[Ardour-Users] Odd clipping

[Ben Bell]

On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 05:01:50PM +0200, Jörn Nettingsmeier wrote:
>>   http://twitpic.com/ax819i/full
>>
>> Is this just normal pre-amp or ADC clipping, or have I perhaps got an
>> electrical problem with my signal chain somewhere (mic->mixer->interface)?
>
> no, this is certainly not normal. is this a condenser mic?
> if not, is the phantom power switched on anyways?
It's a dynamic (and in fact, it's either of two dynamics I try on the snare)
but the mixer is also supplying phantom power to the overhead condensers.

> it's odd that the spikes are all positive, so maybe they are induced by  
> phantom power - either by a bad cable that has an "almost short", and  
That sounds like a convincing explanation. The fact that they are imposed
on peaks makes me wonder whether the insulation is damaged and when the
signal level is high enough the signal jumps the gap.

> so much for shooting in the dark, best
Really helpful, thanks.

Probably means I still can't justify the long desired audio interface
replacement -- just a new cable. ;)