A few simple precautions will help you to keep your AEA N8 working
well for life.
Phantom Power
Although the N8 needs a standard 48V phantom-power source to
operate, you should still make sure that phantom power is turned off
before plugging and unplugging the microphones. The loud pops that
occur when the microphone is plugged in with phantom-power engaged
can damage speakers, headphones, and ears. Since passive ribbon
microphones or other transformer-coupled microphones are particularly
sensitive to phantom-power, it is recommended to disengage phantom-
power before plugging and unplugging a habit.
Wind Gusts
A second and equally important rule is never to blow directly into a
ribbon microphone to test it. Strong air movement can stretch the
ribbon and while it may not break, it nonetheless could significantly
degrade the microphone’s performance. Using the mic outdoors
requires special care so that the wind does not damage the ribbon.
Nonetheless, using it outdoors requires special care to avoid wind
which can damage the ribbon. Indoors, however, it is also important to
avoid serious air movement from stage curtains, open windows, doors,
or air-conditioning systems. High SPL sound sources do not usually
pose a problem because most ribbon microphones can handle 130 dB
SPL or more without difficulty. It is only those “explosive” sources that
produce a strong blast of air, such as the bass port on an electric guitar
or bass amp, a guitar being plugged (or unplugged) while the amp level
is turned fully up, an on-axis kick-drum (particularly with a port on the
front head), that are potentially damaging. If you are unsure about how
much wind is hitting the microphone, place the back of your hand where
the microphone is going to be. If you can feel significant wind blasts,
angle the microphone or use a pop screen to avoid direct hits.
Tramp Iron
Minute iron particles, sometimes known as “tramp iron,” are common
within our environment. AEA ribbon microphones contain powerful
magnets that produce strong magnetic fields. These fields can attract
any ferric metal near the microphone that, if they are small enough, can
penetrate the outer screening and work their way inside the microphone.
Over time, this “tramp iron” can build up sufficiently in the magnetic gap
to rub against the ribbon causing distortion, electrical shorts or tearing
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