If you’re not an audiophile, you might be lost when it comes to setting up audio recording equipment and getting the best sound possible. You might have heard people refer to sound as “clear” or “muddy,” and wonder what that really means. When your audio is muffled or warped, making it difficult to hear what the speaker is saying, that’s “muddy” sound—and it should be avoided at all costs.

One of the simplest ways to fight against muddy audio is to literally clean your audio equipment in Seattle, WA. Efficiency, Inc. has worked with numerous types of audio equipment since we were founded, and many problems can be eliminated before they get serious.

Here are some of the most common ways your household or office might be harming your audio equipment:

• Dirt and dust floating around: Dust, dander, human hair and pet hair are all causes of muddy audio, even if it’s not immediately obvious. They can get into your microphones and interfere with the connectivity between plates, leading to hissing or popping noises. To combat this, use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to clean all the surfaces in and outside of your equipment. For truly dirty surfaces, use rubbing alcohol (it will evaporate cleanly). Canned air and cleaning brushes will take care of the rest.
• Dampness: Moisture in the air can cause damage to your audio equipment. Since we live in a humid environment, it’s important to keep your equipment as protected as possible, including putting your microphones away when not in use, using silica packets (those moisture-absorbing packets you get in new shoes, coats and other items), and making sure your microphone completely dries out before using it again.
• Corrosion or oxidation: You can’t escape corrosion over time—eventually, oxygen will do some damage to the metal components inside your equipment. Keeping moisture away from your equipment as described above is the single most important thing you can do to prevent corrosion. However, it’s always a good idea to clean terminals and plugs with a specialized cleaner, with a frequency of around once per month.
• Basic cleanup: In addition to the above tips, it’s also smart to keep your equipment clean every time you use it. Get a microfiber cloth and give all the surfaces a quick wipe-down before you put it back in the case and store it until the next time you’ll use it.

If you have questions, be sure to ask the experts at Efficiency, Inc.

Audio equipment cleaning in Seattle, WA

Efficiency, Inc. provides Washington state with a variety of services, including audio equipment cleaning in Seattle, WA. With over 125 years of combined experience in courtroom reporting and digital dictation equipment, we can help your practice or business find the right tools to make your job easier. We’re proud to be woman-owned and operated, and offer equipment, training and even on-site or remote tech support. If you need help figuring out which software might be right for you, or how to get the best results from your audio recorders, call us today.