Topic: More SBM-1 Level questions

[Tony B]

So, this last Sunday I ran km184->V2->Mod SBM 1 at Tortoise, and found that I had to keep the V2's gain at around 15 in order to keep the SBM's levels up (around 7, sometimes even 6)...I know that in a different thread, someone mentioned that when running this combo you should run the V2 "hot"...is this anyone else's experience?

Tape sounds pretty good, if a little "boomy", but I'm thinking that this was due to mic placement (ORTF pretty much...110 with around 7"). I'm going to play with it some more and see how different configs work. Any advice on keeping the "boom" out? Overall, I'm pretty happy with my set up, and had a blast running it for the first time....

TB

[fsulloway]

I usually run my msbm1 around 4-5. My preference is to run the V2 at 20 plus.

[Tony B]

Really...I thought that the SBM-1 (with or without the mod) started to get noisy at lower levels...

Good news if not. Yeah, running the V2 at 20 would have put my levels on the SBM-1 at around 5-6

[Craig T]

I'd run the sbm1 at 8-9 and adjust the V2 to get good levels.  You can fine adjust with either the sbm1 or V2 trim.

[Todd R]

I'd run the sbm1 at 8-9 and adjust the V2 to get good levels.  You can fine adjust with either the sbm1 or V2 trim.

 

[creekfreak]

keep the sbm-1 above 5 and run the V2 the way you want. I say only the gain you need, the sbm-1 sounds best when run wide open, but above 5 is fine if you like to crank the V2 up some. The debate on how to run this combo has been raging for years, Oade, who does the mod says to run the sbm-1 high as you can.

[C.Clark]

i found the best results when i ran v2 -> mod sbm1 was to keep the sbm1  above 7 and finely adjust on the pre, and i got very good results

[Lee]

Isn't the input level adjuster-thingy on the SBM a variable resistor like on the ad500?  If so, I'd run it at 8 or 9 so you're not just boosting the signal with the v2 only to cut it at the A/D stage...

[nic]

running the SBM would be much easier(not that its hard) if someone could give a definitive answer as to how much gain the SBM adds when wide open.

I consistently find myself running the V2 at 5 or 10 and the SBM at 7 or so to avoid clipping the SBM

[Tony B]

That's what I'm encountering as well luvean. I haven't tried tweaking any of the trim on the V2. I'm taping this weekend, so I'll be anxious to try everything you guys suggested. I can see why it makes more sense to run the SBM "open"...no sense in having it if you're just going to limit the signal once you convert it to digital. It's just that there's all this gain available on the V2 and I can't use it!

[silentmark]

I run my sbm1 at 7, set my gain on the sonosax, then if I need to tweak any more, I adjust the sbm1, couldn't be easier than that ...

[zhianosatch]

running the SBM would be much easier(not that its hard) if someone could give a definitive answer as to how much gain the SBM adds when wide open.

I consistently find myself running the V2 at 5 or 10 and the SBM at 7 or so to avoid clipping the SBM

ran an sbm at 10 with 4061s > mps-6010 at king crimson and it's cleaner than a just-wiped baby's ass... and no clippage

[Chris K]

i usually start off with the sbm-1 at 8. fire up the pre-amp (mp-2) and adjust preamp to coincide with the sbm-1 and d8 levels. most of the time i'm right there close to 8, with the mp-2 on very little gain.

i have run the sbm-1 with no preamp:
mics > phantom supply > line converters > sbm-1 > dat
and had very good results, but the sbm-1 was between 5 and 7, and had very good results. some of my favorite tapes were done this way

[Tim]

Isn't the input level adjuster-thingy on the SBM a variable resistor like on the ad500?  If so, I'd run it at 8 or 9 so you're not just boosting the signal with the v2 only to cut it at the A/D stage...

yes it is and Lee is correct...

[JAH]

run the SBM as hot as you can and let the V2 be at a lower setting (cause the V2 sounds good at lower levels)  likewise the sbm should be (if possible) run no lower than mid way....preferrably no lower than 6 or 7.  the sbm is a resistsive  gain so the less resistance (attenuation) the better.   I know when I first had my sbm mmodded and ran a M148...I let Doug know about it running at 6 or 7 on the sbm and he said that was pretty good and try not to go any lower...
   So your ok as is.  Are you satisfied?

So you can run your SBM hot and adj w/ the sbm since it is continous.

jah

[Tony B]

So your ok as is.  Are you satisfied?

Physically satisfied
Financially Satisfied
Philosophically Trying....

(Sorry I was watching Gimme Shelter last night...great goddamn movie)

YES! Satisfied! Thanks a ton!

TB

[zhianosatch]

I ended up with an SBM at no higher than 4 at Cradle of Filth in December, running DPA 4061s > modded MPS-6010 > SBM, and still almost got overs at the end! Now that was some nutso bass...