Become a Site Supporter and Never see Ads again!

Author Topic: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...  (Read 9370 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline DeepCreatures

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
    • DeepCreatures Trading Home Page
Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« on: October 01, 2009, 02:36:02 PM »
Hello all,

I recently purchased a set of Audix 1280-C mics.  Also, I am currently working out a deal for a SD MP-2 to run as a pre-amp for these as a number of people seem to enjoy the results of this setup, and I have enjoyed what I have heard.  As each mic comes with its own 25-ft cable, having mini-XLR-f to XLR-m, my plan is to cut the cable into two section - one being ~4-ft long for stealth use, and the other ~21-ft. for use in opening taping situations.  I plan on buying some right angle Neutric XLR-m to solder onto the 4-ft. cable and run into the MP-2.  A good recommendation on mini-XLR-f to attach to the 21-ft cable would be appreciated.

Due to the gain on the MP-2 I figure it would be good to get a -20db attenuator for each line.  In using this for some stealth shows I was thinking of the Hosa switchable ones:
http://www.markertek.com/Audio-Equipment/Audio-Interface/Attenuation-Devices/Hosa-Technology-Inc/ATT-448.xhtml
What do you all think of these?

I have read various things concerning running the attenuators between the mics and the pre-amp or between the pre-amp and the recorder.  Currently I plan on running an MTII with this rig, but have the option of DAT or MD also.  I like the MTII for the reason of it being a cf recorder and the 24-bit.  The horror stories of using the MTII gain should be of no worries with the MP-2 since it has so much gain, although it appears that the gain will increase quickly as one turns the knobs.

At any rate, is there anything wrong connecting the attenuator directly to either side of the pre-amp?  Obviously, running the attenuator on the mic side may change the idea of the right angle XLR.

Any thoughts on the cable setup for the above rig would be much appreciated.  Thanks all.

peace,
ts
Mics: AKG 480s (Ck-61, CK-62, CK-63); SP LSD2; Audix M1280Cs; CA STC-11; CSCs
Pre-Amps: T+ UA-5; W+ UA-5; Bmp2+ UA-5; SD MP-2; CA ST-9000
Recorders: Tascam ACM HD-P2; Sony PCM-D50; Sony M1 (x3); Tascam DA-P1; Sony MZ-RH10; Marantz PMD-430

Offline Walstib62

  • Site Supporter
  • Trade Count: (32)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *
  • Posts: 3266
  • Gender: Male
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2009, 02:52:09 PM »
For less than open taping, you would do better buying the cable from Chuch audio to power the Audix's. I have the 1290's with the stock cables. They are hard to manage, for sure. I got a set of 6' custom cables w/ RA XLR's that work well. I use the Shure switchable attenuators between the mics and deck, and it works fine-no ext. preamp. It just seems like your setup is a bit bulky for "stealth"
In addition, eliminating the 48v phantom with the Church cables will help with battery life.

Offline DeepCreatures

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
    • DeepCreatures Trading Home Page
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2009, 03:50:36 PM »
thanks for the reply.  in reducing the voltage, would that not effect the performance of the mics?

i do have a STC-11>9000 setup for those ultra stealth situations.  this rig is more for light-to-no pat down bands that would still require some "stealth."  i thought of getting the cables from Chris to pair down the Audix caps when I wanted to use them instead of the CA mics.  has Chris shipped any of the new cables yet?
Mics: AKG 480s (Ck-61, CK-62, CK-63); SP LSD2; Audix M1280Cs; CA STC-11; CSCs
Pre-Amps: T+ UA-5; W+ UA-5; Bmp2+ UA-5; SD MP-2; CA ST-9000
Recorders: Tascam ACM HD-P2; Sony PCM-D50; Sony M1 (x3); Tascam DA-P1; Sony MZ-RH10; Marantz PMD-430

Offline Walstib62

  • Site Supporter
  • Trade Count: (32)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *
  • Posts: 3266
  • Gender: Male
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2009, 04:04:40 PM »
The cables that Church makes are fine for the Audix's. There is a thread in the retail space that has all the info. on them. I don't know if anyone has tried them yet. I will probably get a set soon. Based on all the pos. reports of Chris' stuff, I would be confident of the quality.

kirk97132

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2009, 04:33:30 PM »
I think you'd be better off taking the 1/8" output from the MP-2 that signal isn't as hot.  I have an MP-2 and it is a VERY rare occasion when I don't have the gain knobs all the way down on the MP-2.  From what I have heard the MT's do not like a hot signal and the MP-2 has a very hot signal.  But by using the I/8" oup
put jack you might be able to get by without any attenuators

Offline DeepCreatures

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
    • DeepCreatures Trading Home Page
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2009, 04:55:45 PM »
Walstib62:
yeah i was hoping to see some results from the new cables before getting a pair, but i have read up on them and they are indeed intriguing.

kirkd:
i was told to stay away from the 1/8" input on the MTII and use the 1/4" inputs.  guess i could easily use a 1/8" stereo > 2 x 1/4".  am i incorrect concerning the 1/8" input on the MTII?
Mics: AKG 480s (Ck-61, CK-62, CK-63); SP LSD2; Audix M1280Cs; CA STC-11; CSCs
Pre-Amps: T+ UA-5; W+ UA-5; Bmp2+ UA-5; SD MP-2; CA ST-9000
Recorders: Tascam ACM HD-P2; Sony PCM-D50; Sony M1 (x3); Tascam DA-P1; Sony MZ-RH10; Marantz PMD-430

kirk97132

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2009, 05:24:08 PM »
I don't know squat about the MT.  Easy enough to go  stereo 1/8" > 2 mono 1/4".  But like I said I dunno doodely about the MT products.   

Offline DeepCreatures

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
    • DeepCreatures Trading Home Page
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2009, 05:27:46 PM »
i am fooling w/it right now and, thus far, not liking it at all.  charged it 3 days ago and the battery has already drained w/no use at all.  plus, following the directions, i can't even get it to boot up w/the cf card inserted - once it reboots it just churns until the battery wears down, but never goes into the main menu.  i like the digi-in option, but it may be a return.
Mics: AKG 480s (Ck-61, CK-62, CK-63); SP LSD2; Audix M1280Cs; CA STC-11; CSCs
Pre-Amps: T+ UA-5; W+ UA-5; Bmp2+ UA-5; SD MP-2; CA ST-9000
Recorders: Tascam ACM HD-P2; Sony PCM-D50; Sony M1 (x3); Tascam DA-P1; Sony MZ-RH10; Marantz PMD-430

Offline su6oxone

  • Trade Count: (38)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 2761
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2009, 06:22:47 PM »
i like the digi-in option, but it may be a return.

Edirol R-09HR would be a good replacement, or the new Sony PCM M10.  8)

I liked the tapes I made with the MP-2/MixPre > R-09/R-09HR rig I was running for a few months.

Offline fmaderjr

  • Trade Count: (16)
  • Taperssection All-Star
  • ****
  • Posts: 1966
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2009, 06:34:14 AM »
Edirol R-09HR would be a good replacement, or the new Sony PCM

Return that MTII. It's a good recorder, but you've got a defective one and need to at least return it for a replacement (no way battery should go dead that fast just sitting there, etc.). The HR is better if you don't need digi-in. Then if you later add a SD MP-2 (or MixPre) you'll really have a versatile rig.
AT853's (all caps)/CM-300 Franken Naks (CP-1,2,3)/JBMod Nak 700's (CP-701,702) > Tascam DR-680
Or Sonic Studios DSM-6 > M10

Offline DeepCreatures

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
    • DeepCreatures Trading Home Page
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2009, 06:52:16 AM »
thanks for the help guys!  i actually have the MTII at work w/me, packaged up, and ready to ship back.  Talked to the company i purchased it from last night about it.  Getting a refund and will be putting that $ toward the M10 I think.  I love my M1 DAT recorders and my MZ-RH10 - should have stuck with Sony from the get-go :)

in reading over the SD MP-2 literature, does the XLR output and the tape output follow different paths?  ie, does the output to the tape output follow the "discreet, six transistor, impedance balanced" path that the XLR outs do?  if this is a dumb question, i am sorry, but my knowledge of things electrical stops at wiring lights/outlets.  the 1/8" seems to be the way to go feeding any of the recorders i do have (as kirkd mentioned).

as a side note - could someone drop me a PM about methods of mounting these 1280s when trying to not be noticed?

also, for those who have used the 1280s with either a Mixpre or an MP-2 - how long do you get running 48V phantom power with these mics?  the literature shows 2 condenser mics, 48-v power, super bright meter intensity, and cranking headphones  - Duracell AA batteries last 2hrs.  would getting some good rechargeable lithium or NIMH batteries with high mAh capacity gain a considerable amount of operating time?  what have some of you used that provided good results?

sorry this has went past just cables and into the pre, recorder, batteries, etc...

thanks again for all the help!
« Last Edit: October 02, 2009, 07:03:32 AM by DeepCreatures »
Mics: AKG 480s (Ck-61, CK-62, CK-63); SP LSD2; Audix M1280Cs; CA STC-11; CSCs
Pre-Amps: T+ UA-5; W+ UA-5; Bmp2+ UA-5; SD MP-2; CA ST-9000
Recorders: Tascam ACM HD-P2; Sony PCM-D50; Sony M1 (x3); Tascam DA-P1; Sony MZ-RH10; Marantz PMD-430

Offline fmaderjr

  • Trade Count: (16)
  • Taperssection All-Star
  • ****
  • Posts: 1966
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #11 on: October 02, 2009, 07:23:30 AM »
Getting a refund and will be putting that $ toward the M10 I think. 

also, for those who have used the 1280s with either a Mixpre or an MP-2 - how long do you get running 48V phantom power with these mics?  the literature shows 2 condenser mics, 48-v power, super bright meter intensity, and cranking headphones  - Duracell AA batteries last 2hrs.  would getting some good rechargeable lithium or NIMH batteries with high mA capacity gain a considerable amount of operating time?  what have some of you used that provided good results?

Why not consider the original Sony PCM-D50 if you don't need the somewhat smaller size? You'll have a digi-in if you ever decide to add a preamp with an ADC, better internal mics (which may occasionally be of some use to you) and it's been field tested and loved by many on this board. The M10 is so new I don't think we're sure if any significant limitations will be discovered. After being an early adopter of the Zoom H4 I'll never buy another recorder until it's been tried out and reported on by members of this board. Not that I think the M10 won't be good, but maybe after reading reports I would decide the D50 is worth the extra money.

As to batteries, good quality NiMh rechargeable AA's always last much longer than alkalines in high drain devices. I think the MixPre will run at least 4 hours or so with phantom power on. I use the Sanyo 2000 mA Eneloops which seem to be more reliable than the non slow discharge batteries, but you'd get somewhat longer running time with 2500+ mA NiMh's.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2009, 08:14:01 AM by fmaderjr »
AT853's (all caps)/CM-300 Franken Naks (CP-1,2,3)/JBMod Nak 700's (CP-701,702) > Tascam DR-680
Or Sonic Studios DSM-6 > M10

Offline DeepCreatures

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
    • DeepCreatures Trading Home Page
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #12 on: October 02, 2009, 08:12:49 AM »
greetings fmaderjr.  the smaller size was indeed a selling point, as well as the price.  this was primarily for a stealth rig and getting in the MP-2, along with mics, cables, etc may be interesting enough, so a small, but decent recorder is what i was looking for.  in looking over the dims though, the D50 is only slightly larger than the M1.  comparison of dims:

D50: 2-7/8" x 6-1/8" x 1-5/16"
M1: 3-1/8" x 4-5/8" x 1-1/8"
M10: 2.44" x 4.488" x 0.858"

i do have a bit of concern since the M10 is new.

Thanks for the battery options.
Mics: AKG 480s (Ck-61, CK-62, CK-63); SP LSD2; Audix M1280Cs; CA STC-11; CSCs
Pre-Amps: T+ UA-5; W+ UA-5; Bmp2+ UA-5; SD MP-2; CA ST-9000
Recorders: Tascam ACM HD-P2; Sony PCM-D50; Sony M1 (x3); Tascam DA-P1; Sony MZ-RH10; Marantz PMD-430

Offline DeepCreatures

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
    • DeepCreatures Trading Home Page
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2009, 02:17:08 PM »
big thanks guys!  got my refund from the MTII today and, after doing much reading over the past few days, purchased the D50 today.  thanks again for the help!
Mics: AKG 480s (Ck-61, CK-62, CK-63); SP LSD2; Audix M1280Cs; CA STC-11; CSCs
Pre-Amps: T+ UA-5; W+ UA-5; Bmp2+ UA-5; SD MP-2; CA ST-9000
Recorders: Tascam ACM HD-P2; Sony PCM-D50; Sony M1 (x3); Tascam DA-P1; Sony MZ-RH10; Marantz PMD-430

Offline acidjack

  • Site Supporter
  • Trade Count: (37)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *
  • Posts: 5845
  • Gender: Male
Re: Audix 1280 > SD MP-2 > MTII questions...
« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2009, 10:18:41 PM »
The cables that Church makes are fine for the Audix's. There is a thread in the retail space that has all the info. on them. I don't know if anyone has tried them yet. I will probably get a set soon. Based on all the pos. reports of Chris' stuff, I would be confident of the quality.

I've done one show.  If you search in the "Microphones and Setup" thread you'll find my post.  Just search "Audix" and "church"
Mics: Schoeps MK4V, MK41V, MK5, MK22> CMC6, KCY 250/5, KC5, NBob; MBHO MBP603/KA200N, AT 3031, DPA 4061 w/ d:vice, Naiant X-X, AT 853c, shotgun, Nak300
Pres/Power: Aerco MP2, tinybox v2  [KCY], CA-UBB
Decks: Sound Devices MixPre 6, Zoom F8, M10, D50

My recordings on nyctaper.com: http://www.nyctaper.com/?tag=acidjack | LMA: http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/acidjack | twitter: http://www.twitter.com/acidjacknyc | Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/acidjacknyc

 

RSS | Mobile
Page created in 0.106 seconds with 43 queries.
© 2002-2024 Taperssection.com
Powered by SMF