audio creature wrote: are they still good for critical recording?
Sure, cables last a longggggggg time
I have read somewhere that a mic will change sound a little over time, is each (even light) vibration received while stored "using up" the mic?

No not really...but you have a good point, any moving part is someday not gonna work like it "used to". But for the most part, you can use mic's for years at real loud levels and never have a problem. Sometimes after years, a mic's sound might change a little..but that doesn't mean it has to be worse. Mic's can can like fine wine, sometimes even sounding better after time. IMO the only thing that will degrade them is being dropped. Not like you wouldn't know that :roll:

if you use neutrik and klotz cables, you basically have to destroy them on purpose... they last a lifetime even with ultra heavy duty use.

a dust free, dry and vibration free storage want hurt.

just my 2............

Thanks.

Thanks, here's another one I've always wanted an opinion on:

I have plenty fo expensive (neutrik etc.) connectors on old leads I no longer use (my configuration has changed).

Would it be a no no to unsolder and reuse the connector again on a new lead? Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Gregory :D

I honestly can't speak to cable care as I can't afford Mogami and usually use cables until they malfuntion and either repair or replace them at that point. My monster cables are holding up.

I can offer this on mic care and storage. I feel it all comes down to how you use them. If you record 90% direct and keep your fine mics in a vault until the moment the vocalist feels inspired that's great. I happen to need all my mics all the time. If I'm not tracking, I'll put them in their boxes in a closet until I need them but when I'm tracking I want them out, hooked up and ready to go.

I love all my mics but I consider them all disposable. By that, I mean they are a means to an end and I'd rather use them with extreme care but use them every day. Moisture & dust are the greatest enemies of mics, especially tube and large condensors. I keep those super thin, plastic bags that come with the mics or a variety of gear and fit neatly over the mic. I DO NOT want air tightness but only want to limit the amount of dust and moisture (I've lived a lot by the coast) the mics receive. I place a silica bag inside with a loosely wrapped large rubber band at the base and as long as they're in a safe place from being bumped I think this is the best way to keep them high and dry and ready for action. Many mics are actually damaged while setting up as are cables, threads, etc.

Those wth Mic cabinets (small rooms) are probably exposing their mics to as much damage, especially if they live in high humidity areas. Those who keep them in cases are probably going to have them in slightly better condition but how much tracking time will be lost tearing down and setting up for these sessions? My ribbons, I'll put away but for the rest? I'd rather be tracking.

hi gregory, i have re-used several neutrik connex, if you take care soldering propper with the highest grade of craftman-ship, ya'know unsoldering propperly and cleaning the contacts maybe with a little sandpapper and so on, then you should be fine, i personally did not had any problems with it. and i changed all my cables to klotz with often re-using old plugs (all neutrik), by the way... klotz rules, cheap-ish and incredible good, pristine sound and durable for a lifetime!!

well, worth checking out...

Thanks Axel,

personally I have always used van-dame cables, will look into klotz...have heard similarly good things. When I first started making my own cables, some ten years ago now, I had this obsession, I somehow thought it was important for the wire to directly touch the contact on the plug and for the solder to flow around it. The idea being that the solder would not be an extra material for the sgnal to travel through. Somewhere along the road I left that obsession (though always wondered if there was anything in it) and now consider it far more important to get a clean and pure joint by properly heating the work not the solder and getting eveything to the right temperature. When reusing a connector it is just about impossible to get rid of all previous solder so the solder is definitely in between wire and connector but I consider that this is how it should be, hope there's nothing wrong with that.

Gregory 8)