Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) customers have about Giant Squid products and services.

Q:  Compaired to your competitors, your mic prices are very low and site is "retro".  Are your products low quality?

A: (2/15/10) I get comments from customers time to time suggesting that the low prices here may give the impression of low quality.  I've given it some thought to finally raise prices in spring to put eveything in line with what some of the other guys are selling.  However, in this economy it probably is not a good idea. My philosphy has always been to offer high quality mics that everyone can afford.  Some of the other guys offer basically some the same stuff I have but at a higher price.  For instance the $65 Podcasting mics here are made with much of the same components, including the microphone elements, as a few mics found elsewhere charging $99. The site's simple HTML look is a means to offer these prices. I run the site myself in-house.  No tech people to hire or deal with.  I've rarely ever had technical problems as well. All orders are also filled and custom made by myself. The mics here are high quality.  Ask around at the audio, video and similar forums.

Q:  Can I order stuff using my credit card number?

A:  Yes.  We gladly accept credit card payments through Paypal.com. Paypal.com allows customers to use their cards without becoming a member.  Use the Paypal shopping cart buttons.  Its quick and easy.

Q:  My plug will not go all the way into my recorder's input jack! What do I do?

A:  For some reason some high tech companies design thier stuff so a regular plug cannot be fully inserted into their jacks.  It makes absolutely no sense to me at all.  Neutrik right angled plugs are a solution or if you have something like a Dremel tool the plasic body around the input jack can be smoothed down.

Q:  Will your mics work with MP3 recorders?

A:  The non powered mics may work with MP3 recorders that have a powered MIC IN input.  Powered mics will work with MP3 recorder with both a LINE IN and MIC IN. Please note that MP3 files do not have the same quality as CDs, DATs and MDs due to the lower bit rate. With the Nomad Jukebox 3 recorder you may have a problem plugging the mic into the jack.  There is a way to fix this problem by filing away some of the plastic case around the jack. Send me and email for more info.

Q:  When I plug my microphone in my Nomad Jukebox 3 I get sound in only one channel?

A:  It is a design flaw in the Nomad Juke Box 3 in which the plastic body won't alow most microphones plugs to be full inserted.  This is an easy fix, however. Here is an easy step by step guide on how to fix the Input Jack problem. A big "Thanks" goes out to David Klein for creating that web page!

Q:  If I ordered a length of cable and two plugs how much will it cost to have them assembled?

A:  As of February 28, 2006 custom cable lengths are no longer assembled.  Cable lengths and seperate connectors are sold and do-it-yourself.

Q:  Where can I find windscreens for my mics?

A:  Radio Shack stores carry mini mic windscreens that fit perfectly on Giant Squid mics.  Part number is 33-4006 and they currently retail at $3 for a package of four. Another maker of excellent mic windcreens is Windtech.  Series 1100 and 2200 fit perfectly.  Your local high end musical instrument shop may stock them and they are found on the Net.

Q: How long will it take to my order to arrive?

A:   I have mic orders in the mail usually within 3 to 4 business days, depending on my order load. Shipping times for Priority Mail vary.  Depending on where you are at in the USA it can take about 5 days for you package to arrive from the day it was sent.   Sometimes folks get their stuff in 2 days. Overseas Air Mail:  Some packages I sent to the UK, for instance, arrived in three days and others over a week.  All were sent using the same  shippingmethod. If you have a rush order or a deadline please email me before ordering.

Q:  What is the difference between the powered and the non powered microphone units?

A:  The two styles of mics are used in different ways.  Generally speaking, the battery box is generally for both the LINE IN and MIC IN and all of the non powered mics are for the MIC IN inputs of your recorder. All of the non powered Stereo and Mono mic units are designed to be plugged into a recorders MIC IN jack because they use the voltage from your recorder in order to operate.  Most manufactures call this the "powered input." Our non battery mics work with recording equipment that gives 1.5 to 10 volts to the mic input.  However, the less voltage supplied by the recorder, the less dynamic range you will get.  This rule includes most other "stealthy" type mics offered on the net. Check your owner's manual for your recorder's specifications. The Powered Battery Box Stereo mic units enable one to use the LINE IN input instead of MIC IN because it supplies 9 volts to the mic elements.  Using a battery box is recommended by experienced live music tapers for the clarity gained in loud situations. Do not plug the battery box mic into the MIC IN jack when in the loudest situations or some distortion may result.  Some MIC IN inputs have noisy pre amps which can add distortion in loud sounds which is why we recommend out high quality powered units for the LINE IN. When plugged into the LINE IN the battery box will give you recordings with more clarity when dealing with heavy SPLs (Sound Pressure Levels).

Q:  I want to record extremely loud music with my camcorder.  Will your Stereo and Mono mics work with my camcorder?

A:  Yes and no.  Powered microphone "mic in" input pre amps in most of today's camcorders vary in quality.  For general purpose recording our mics will work great, however, for really loud stuff like live music the camcorder's pre amp may overload.   This is not the case with the battery box units.  However, since camcorder pre amps vary in quality I cannot promise anything.

Q:  What is "bass roll off?"

A:  Bass Roll Off simply decreases the volume of the bass by using two capacitors within the circuitry. Decreasing the bass can result in a better balance of highs and lows during playback if field recording is made in loud, big, boomy bass environments. Bass roll off does not eliminate or cut off the low frequencies.    Different input impediances of different models of recorders will give different roll off. Here is a mathematical formula for figuring out what kind of roll you will get with different capacitors. 1/(6.28318 x Farad of the capacitor x Ohm of the recorder's input) = starting point of roll off. The capacitors we use are .068 micorfarad. Unlike some of our competitors we use the larger, higher quality Polypropylene Capacitors in our battery boxes that are designed for audio low frequency bypass.  As a result Giant Squid battery boxes delivers smoother roll off and low distortion.

Q:  I just bought a set of your mics and want to record a live concert.  Can you tell me how to do this?

A:  I cannot recommend sneaking mics into concert venues.  Most artists do not allow it and some in the music industry consider it to be illegal, although, some portable Sony MD products were being blatantly advertised as good for concert taping. Some bands allow concert taping. However, Giant Squid is 100% against selling concert audience recordings for profit or commercial gain. There are many places to find "concert taper" information on the Internet such as the alt.music.bootlegs and alt.videos.bootlegs newsgroups, various web sites, and email list forums. However, the best and most complete resources for technical information on taping I know of can be found on sites run by Grateful Dead fans. In print the best tips can be found in the much lauded The Deadhead's Taping Compendium - An In Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape - Volume I 1959-1974 (1998) , Volume II (1999) and Volume III (2000) by Michael Getz and John Dwork. All three volumes are fascinating to read no matter if you like the Grateful Dead or not.  Pretty much everything an experienced soundboard or audience taper already knows on the subject are in those books. Volume III contains most of the information that a beginner would need to know. Also, check out the Grateful Dead forums and rec.music.gdead news group.  "Dead Heads" have several decades of experience which they most happy to pass along.  As for recording loud stuff with Giant Squid mics off of speakers here are some tips  *  Do not point them directly at the cone stacks if you are less than, say, 3 to 4  rows or an equivalent distance from them.  Results will vary under different environments. *  If you have a homemade battery box do not exceed 10 volts to power a Giant Squid mic.  They will get screwed up if you give them more than 10 volts.  Being powered by a 9 volt battery is the best way to go. * Being positioned near the soundboard or sound mixing desk is one of the best way to record.  These are normally located near the last 1/3 of the venue, dead center of the stage.  Many times this is the venue's "sweet spot" as you can get an equal amount of sounds that are coming from the stage and not have certain instruments or vocals over shoot you from being too close. Being too cose to the stage may not be good.  One MDer was recorded from the 2nd row once and all the instruments came out A++++ but the performer's vocal amps were above and behind him resulting in a recording with low vocals amidst a great sounding band. *  For best results in extremely loud environments use the LINE IN jack with the mics plugged into a 9 volt battery box. I cannot recommend taping shows especially if the one that you are going to is your first or if the artist that you are seeing is one that you have wanted to see all your life and is anti-taping.  Skip recording the gig and enjoy the show otherwise you will sweat bricks from being paranoid that you will get caught and also end up too preoccupied with your equipment. Some venues do not pay their seasonally hired security well or just hire thick headed thugs and if you get your microphone and tuff confiscated you may end up loosing them forever.  Here is a possible situation with a member of security and a "supervisor" the day after a show.  "Did you keep that person's stuff? He says it was confiscated and wants it back or he will sue." "No. What stuff?  I do not know what you are talking about." Get what I mean?

Q:  Is there such thing as a directional patch cable?

A:   Yes.  One recording studio engineer explained that if you have the ground disconnected from the end of the cable that goes to equipment of a lower input impediance a directional cable will work.   They are used mostly if there is noise from ground loop problems between the two.

Have questions?  Feel free to email the owner of Giant Squid, Darren Nemeth.