Author Topic: MP-2, PSP-2, or SAX; decisions, decisions (Read 15550 times)

VA_TAPER · « **on:** May 20, 2003, 10:43:22 AM »

Just ordered some new mics (Josephson C42MPs) that will be assume the position as both my stealth pair and my open taping pair. Looking to complete the rest of my rig as dual-use as well.

As these mics are relatively new, I have only heard one tape with them and they were paired with a MP-2. The tape does sound sweet but it was an onstage tape so it's not clear how that combo would sound in a more reverberant enviroment. I have never used one of these smaller pre's. I have had a V3, V2 and PS-2 in the past. I will be running minijack out of the pre straight in to a D100. Any opinions on comparing the the PSP-2, MP-2 and SAX?

Thanks guys,
Chris

jpschust · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:49:08 AM »

I love the sax personally- its a favorite pre of mine. I love how tiny it is and how well designed it is, a truly great stealthing pre. The psp-2 is great as well :-)

JAH · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:54:14 AM »

Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 10:43:22 AM

Any opinions on comparing the the PSP-2, MP-2 and SAX?

Thanks guys,
Chris

tough pick psp-2 sx-2. Can you borrow and test drive w/ your rig? I've used the sax once and wasn't too fond of it but may have need to get use to it. used then psp-3 also but not the psp-2 (different animal).
go for the test drive if you can.

gfl
jah

nickgregory · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:54:43 AM »

While I do not have a sax, my mind tells me that there may not be enough metal in the thing to set off wands...with the plastic housing and all....unlike the MP-2, which I think I could run over and it would still be fine

Jason B · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:57:18 AM »

Do you actually have a sax and psp2 at your disposal to purchase right now?

-JB

VA_TAPER · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:59:54 AM »

There is a psp-2 for sale used, that is still up for grabs; the sax would be a new purchase, there are a million mp-2s up for sale ever since Sound Devices announced their new all-in-one boxes.

JAH · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2003, 11:06:55 AM »

Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 10:59:54 AM

There is a psp-2 for sale used, that is still up for grabs; the sax would be a new purchase, there are a million mp-2s up for sale ever since Sound Devices announced their new all-in-one boxes.

I would pick the mp2 as last. If you want transormer out then go w/ the psp-2. Jonny does the sx-2 have xfmr out??? There are many sx-2 users who swear by them...likewise the psp-2. There was a big thread on the Oade board...search the archives.
See if the psp-2 owner will let you try it out first.
As for metal detectors...you still have the mics to contend w/.

Jason B · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2003, 11:14:12 AM »

Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 10:59:54 AM

There is a psp-2 for sale used, that is still up for grabs; the sax would be a new purchase, there are a million mp-2s up for sale ever since Sound Devices announced their new all-in-one boxes.

I am well aware of all the MP2's going up for sale, but to have a sonosax and psp2 for sale at the same time is rare, hence my asking.

~JB

VA_TAPER · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2003, 11:21:40 AM »

I hadn't considered borrowing the gear to try the different pre's. I am leaning away from the sax and toward the transformer based pres (the ability to pass through a metal detector doesn't bother me, with the mics and the d100 and cables something is going to set them off, I'll just be creative in the reasons they are going off). It is rare to find SAXs and PSP-2s used, I don't know of any used SAXs for sale, but there are several dealers with them new in stock.

VA_TAPER · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2003, 11:28:07 AM »

Quote from: JAH on May 20, 2003, 11:06:55 AM

Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 10:59:54 AM
I would pick the mp2 as last. If you want transormer out then go w/ the psp-2. Jonny does the sx-2 have xfmr out??? There are many sx-2 users who swear by them...likewise the psp-2. There was a big thread on the Oade board...search the archives.
See if the psp-2 owner will let you try it out first.
As for metal detectors...you still have the mics to contend w/.

I have already searched the oade archives and the threads I came up with were mostly PSP-2 owners (and those selling them) saying that the psp-2 had tighter bass than the MP-2 followed by MP-2 owners saying that their bass was plenty tight. I will contact the PSP-2 owner to see about borrowing it for a test run. Any idea what type of transformers the psp-2 uses? I haven't been able to find that info out. David Josephson personally uses the MP-2 and suggested it as a good field pre for the mics, that's one reason it's on the list.

Thanks for the help so far guys, keep it comin'

Jason B · « **Reply #10 on:** May 20, 2003, 11:39:54 AM »

Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 11:28:07 AM

I will contact the PSP-2 owner to see about borrowing it for a test run.

Thanks for the help so far guys, keep it comin'

Just a heads up...

If you are talking about Kevin Straker's psp2, it has been sold. He sold it to Carrington yesterday.

~JB

VA_TAPER · « **Reply #11 on:** May 20, 2003, 11:43:34 AM »

Quote from: Jason B on May 20, 2003, 11:39:54 AM

Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 11:28:07 AM

I will contact the PSP-2 owner to see about borrowing it for a test run.

Thanks for the help so far guys, keep it comin'

Just a heads up...

If you are talking about Kevin Straker's psp2, it has been sold. He sold it to Carrignton yesterday.

~JB

Well,

I guess 33% of my decision has been made for me

wboswell · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2003, 12:19:58 PM »

Hooray for Kevin! Its about time he was able to sell that PSP-2. Now, he's gonna be able to feed himself

Jason B · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2003, 12:24:17 PM »

No, boo-ray!

Kevin's psp2 was coming my way after Carrington used it. I was going to run it for a couple of shows to see if I liked it with my mics enough to purchase. I never got the chance to run it! Carrington bagged it up and held onto to it for two or three weeks!!

Kevin just e-mailed me yesterday saying that he would have Carrington ship it to me this week, then e-mailed me back about 10 minutes later saying that C. had just sent the money for the unit to his PayPal account... Oh well....

-JB

VA Taper: You had a couple people in front of you with dibs on that pre...

hippies · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2003, 09:42:40 PM »

not even to mention that these three all all different sizes. you're all over the Board here with sizes. Sax being the smallest/ MP-2/ PSP2 following in close order. myself, i see no way of 'stealthing' the PSP2, but i'm sure it can be done...

~S

scb · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:14:58 PM »

the sax really isn't smaller than the mp2. they're the same size

the mp2 is 1.7 x 3.7 x 5.5

sax is 1.6 x 3.4 x 5.75

where the mp2 is thicker, the sax is longer.

isn't the psp2 similar?

silentmark · « **Reply #16 on:** May 21, 2003, 08:56:40 AM »

Quote

I would pick the mp2 as last. If you want transormer out then go w/ the psp-2. Jonny does the sx-2 have xfmr out??? There are many sx-2 users who swear by them...likewise the psp-2. There was a big thread on the Oade board...search the archives.
See if the psp-2 owner will let you try it out first.
As for metal detectors...you still have the mics to contend w/.

Quote

The Sax rocks. The only thing I don't like about it is the 9v batteries, other than that, it rocks, HTH ...

save · « **Reply #17 on:** May 21, 2003, 01:54:25 PM »

there's a sax for sale now if you are interested.

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=2948

-j

save · « **Reply #18 on:** May 21, 2003, 02:16:44 PM »

nevermind the sax is sold already...sorry.

DaryanLenz · « **Reply #19 on:** May 21, 2003, 03:12:39 PM »

Why not a V2...they pop up all the time these days and can be had in the same price range. If I were buying a new pre, I would use the mini-me first, and then when I had the loot...which I don't...I would buy a V2 to run in front of that. I plan on buying a V2 at some point to play with in front of the mini-me, just not yet! I ran the sax for quite a while and loved it with my mbho's, and hated it with my gefell's. Something about running the sax->MME just didn't work for me, so I traded it for an m1 and oade cable since my deck had died. My newest plan is to run the JB3 exclusively, we shall see if that works out though

The JB3 will be in action tonight, I will let you know what I think tomorrow!

Daryan

nickgregory · « **Reply #20 on:** May 21, 2003, 04:26:51 PM »

the V2 is not stealthable in most situations.....I can see it now..."Is that a V2 in your pants or are you happy to see me" :-)

wbrisette · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2003, 06:32:21 AM »

Quote from: DVRL on May 21, 2003, 03:12:39 PM

If I were buying a new pre, I would use the mini-me first, and then when I had the loot...which I don't...I would buy a V2 to run in front of that.

Why do that? Why not just buy a V3 to start with if you like the V2. The Mini-Me tapes that I have from various sources do not impress me. I think for that sort of money the unit would have a much more transparent sound. Anyhow, that's my opinion of the unit, others may feel differently.

Wayne

drewloo · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2003, 08:36:04 AM »

Wayne,

I think some folks just really like the Apogee A/D converters.

Drew

Jason B · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2003, 11:10:51 AM »

Quote from: drewloo on May 22, 2003, 08:36:04 AM

Wayne,

I think some folks just really like the Apogee A/D converters.

Drew

Yes, they do!!!

-JB

wboswell · « **Reply #24 on:** May 23, 2003, 08:55:21 AM »

Quote from: nickgregory on May 21, 2003, 04:26:51 PM

the V2 is not stealthable in most situations.....I can see it now..."Is that a V2 in your pants or are you happy to see me" :-)

Sheeyet. Don't tell Scott Brown that. He stealths with the v3 like its nothing!

scb · « **Reply #25 on:** May 25, 2003, 12:14:34 PM »

larry horton is the real man with steathing large stuff. he stealths the v3 now, but before the v3 he stealthed v2 > ad2k all the time.

tadjblack · « **Reply #26 on:** May 28, 2003, 12:09:33 AM »

He must be sporting some "hammer pants"

Tim · « **Reply #27 on:** June 04, 2003, 04:42:48 PM »

Quote from: wbrisette on May 22, 2003, 06:32:21 AM

Quote from: DVRL on May 21, 2003, 03:12:39 PM
If I were buying a new pre, I would use the mini-me first, and then when I had the loot...which I don't...I would buy a V2 to run in front of that.

Why do that? Why not just buy a V3 to start with if you like the V2. The Mini-Me tapes that I have from various sources do not impress me. I think for that sort of money the unit would have a much more transparent sound. Anyhow, that's my opinion of the unit, others may feel differently.

So if all highend gear needs to be transparent and non-transparent gear is not highend? I own it specifically because it's not transparent.

Tim · « **Reply #28 on:** June 04, 2003, 04:46:45 PM »

Quote from: DVRL on May 21, 2003, 03:12:39 PM

I plan on buying a V2 at some point to play with in front of the mini-me, just not yet!

D - have you a/b'd the pre section in the V2 to the MiniMe? I have and the difference is very, very subtle. There is no way I would carry a V2 with me to run in front of the MiniMe. That's just more cables and more batteries for the same sound. Of course if you have a V2 you do have a full function pre (ie. a HPF) at your disposal if you should need it.

Of course that's just me. I know Jason B carries a V2 with his minime. Do some a/b's for yourself before you buy.

zhianosatch · « **Reply #29 on:** June 04, 2003, 07:39:32 PM »

Quote from: scott brown on May 25, 2003, 12:14:34 PM

larry horton is the real man with steathing large stuff. he stealths the v3 now, but before the v3 he stealthed v2 > ad2k all the time.

How'd he get past the nazis at the door? Did he carry all that on his body? Sheeit...
Armen

wbrisette · « **Reply #30 on:** June 04, 2003, 08:47:42 PM »

Quote from: Tim on May 21, 2003, 03:12:39 PM

So if all highend gear needs to be transparent and non-transparent gear is not highend? I own it specifically because it's not transparent.

I think this is one of those is the glass half-full or half-empty sort of arguments. If our goal is to archive the music the best we can then in my mind that means being transparent from start to finish. If a preamp, A/D, or microphone adds more low-end, mid-range, or top-end, then that's not really what the audience heard. Is this bad? Not really because in some cases the recordings hide some of the crappy mixes. But, if you really want to do the show justice, you simply try to get a very flat recording (transparent) that you can EQ later if you really want to. This is what on-location recording is all about. Studio stuff is totally different.

So, why is this like the half-empty, half-full argument? Because in the end there will usually be some type of EQ going on. If you like a bit more warmth, you can EQ your tape to sound that way afterwards. However, if you have a pre-amp, Mic, or A/D that adds that warmth without the EQ then you don't use EQ. The end result is the same.

In my opinion (aren't all things like this??), a preamp should never add or remove anything (regardless of high-end or low-end). It should be transparent, but again I think this is simply a difference in philosophy and not in the end result.

Wayne

zhianosatch · « **Reply #31 on:** June 04, 2003, 09:39:54 PM »

I personally prefer a super-lifelike, crystal-clear, see-through transparent recording over -anything- else, and I agree with Wayne in the "recording what the audience heard" respect. But I don't think that doing that is everyone's goal. Might be yours and mine, but not others'. People run different gear so they can get the sound they prefer, and no amount of careful post-recording EQing can duplicate what a specific pre or a/d does, so I don't think the end result is the same at all.
People choosing gear to get the sound they want sure is doing the show justice! Hell, I think different-sounding gear gives different perspectives of a show, different ways to listen to the music. Giving up the quest to recreate as accurately as possible doesn't take anything away from the show.
Armen

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #32 on:** June 05, 2003, 02:03:13 AM »

just give ALL the equipment to me and that will settle it..........

bean

danmorgan · « **Reply #33 on:** June 05, 2003, 09:30:21 AM »

Quote from: diskobean on June 05, 2003, 02:03:13 AM

just give ALL the equipment to me and that will settle it..........

bean

All your gear is belong to Bean

mterry · « **Reply #34 on:** June 18, 2003, 12:29:08 AM »

Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 11:28:07 AM

Quote from: JAH on May 20, 2003, 11:06:55 AM
Quote from: VA_TAPER on May 20, 2003, 10:59:54 AM
I would pick the mp2 as last. If you want transormer out then go w/ the psp-2. Jonny does the sx-2 have xfmr out??? There are many sx-2 users who swear by them...likewise the psp-2. There was a big thread on the Oade board...search the archives.
See if the psp-2 owner will let you try it out first.
As for metal detectors...you still have the mics to contend w/.

I have already searched the oade archives and the threads I came up with were mostly PSP-2 owners (and those selling them) saying that the psp-2 had tighter bass than the MP-2 followed by MP-2 owners saying that their bass was plenty tight. I will contact the PSP-2 owner to see about borrowing it for a test run. Any idea what type of transformers the psp-2 uses? I haven't been able to find that info out. David Josephson personally uses the MP-2 and suggested it as a good field pre for the mics, that's one reason it's on the list.

Thanks for the help so far guys, keep it comin'

I'm jumping on this once really late......But, I'd have to say that the MP-2's bass is going to be kinda "sloppy" I run a USBPre, so, the similarities in the pre of the USBPre and the MP2 would be close enough. I just think that you could get a little bit cleaner bass than what the MP-2 / USBPre have to offer

nickgregory · « **Reply #35 on:** June 18, 2003, 08:30:20 AM »

the MP-2 bass may be kind of sloppy standing by itself, but in running it with my mod sbm-1 it sounds pretty clean to my ears...

mterry · « **Reply #36 on:** June 18, 2003, 09:08:15 AM »

Oh yeah, I agree completely. Byt itself, it's another story

I'm still digging the particle show from the Lincoln. I taped barefoot at the Lincoln back on 5.17, and thats when I relaized using a USBPre alone with the 480's is not a good idea, haha

nickgregory · « **Reply #37 on:** June 18, 2003, 09:18:13 AM »

alot of it depends on your location at the Lincoln too....we ran at the front rail, right above the floor....that is the first time I had ran there, usually I would run in the aisle next to the SBD, and it was much cleaner down below. Can't wait for them to build that balcony there and raise the PA...it will be nice to be able to tape from above and not have to deal with the crowds!

mterry · « **Reply #38 on:** June 18, 2003, 09:35:19 AM »

Yeah, I was taping on that front rail in front of the SBD, not the one that touches it, but then one in front. I ran NOS there for their NYE show, and ran DIN last time. The bass is nice and smooth, but it's not defined at all. I'll have to tape a little lower down next time

Author Topic: MP-2, PSP-2, or SAX; decisions, decisions (Read 15550 times)

jpschust

Jason B

Jason B

Jason B

Jason B

DaryanLenz

Jason B

Tim

Tim