to leak all over the place. I am constantly amazed
at how well they perform in really humid environments.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Justin Ulysses Morse]

Lars > wrote:

> How much "relative humidity" can typical audio gear (amplifiers,
> guitars, drums, microphones, mic preamps, mixing desks) handle?
>
> I have a room that has a 50% "relative humidity" that I intend to use
> for recording and practicing with my band. I have no idea if this
> humidity is "normal" or not, but to me it looks like a pretty high
> figure. What made me even think about it is that there happens to be a
> hygrometer on the wall; it actually doesn't seem particularly humid in
> there.


Most people say 50% is ideal, but I find the drums sound better and
hold their tune better, and to some extent guitars do too, at around
60-65%. You definitely don't want to go below about 30% if you have
any wooden instruments around, and you don't want to go above about 80%
if you can help it. Here in MN, the central air takes care of the
humidity in the summer, but it gets very dry in the winter. A
humidifier is essential.

ulysses