Checked all of the XLR mounting screws on the stage box and Mixrack - they were all good/tight.
Made the dummy mic cable (150-ohm, 1/4-watt resistor soldered across pins 2&3 of a cable end) and I'll be dadgummed - the handling noise goes away. Cables are totally silent. I learned something super awesome thanks to all of you - thank you very much for the info!
I'm relieved to know the A&H rig is "fine" but still somewhat baffled that the M32 doesn't pick up the same noise (and even odder, that my MR18 does). Oh well. Stranger things can (and are) happen(ing).
Thanks again everyone - I really appreciate the insights and help with solving my quandary.
Good to hear this but not surprised. I felt the same as you when it happened to me, and also the same when I figured out that termination was the key.
Regarding the M32, could it have had its Routing in a different configuration than you thought? All mixers should behave the same way with this issue, as it has to do with the cable construction and not the preamp technology.
That's why if it hurts when you do this thing the solving advice is literally not to do that thing. Funny, but still true for non-medical issues. Much less funny for those, though.
You also don't turn a mic gain screaming loud through the PA and then drop it down the speaker horn throat. That will hurt, too.
