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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: rigpimp on August 22, 2016, 06:07:32 PM

Title: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: rigpimp on August 22, 2016, 06:07:32 PM
Postman brought me a toy today.

Can someone post a pic of their PSP-2 settings so that I know what to start with?  I have 5 shows in the next 8 days
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: tedyun on August 22, 2016, 06:41:21 PM
I'm not a home right now, but just going off the figure in the manual:

http://www.taperssection.com/reference/pdf/Manual_EAAPSP2.pdf

The switches from left to right:

Battery: Up (turns unit on)
Mic/Line switches (L/R): If you're connecting your mics to the XLR inputs, then "Mic"; if you're connecting a 1/8 into the line-in, then "Line"
Phantom: "24/48" for standard mics connected to the XLR inputs
Mic Sensitivity: I found these numbers to correlate roughly to the amount of gain, so for "-35" it is about 35 dB gain. Likewise for -55 and -70. I usually leave it at "-35" (that's the minimum amount of gain).
Bass roll off (L/R): I usually leave it off, and adjust the bass in post if necessary
Gain: I usually leave this at 0 dB.

If you set the Mic sensitivity higher than -35 or the Gain at +6 or +12, you can see if you are clipping by the "Peak" lights which will start to glow when clipping.

Hope that helps! I'll try to edit this post with a photo later on....
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: rigpimp on August 22, 2016, 07:06:09 PM
Yes, thank you!  Of course i posted this request before even looking at the switches and guessed all of the settings except the sensitivity setting. 


I'm not a home right now, but just going off the figure in the manual:

http://www.taperssection.com/reference/pdf/Manual_EAAPSP2.pdf

The switches from left to right:

Battery: Up (turns unit on)
Mic/Line switches (L/R): If you're connecting your mics to the XLR inputs, then "Mic"; if you're connecting a 1/8 into the line-in, then "Line"
Phantom: "24/48" for standard mics connected to the XLR inputs
Mic Sensitivity: I found these numbers to correlate roughly to the amount of gain, so for "-35" it is about 35 dB gain. Likewise for -55 and -70. I usually leave it at "-35" (that's the minimum amount of gain).
Bass roll off (L/R): I usually leave it off, and adjust the bass in post if necessary
Gain: I usually leave this at 0 dB.

If you set the Mic sensitivity higher than -35 or the Gain at +6 or +12, you can see if you are clipping by the "Peak" lights which will start to glow when clipping.

Hope that helps! I'll try to edit this post with a photo later on....
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: stevetoney on August 22, 2016, 10:14:17 PM
Keep in mind that the +35db gain setting on the PSP-2 is 15db higher than almost every other 'standard' gain setting you've ever used before.  This takes some getting used to especially if you're used to your setup peaking at a certain level and you find out you have to back off alot on other settings in order to keep your levels peaking where you're used to seeing them.

For example, on my Zoom F8, that extra 15db of gain means that I almost have to use line input (rather than mic) at a loud rock type show in order to keep my levels on scale.
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 22, 2016, 11:28:15 PM
Nice snag! I want a PSP2 now :( ;D I'm still SHOCKED that you found one so quickly! Cant wait to hear some of your first stuff with it :)

Tonedeaf, so what you're saying, is that at the +35db gain setting, its really pumping out +50db of gain?
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: rigpimp on August 23, 2016, 12:42:47 AM
Keep in mind that the +35db gain setting on the PSP-2 is 15db higher than almost every other 'standard' gain setting you've ever used before.  This takes some getting used to especially if you're used to your setup peaking at a certain level and you find out you have to back off alot on other settings in order to keep your levels peaking where you're used to seeing them.

For example, on my Zoom F8, that extra 15db of gain means that I almost have to use line input (rather than mic) at a loud rock type show in order to keep my levels on scale.

I discovered this during my tests today.  I recorded my TV (CCM4>PSP-2>R-44) for a while and was surprised at the amount of fixed gain it has even at the lowest setting.  Steve, if you run line in does it still phantom power your mics?  I want to run it on Wednesday at Jeff Austin.

Nice snag! I want a PSP2 now :( ;D I'm still SHOCKED that you found one so quickly! Cant wait to hear some of your first stuff with it :)

I posted two ISO's in the Yard Sale, one for a Sonosax and one for a PSP-2.  In a very short period of time I now own a SXM2, a SXM2/LS and a PSP-2.  Like my mama always says "It can't hurt to ask"  I paid less for the PSP-2 than what it would sell for here but I also went through the hassle of getting it here from France.  https://www.dropbox.com/s/f24yv13yap53cx9/2016-08-22%2014.01.15.jpg?dl=0
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: yug du nord on August 23, 2016, 10:01:38 AM
just so you know..  you should also be able to run your CCM's at 12 volt phantom power (P12) to save on battery life. 
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: stevetoney on August 23, 2016, 11:21:20 AM
Tonedeaf, so what you're saying, is that at the +35db gain setting, its really pumping out +50db of gain?

No.  The point was that many or most of the portable pre amps we use have a lower 'low' gain setting than 35.  For example, I read that the VMS's put out around 20db of gain in the lowest setting.  So low on the PSP2 is around 15db higher than low on the VMS.  For PSP2 owners thats not a problem until the music gets REALLY loud and you're on mic level settings on your recorder.  In that case it can be hard to keep your signal from peaking even when your recorders knobs are all the way to the left.  It's time to move to line in when that happens.
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: yug du nord on August 23, 2016, 11:56:12 AM
^does phantom power provide power to the mikes when in "Line" mode??
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: MakersMarc on August 23, 2016, 11:57:23 AM
Don't think I ever clipped at -35. I never ran at another setting.
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: H₂O on August 23, 2016, 04:39:02 PM
Nice snag! I want a PSP2 now :( ;D I'm still SHOCKED that you found one so quickly! Cant wait to hear some of your first stuff with it :)

Tonedeaf, so what you're saying, is that at the +35db gain setting, its really pumping out +50db of gain?

There are a couple of sites in France I follow where PSP-2's and PSP-3's pop about 2 times a year and typically in the $700-900 range - one PSP-2 sold for about $400 a couple of years ago - a SX-M2 with busted phantom sold for $400 as well

The one here sat on one of the sites for over a month before the OP bought it
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: tedyun on August 23, 2016, 11:13:17 PM
Wow, I did not know you could use the XLR-in's when the switch is set to Line! According to the manual and the block diagram, the Mic/Line switch looks like it is supposed to toggle between the mini-jack Line-in and the XLR-in.

Anyway, from playing around with this set up (ie., Mic/Line set to "Line" for both L/R):

1. Phantom power needs to be on
2. Mic sensitivity adjusts gain (ie., you can add gain by going from -35 <-55 <-70)
3. You can add additional gain with the output gain switches.

So I guess this answers your question rigpimp! If you are clipping at the recommended settings, then flip the switch to Line. I've never run it like this (I just recorded music coming from my computer speakers) so I don't know how it sounds.

Maybe I can't read the block diagram properly, so can anyone else verify what this switch is supposed to be doing?

http://www.taperssection.com/reference/pdf/Manual_EAAPSP2.pdf
 
Block diagram: pg. 06


^does phantom power provide power to the mikes when in "Line" mode??
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: stevetoney on August 24, 2016, 03:10:48 AM
^does phantom power provide power to the mikes when in "Line" mode??

No, not on my psp2. 

So when I said in the post above that is time to move to line in, I meant on the recorder, not the psp2.

Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: stevetoney on August 24, 2016, 03:17:59 AM
Wow, I did not know you could use the XLR-in's when the switch is set to Line! According to the manual and the block diagram, the Mic/Line switch looks like it is supposed to toggle between the mini-jack Line-in and the XLR-in.

Anyway, from playing around with this set up (ie., Mic/Line set to "Line" for both L/R):

1. Phantom power needs to be on
2. Mic sensitivity adjusts gain (ie., you can add gain by going from -35 <-55 <-70)
3. You can add additional gain with the output gain switches.

So I guess this answers your question rigpimp! If you are clipping at the recommended settings, then flip the switch to Line. I've never run it like this (I just recorded music coming from my computer speakers) so I don't know how it sounds.

Maybe I can't read the block diagram properly, so can anyone else verify what this switch is supposed to be doing?

http://www.taperssection.com/reference/pdf/Manual_EAAPSP2.pdf
 
Block diagram: pg. 06


^does phantom power provide power to the mikes when in "Line" mode??

I don't think this is correct. See my previous response to Snowman.

When i said to switch to line in to get additional headroom, I meant on your recorder, not on the psp2.
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: stevetoney on August 24, 2016, 03:52:41 AM
Don't think I ever clipped at -35. I never ran at another setting.

Most people run their recorders at line in setting where it shouldn't ever be an issue.

This 'issue' came up in particular in the zoom F8 discussion.  The F8 is strange in that when you use xlrs on the inputs that automatically sets the recorder to mic level inputs.  If you want line level inputs you need to use TR or TRS connectors on the inputs.  It's screwy.

So the extra 15db of gain is a bit of a concern for psp2 users that want to use xlr cables with their zoom f8.
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: H₂O on August 24, 2016, 11:08:45 AM
This 'issue' came up in particular in the zoom F8 discussion.  The F8 is strange in that when you use xlrs on the inputs that automatically sets the recorder to mic level inputs.  If you want line level inputs you need to use TR or TRS connectors on the inputs.  It's screwy.

The KORG MR-1000 was the same way - to bypass the pre-amp circuit you had to use TR/TRS plugs and not the XLR's - kind of a PITA but typically relays are needed to allow for this to be done via a switch.   Relay's take up alot of real estate on a PCB versus using a XLR/TRS combo jack and hard wiring the bypass to the TRS connection.
Title: Re: PSP-2 settings?
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 29, 2016, 11:36:43 PM
Thanks for the info everyone! I REALLY appreciate it :)

So it seems the PSP-2 is just a 'HOT' preamp! Wonder how it would pair up with a Tascam DR-70D though? You supposedly CAN'T run an SD MP2/MixPre/FP24 XLR OUT->XLR IN on the 70D, according to the posts people have made in the 70D threads! You HAVE to run those preamps via the 1/8" OUT -> EXT 1/2 IN of the 70D, because the XLR OUT of the MP2/MixPre/FP24, is too hot for the XLR INS of the 70D.

I wonder if that's the same situation with the PSP-2? Anyone have a DR-70D they can hook up to the XLR OUTS of their PSP-2? Tonedeaf, I never know which decks you have since you're such a gear slut haha, so..... lol ;D