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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: Massive Dynamic on February 04, 2014, 07:35:19 PM
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Having just sold my all-in-one, I find I'm not ready to leave just yet. I still have some mics (Naiant X-X matched pair being converted to 1/8" miniplug), and the Sony M10 is probably the recorder I will pick up simply for rock solid performance and ability to handle the hot output of the X-X. I've used one before, and a flaky recorder is money wasted.
So, that leaves me with needing a recommendation for a battery box to power the X-X. The Sony's PIP isn't likely to cut it, so what else is out there? I don't think I need a pre-amp, and I'd like to keep this small and economical. Bang for buck, etc., etc. Tinybox is more than I want to spend if that helps narrow it down. 9V, stereo 1/8" input/output, no roll-off wanted. Thanks.
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Sounds like a Church Audio ugly BB is right up your alley
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...or put the $ towards CA-14s which are known to work fine off of the M10's PIP.
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Have they been proven to work better than just 'adequately' though? I don't follow the CA team thread or anything so I apologize if this is common knowledge, but I was under the impression that they would basically just get by at a VERY loud show.
I only have one anecdotal experience with running -14s directly into an M10, when I had both, and it did work fine, but it was onstage at a tiny bar with a very loud band. I assumed Chris would generally recommend a batt box over just the 5v from the M10, but I could be wrong about that.
That said, I think most would tend to lean towards ultfris's recommendation. Could even be worth looking into a 9100. It is a little bigger than the Ugly, but obviously the option to add gain if needed can be nice just in case.
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I'm pretty sure the M10 only supplies 3V or so, so it would barely power the X-X. The UBB does seem like just the thing to try as a first option. And I know I like the X-X sound.
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Have they been proven to work better than just 'adequately' though? I don't follow the CA team thread or anything so I apologize if this is common knowledge, but I was under the impression that they would basically just get by at a VERY loud show.
I only have one anecdotal experience with running -14s directly into an M10, when I had both, and it did work fine, but it was onstage at a tiny bar with a very loud band. I assumed Chris would generally recommend a batt box over just the 5v from the M10, but I could be wrong about that.
Massive Dynamic isn't going this direction, so this response is a minor threadjack, but if the m10 and ca14 worked fine during a very loud show, what other situation would you need them for where they might now work? Obviously, if you need more gain for quiet recording situations, then a preamp might be necessary, but your anecdotal experience would indicate there's enough power from the M10's PIP even for the really loud shows.
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That's true I suppose. I'm just not sure I would trust that it would always be loud enough to support the low voltage. I would personally go for the 'better safe than sorry' route.
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Have they been proven to work better than just 'adequately' though? I don't follow the CA team thread or anything so I apologize if this is common knowledge, but I was under the impression that they would basically just get by at a VERY loud show.
I only have one anecdotal experience with running -14s directly into an M10, when I had both, and it did work fine, but it was onstage at a tiny bar with a very loud band. I assumed Chris would generally recommend a batt box over just the 5v from the M10, but I could be wrong about that.
Massive Dynamic isn't going this direction, so this response is a minor threadjack, but if the m10 and ca14 worked fine during a very loud show, what other situation would you need them for where they might now work? Obviously, if you need more gain for quiet recording situations, then a preamp might be necessary, but your anecdotal experience would indicate there's enough power from the M10's PIP even for the really loud shows.
Again define a really loud show?? What does that mean in decibels? Where was most of the energy in the low end mid range high end? Nobody can answer that. So again I say and because I make these mics and because many people dont end up with crap recordings, because they follow my simple advice.. BUY A BATTERY BOX!!! There is a reason I only sell them for $29 and its not because I want to be able to retire.. Its because I dont want to see customers recordings get ruined. You may get away with it sometimes but there will be a recording where you dont and you will have no idea until you get home and listen to it. So use a battery box I dont care if its mine or some other company but use one with my mics PLEASE The mics were designed to work the best with a 7-9v supply I designed them around that voltage. Yeah they will work at 1.5 volts.. but they will not perform the same as they would on a large supply voltage.
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I don't know how many times it's been said that the CA-14's and the M10 ideally need a battery box in the middle. It works, sure, but you know that guy Murphy and and some law that he wrote, right? It'll be that one time you didn't run a battery box that you'll end up with crapola.
I did that ONCE in my life (and not even with CA-14's) and would *NEVER* risk it again. It's just not worth it. There's nothing smaller/lighter/more portable than CA-1x mics, an Ugly BB and an M10. If you can't handle/deal with that, you shouldn't be taping. End of story, really. :)
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If you can't handle/deal with that, you shouldn't be taping. End of story, really. :)
That says it right there, Adrian. And yet these threads continually pop up. "Do I need a battery box"? Chris says yes, and who would know better?
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Sorry for perpetuating this issue. My response was based on reading about enough people saying they'd successfully used the m10's PIP for concert recording. I definitely agree that it's better safe than sorry, especially when Chris points out that he sells battery boxes for $29.
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I'll add that I once used the M10 PIP to power a pair of Countryman B3. The show wasn't super loud, the recording sounded fine, but the waveform wasn't quite right. After that I got the B3s 4.7k-modded and used my littlebox to power them until I sold them both.
Someone may correct me, but I thought underpowering mics would make them more likely to distort at higher SPLs. For lower SPLs, you might occasionally get by with only 3V, like I did.
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Sorry for perpetuating this issue. My response was based on reading about enough people saying they'd successfully used the m10's PIP for concert recording. I definitely agree that it's better safe than sorry, especially when Chris points out that he sells battery boxes for $29.
No problem :) I just wanted to make sure that this info gets out there. I wish I could get a little info file pinned in the mics and preamp section of this board. That could be used for Retailers to post important info about the products we sell.
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There's nothing smaller/lighter/more portable than CA-1x mics, an Ugly BB and an M10. If you can't handle/deal with that, you shouldn't be taping. End of story, really. :)
I fully agree.
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I'll add that I once used the M10 PIP to power a pair of Countryman B3. The show wasn't super loud, the recording sounded fine, but the waveform wasn't quite right. After that I got the B3s 4.7k-modded and used my littlebox to power them until I sold them both.
Someone may correct me, but I thought underpowering mics would make them more likely to distort at higher SPLs. For lower SPLs, you might occasionally get by with only 3V, like I did.
Exactly. I had todo it once as well with some 4061's and for the most part it was ok but in louder lower frequency parts it was a little distorted and it wasn't a very loud show overall. Some low end roll off helped a lot but it's still there. Use a bb!