Topic: Sony PCM M10 and Church Mics with 9100 amp low levels

[San Diego Kid]

Hello,

For some reason I get low peak/db (around 24 to 18) on the m10 meter. I'm going line in to M10 from 9100 pre amp, my mics are plugged into left/right on pre amp. If I plug into mic on the m10 ,meter goes way high, but I can control it with M10 dial and pre amp dial...I've recorded 3 shows now with line in, always having to adjust volume later.. I'm using CA-11 cards, CA-14 card and Omni. I've search the forum and can not find any help. Hopefully someone understands what I'm talking about. Thank you for your time.

Mike

Think I found the answer, link below. If anyone knows better please let me know.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=169083.msg2101305#msg2101305

[vanark]

What are you using for the gain setting on the 9100 and on the M10. Lots of missing info here.

[San Diego Kid]

Both are maxed- 10 on PCM M10 and full max on CA9100 preamp. The recordings I've done do sound very good, but I have to boast volume 8-10 db with audacity ..Thanks for asking and I'm up for any advise.

Thanks,
Mike

[aaronji]

What kind of music?  The Church mics are not particularly sensitive and the 9100 has a maximum gain of something like 20 dB, so if your sources are quiet or of moderate volume, you might need to use the microphone input.

[San Diego Kid]

I recorded Bob Seger (In San Diego) and both Eric Clapton shows at MSG this year . Those shows came out sounding ok, but I had to Increase the volume after... Maybe, turn off plug in power and use mic in with CA 9100 and whatever mics I choose.

Thanks,
Mike

[beatkilla]

Just get a church UBB battery box and go mic in ,will be smaller at least.

[pontiacb]

Think I found the answer, link below. If anyone knows better please let me know.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=169083.msg2101305#msg2101305

That link is interesting - I use various church mics (ca11 and ca14 cards normally) via different battery boxes into line in on my m10.  I usually stand reasonably close to the stack at loud club shows, yet always have my m10 up to 10 and have more headroom than I really want.  Thought there was something wrong with my m10 as others were saying they had to set at 3-4 for same mics and loud shows.  Got another m10 as I like to have a back up and same thing.  Not really an issue normally for me as a bit of extra headroom doesn't make much odds by the time I normalise, but has always struck me as odd that my experiences were so different from most people here.

So as the link suggests, I wonder if there are two different 'types' of M10.

[San Diego Kid]

Makes me wonder if some go mic in and think they're going line in. Because when I go mic in my level is around 3-5 on m10 and pre amp is way down. Just a thought.

[pontiacb]

Makes me wonder if some go mic in and think they're going line in. Because when I go mic in my level is around 3-5 on m10 and pre amp is way down. Just a thought.

Think it's unlikely tbh - seems the norm is 4-5 line in and my experiences and yours (accepting you have a pre amp and I don't) seem to be less common, so I'd doubt the majority have all got the inputs mixed up! 

But I do need to try mic in again, as a very few quieter shows when I've been away from the PA at festivals have left me with painfully low levels and hiss when normalised.

Key is to find a method to work for you, which I've generally got, but it is interesting that experiences differ so widely.

[nulldogmas]

FWIW, I go CA-14 cards > UBB > M10 line in, and never need to go below 8 or 9 even with the loudest music. My general rule: If I don't need earplugs for it, I go mic in.