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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: ab05 on March 21, 2006, 06:46:55 AM
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Hi,
recently I got a pair of DPA 4060s with microdot ends and a DPA MPS6030 battery box (with the 1/8 jack output).
It's a great (but a little quiet) gear to tape loud shows, but I would like to tape also not amplified classical music, so I need to use a pre-amp.
Now, I know the best pre-amp for my mics is the DPA MMA6000 but at the moment I don't have the extra money to buy it ::)
BUT I have a ReactiveSounds "Boost Box" pre-amp ( http://www.reactivesounds.com/spa2.php ) so I was wondering if I could use it in this configuration:
4060s mics --> MPS6030 battery box --> ReactiveSounds Boost Box pre-amp --> MD Line-In
My question is this: since the mics are already powered by the DPA battery box (and I can't power both them directly with the pre-amp because of the microdot ends), is it a problem if I use also the pre-amp? Are the mics over-powered in this way (9v of the batt.box + 9v of the pre-amp)?
Probably it is a silly question, but I really need your help.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Alberto, from Italy.
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I only have some thoughts on this and definatly do not know the truth, but here is my $0.2 and a bump for your thread.
The 6030 battery box most likely has a part that eliminates any power from entering back into the box. From my understanding you should be able to use both the battery box and the reactive boost box and only have 9v going to the mics. It sounds like the same situation when people plug their core-sound binurals into the mic (PIP) in of their MD recorder. The 3v from the recorder never makes it to the mics. Someone on here im sure could confirm this, but I am almost possitive you should have no problems. I would verify before you try it though because an extra 9v will fry your mics.
Good Luck!
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There is a bug on the Boost Box, such that it cannot accept mics that are powered already.. That box must power
the mics itself....
You might want to check with the people at Reactive Sounds about it.
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The DPA battery box will have dc blocking caps on the output, so it should not be a problem. The reactive sound preamp will work with powered mics, as far as I know. You will not damage the mics trying this, I would call reactive sounds and ask them if there is a resistor that you can clip the leads on to remove the plug in power, I am sure this can be done. I would also take a look at one of our preamps in the future when you want to upgrade to something else. We make custom preamps that do not have that curly cord and are smaller in size, and have a built in Hi pass filter starting at $150. Shamless plug I know.
Chris Church
Church Audio
Hi,
recently I got a pair of DPA 4060s with microdot ends and a DPA MPS6030 battery box (with the 1/8 jack output).
It's a great (but a little quiet) gear to tape loud shows, but I would like to tape also not amplified classical music, so I need to use a pre-amp.
Now, I know the best pre-amp for my mics is the DPA MMA6000 but at the moment I don't have the extra money to buy it ::)
BUT I have a ReactiveSounds "Boost Box" pre-amp ( http://www.reactivesounds.com/spa2.php ) so I was wondering if I could use it in this configuration:
4060s mics --> MPS6030 battery box --> ReactiveSounds Boost Box pre-amp --> MD Line-In
My question is this: since the mics are already powered by the DPA battery box (and I can't power both them directly with the pre-amp because of the microdot ends), is it a problem if I use also the pre-amp? Are the mics over-powered in this way (9v of the batt.box + 9v of the pre-amp)?
Probably it is a silly question, but I really need your help.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Alberto, from Italy.
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Thanks to all for the replies.
I've contacted Reactive Sound and this is their answer:
"Sorry, the powered mic set up will not work with our Boost Box. They are not compatible. I am not certain if you will be able to remove the leads, we have had others try without success."
So I think I will use the mic-in of my minidisc recorder, and as soon as possible I will buy the DPA pre-amp with microdots connectors (I don't want to remove the microdots ends of my mics).
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I can make you a preamp with out plug in power for your mics if your interested pm me
Chris Church
Thanks to all for the replies.
I've contacted Reactive Sound and this is their answer:
"Sorry, the powered mic set up will not work with our Boost Box. They are not compatible. I am not certain if you will be able to remove the leads, we have had others try without success."
So I think I will use the mic-in of my minidisc recorder, and as soon as possible I will buy the DPA pre-amp with microdots connectors (I don't want to remove the microdots ends of my mics).
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Customer service right there ^
+t
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yep, been keeping up with this thread as well.
FWIW, someone else on this board once said they had Chris at Sound Professionals do the DPA termination soldering (to a standard mini-plug) and it cost them like $15. so if you decide to save the $$$ of buying the DPA preamp (MMA6000?), then i would suggest getting Sound Professionals to do the mic plug modification.
Thanks to all for the replies.
I've contacted Reactive Sound and this is their answer:
"Sorry, the powered mic set up will not work with our Boost Box. They are not compatible. I am not certain if you will be able to remove the leads, we have had others try without success."
So I think I will use the mic-in of my minidisc recorder, and as soon as possible I will buy the DPA pre-amp with microdots connectors (I don't want to remove the microdots ends of my mics).
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Or just buy one of my new microdot preamps :) I am coming out with in the next few weeks..
I would make sure if your going to get anyone to cut your cable off that they dont use the cheap gold connecotors and use at least neutrik. Or better yet switchcraft right angle gold connectors rock. Or my new microdot preamp:)
Chris Church
yep, been keeping up with this thread as well.
FWIW, someone else on this board once said they had Chris at Sound Professionals do the DPA termination soldering (to a standard mini-plug) and it cost them like $15. so if you decide to save the $$$ of buying the DPA preamp (MMA6000?), then i would suggest getting Sound Professionals to do the mic plug modification.
Thanks to all for the replies.
I've contacted Reactive Sound and this is their answer:
"Sorry, the powered mic set up will not work with our Boost Box. They are not compatible. I am not certain if you will be able to remove the leads, we have had others try without success."
So I think I will use the mic-in of my minidisc recorder, and as soon as possible I will buy the DPA pre-amp with microdots connectors (I don't want to remove the microdots ends of my mics).
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or just get the MMA6000, which is a proven excellent quality preamp that works well with the DPA microphones.
something else to consider is this: not that you'd ever part with your DPA mics, but you may get an additional set of mics - maybe some Sennheiser or Audio Technica cardioids. in this situation, if you got the DPA mics modified to terminate into a mini-plug, and got a preamp/battery box with a mini-plug input jack, then you could use *both* sets of mics (DPAs and cardioids) with the preamp/battery box. just something to consider... i know i enjoy running omnis in some situations and cardioids in other situations, and it's nice when you can use one piece of gear (a preamp or battery box) for multiple set ups (i.e. more than one pair of mics). just a thought...
Or just buy one of my new microdot preamps :) I am coming out with in the next few weeks..
I would make sure if your going to get anyone to cut your cable off that they dont use the cheap gold connecotors and use at least neutrik. Or better yet switchcraft right angle gold connectors rock. Or my new microdot preamp:)
Chris Church
yep, been keeping up with this thread as well.
FWIW, someone else on this board once said they had Chris at Sound Professionals do the DPA termination soldering (to a standard mini-plug) and it cost them like $15. so if you decide to save the $$$ of buying the DPA preamp (MMA6000?), then i would suggest getting Sound Professionals to do the mic plug modification.
Thanks to all for the replies.
I've contacted Reactive Sound and this is their answer:
"Sorry, the powered mic set up will not work with our Boost Box. They are not compatible. I am not certain if you will be able to remove the leads, we have had others try without success."
So I think I will use the mic-in of my minidisc recorder, and as soon as possible I will buy the DPA pre-amp with microdots connectors (I don't want to remove the microdots ends of my mics).
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or just get the MMA6000, which is a proven excellent quality preamp that works well with the DPA microphones.
I agree. While it may not be within everyone's budget, it is an excellent pre. Very rugged and I like the notched gain knobs. I would definitely entertain trying Chris' microdot pre when he has it available. Like everything else, there are pluses and minuses to almost every setup out there. You just have to determine what is right for you.
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Thanks for the info, I could be very interested in your new microdot preamp, if it will be not too expensive as the DPA one...
I will check the specifications as soon as it will be available.
As for the mic plug modification, I prefer to keep the microdot ends. I will use my Reactive pre-amp for other pairs of mics in the future.
Or just buy one of my new microdot preamps :) I am coming out with in the next few weeks..
I would make sure if your going to get anyone to cut your cable off that they dont use the cheap gold connecotors and use at least neutrik. Or better yet switchcraft right angle gold connectors rock. Or my new microdot preamp:)
Chris Church
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Or just buy one of my new microdot preamps :) I am coming out with in the next few weeks..
I would make sure if your going to get anyone to cut your cable off that they dont use the cheap gold connecotors and use at least neutrik. Or better yet switchcraft right angle gold connectors rock. Or my new microdot preamp:)
I currently use an RA switchcraft with my DPAs and it is a fairly large and bulky connector that completely dwarfs the 406x's. I'd like to switch to a very low profile RA miniplug but all the small ones seem to pre-molded to a cable. I don't like doing splices but that is the size I want. I'll probably hack a switchcraft with epoxy at some point.
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really st00pid question but...
is there nothing along the lines of a simple microdot--->miniplug adapter cable that you can put on the DPAS and then plug straight into the Reactive? Or do the DPAs have special power requirements?
This particuarly interests me since i have a reactive box and lust after a pair of 4060s.... ;D
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I think the only microdot adapters are microdot->XLR to use them w/phantom power. Other than that, you have to chop off the microdots and get a 1/8" plug soldered on.
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There is all kinds of adaptors available but they are very expsensive!
really st00pid question but...
is there nothing along the lines of a simple microdot--->miniplug adapter cable that you can put on the DPAS and then plug straight into the Reactive? Or do the DPAs have special power requirements?
This particuarly interests me since i have a reactive box and lust after a pair of 4060s.... ;D
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Sounds great very interested in this pre hopefully it will be a bit smaller than the MMA 6000..Any idea on price?? +10 db and +20 db varaible switch would be ideal for gain on the 4061's ..
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The problem of microdot-->miniplug adaptors is that you need one (stereo) adaptor for each mic, while the reactive pre-amp has only 1 input!
So you need 2 adaptors (1 for each mic) and a mixing device of the 2 signals with 1 miniplug output... Awful in my opinion!!
It's much better to have only 1 pre-amp with the microdot inputs!
By the way, I have successfully used 1 DPA mic + 1 adaptor with my Reactive pre-amp, so there aren't special power requirements.
really st00pid question but...
is there nothing along the lines of a simple microdot--->miniplug adapter cable that you can put on the DPAS and then plug straight into the Reactive? Or do the DPAs have special power requirements?
This particuarly interests me since i have a reactive box and lust after a pair of 4060s.... ;D
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Or just buy one of my new microdot preamps :) I am coming out with in the next few weeks..
I would make sure if your going to get anyone to cut your cable off that they dont use the cheap gold connecotors and use at least neutrik. Or better yet switchcraft right angle gold connectors rock. Or my new microdot preamp:)
Chris Church
Chris,
Did you ever track down the part numbers for the DPA microdots? If not, I *think* I know the numbers from some research I did a couple months back on the Tyco website. Lemme know...
Later,
pjdavep
EDIT - sorry, this was meant for PM...
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I am talking to Tyco now only one problem. These connectors are military the are a non stock with digikey, and the minimum order is 500 pcs and they are going to be around $10 each. I do not have that much cash, To spend on this project. I am not sure i am even going to sell more then 50 pcs of. Its hard to justify, I am still looking send me the part numbers in a PM, and I will contact them. I need the know the thread size and type and OD of the 6000 connector, that's the one I am interested in but even the part number of the male would get me into the ball park.
Chris Church
Or just buy one of my new microdot preamps :) I am coming out with in the next few weeks..
I would make sure if your going to get anyone to cut your cable off that they dont use the cheap gold connecotors and use at least neutrik. Or better yet switchcraft right angle gold connectors rock. Or my new microdot preamp:)
Chris Church
Chris,
Did you ever track down the part numbers for the DPA microdots? If not, I *think* I know the numbers from some research I did a couple months back on the Tyco website. Lemme know...
Later,
pjdavep
EDIT - sorry, this was meant for PM...