General Music Chat

This had probably cropped up a few times but....

I have a MXL v63m.
I'm pretty happy with it. However I have a problem with connections to it via the cable. It just doesn't sit tight like it used to. This causes crackling and sometimes even dropouts.
(I won't bore your pants off, but I'm nearly ready to go again).

I've considered jamming something in the connector housing but assume rightly or wrongly someone will have a better fix than this?

Also, I tried to get a Roland Midi/USB converter from Ebay, the guy wanted just $35 for it, but then asked $85 for shipping!
Have better days my friends.

Cheers.
Chippy

More likely the cable connection is bad than the mic. I've got boxes of old mic cables.

Can you work with soldering iron, Chippy?

Get 2 Neutrix connectors and fix it yourself.

WARNING: If you louse up those solders, that cable will sound like junk and you will have to do it again and again and again.. etc. lol

First thing is try another cable (a new one preferably!). If its the internal connectors, and you're good with a soldering gun, go for it.

MIDI-USB converters: what are you trying to do? The higher-priced ones will have MIDI-IN, MIDI-OUT and MIDI-THRU connectors and work with all channels. If you just want to send a control signal from a MIDI deivce (keyboard) to your DAW, you can get a converter for less than $20.

Thanks peeps.
Yeah good with an iron
Seriously though, it looks as though it is more to do with how the female 3 pins connect, and the way the cable locks into place. To be honest I've never used this off a stand, so I expect that is why.
Probably a cheap import, sold in America and made on Titan.
I'll figure it thanks again.

Mike I read many times that cheaper converts will, or cannot cope with 'Sysex' commands, would you know if this is true please?

Cheers peeps.

Chippy

Chippy,

Sometimes the female of the connector opens up a bit and becomes loose on the pins. (The gap becomes wider causing an intermittent connection)

You can take a heavy sewing needle and press it down on the outside of the pin, and then pull the needle towards the connector to remove the excess "gap" in the connector. That should be enough to make it work again without having to replace the connector.

Hi Chippy,

Sometimes connectors just get crud in them and a little contact cleaner will restore good connections. I have had XLR connectors become damaged by being stepped on/crushed under bass cabinet/yanked out by the cord. If it looks noticeably worn, replace it with a new end.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... c=3WWRWXGP

I dont think that putting a bad cable in a blender will fix it... But if you try that let us know....with all the gory detail

It's nice when people actually try to help each other here on Slammix, I mean BandMix. lol

Mike I read many times that cheaper converts will, or cannot cope with 'Sysex' commands, would you know if this is true please?

Sorry, I don't have any experience with them. My MIDI work has been strictly 1-way. My Casio has a USB converter in it, and I've only plugged the Akai into the MIDI input of my Tascam input (to find out that the software I d/l-ed won't work with Win7!) - so I never hooked up the interface-to-keyboard side.

Thanks again peeps.
Ok I'll go get a replacement connector and try that then, thank you. It's mostly been on a stand as you can imagine, never used it free. I guess that is why I didn't notice before?
I'm using an M-Audio fast track (avid) external sound card for midi. I'm trying to create my live set this coming year, so it is kinda important. A bit like Neanda's loopy loops I want to create a show based on what I've written. This will a tough one, but I'm working it all out slowly. It would be great to have a good gitbox player and a few others, but attempts thus far here have fallen largely on deaf ears.

Many thanks for the help people.
Cheers.
Chippy

So you are planning on using recorded MIDI tracks as your 'band'? I'd be nervous doing that - comptuer crashes, freezes, etc.

So you are planning on using recorded MIDI tracks as your 'band'? I'd be nervous doing that - comptuer crashes, freezes, etc.

Better to put the MIDI thing together as an audio track burned to CD.
Then just play the CD at the gig.
Compact Disc players don't crash.

I use a foot-controlled Dictaphone machine to play prepared cassettes.

What I am trying do is create a live show. I realize this is difficult, but I want folks to know I can actually play what I write.

Pretty complicated right now. I really do not want a Karaoke. I'll think on it, thank you very much.
Cheers.

Chippy

lol Don't be silly, Chippy..we know you can play what you write.