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Author Topic: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2  (Read 19627 times)

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Offline taperj

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #15 on: March 30, 2010, 10:04:43 PM »
I had gone out and bought some rechargeables assuming they'd work in the internal compartment and to my surprise they didn't work reliably, eventually I'll just rewire a cable and do this job with a Tekkeon battery but here's what I did as a complete electrical novice. Not saying it's pretty but it works really well, it's cheap, and you can build it easily out of Radio Shack parts other than the 4 pin Hirose adapter. Here goes...

Materials:
8 x AA Battery Holder(Radio Shack Model: 270-387) - $1.99
Fully Insulated 9V Battery Snap Connectors(Radio Shack Model: 270-325) - $1.99
Hirose 4 Pin Male Push Lock(there are a couple varieties available but they all are suitable) - $14.00
8 x Rechargeable AA Batteries
Electrical Tape :)
Radio Shack Soldering Iron
Radio Shack Solder
Housing for the 9V battery snap(I just used rubber tubing)

Fairly self explanatory assembly from looking at the finished product. The 9V battery snap snaps right on the 8 x AA holder so the only real work involved is soldering the 2 wires on the 9V snap to the 4 pin Hirose, on the side of the mixpre it says which is to be hot and cold(On mine pin 4 = +  pin 1 = - ). After soldering I jacketed and filled any airspace where the wire enters into hirose connector jacket and then taped it up for extra security and housed the thin wire in a piece rubber tubing. I've run on it for about 10 shows now and the longest was 3 bands, that was about 6 hours without seeing the light start to dim at all, running phantom as well of course. 

One other really neat thing I stumbled upon is you can switch quickly from external to internal power while running with no ill effects, no spikes on the recording(this may be microphone specific, works on my 140's), no loss of phantom to the mics. So.. I just pop some old AA's in the internal compartment as a safety net for emergencies and to bounce off of if I ever need to swap to my second set of 8 rechargeable AA's while running. Hope this helps someone  ;D










« Last Edit: May 23, 2010, 12:14:37 PM by taperj »
Rig: Neumann skm184 or Neumann skm140 > Sound Devices Mixpre > Olympus LS-10 or Korg MR-1

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Offline braweave

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #16 on: July 13, 2010, 11:20:09 AM »
I had gone out and bought some rechargeables assuming they'd work in the internal compartment and to my surprise they didn't work reliably, eventually I'll just rewire a cable and do this job with a Tekkeon battery but here's what I did as a complete electrical novice. Not saying it's pretty but it works really well, it's cheap, and you can build it easily out of Radio Shack parts other than the 4 pin Hirose adapter. Here goes...

Materials:
8 x AA Battery Holder(Radio Shack Model: 270-387) - $1.99
Fully Insulated 9V Battery Snap Connectors(Radio Shack Model: 270-325) - $1.99
Hirose 4 Pin Male Push Lock(there are a couple varieties available but they all are suitable) - $14.00
8 x Rechargeable AA Batteries
Electrical Tape :)
Radio Shack Soldering Iron
Radio Shack Solder
Housing for the 9V battery snap(I just used rubber tubing)

Fairly self explanatory assembly from looking at the finished product. The 9V battery snap snaps right on the 8 x AA holder so the only real work involved is soldering the 2 wires on the 9V snap to the 4 pin Hirose, on the side of the mixpre it says which is to be hot and cold(On mine pin 4 = +  pin 1 = - ). After soldering I jacketed and filled any airspace where the wire enters into hirose connector jacket and then taped it up for extra security and housed the thin wire in a piece rubber tubing. I've run on it for about 10 shows now and the longest was 3 bands, that was about 6 hours without seeing the light start to dim at all, running phantom as well of course. 

One other really neat thing I stumbled upon is you can switch quickly from external to internal power while running with no ill effects, no spikes on the recording(this may be microphone specific, works on my 140's), no loss of phantom to the mics. So.. I just pop some old AA's in the internal compartment as a safety net for emergencies and to bounce off of if I ever need to swap to my second set of 8 rechargeable AA's while running. Hope this helps someone  ;D









Amazing!!

How long does that little sled power the Mix pre for??
Neumann KM140 > Sound Devices MP-2 > Edirol R-09HR

Offline tim in jersey

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #17 on: July 14, 2010, 11:22:55 PM »
No need to have SD mod the spring(s).

Mod the battery. There's a little shrink wrap and wafer on the + side of the rechargable AA. Just need to trim the shrink wrap just below where the + terminal is capped and toss the shrink and wafer.

http://picasaweb.google.com/timmenewman/20100714NiMHBattMod#

Been doing this for years now w/ my FP-24 w/ no issues...

Offline dgale

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #18 on: July 15, 2010, 12:26:08 AM »
I'm surprised to hear people mention power issues with the MP-2.  I've stealthed with it for years on 2 alkaline AAs, providing phantom to my KM140s, and never had a problem or thought of it as a power hog.  Most shows I can recall were in the 1.5-2.5 hour range, so maybe it's just because it wasn't long shows, but I always thought of that thing as going an impressive distance for something that ran on two AAs.  I've never tried it with rechargables - never had any faith in those things...it's always been eco-charge for open taping and alkalines for stealth. 
http://loslobos.setlist.com/

Mics: SKM140, CM300/CP-1/CP-2/CP-4
Pre/AD: SD MP-2, AD2K+, MiniMe, SBM-1
Recorders: Tascam DR-680, Motu Traveler, Korg MR-2, DA-P1, D8, D7, DTR-80P, D5, D6

Offline braweave

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #19 on: July 21, 2010, 10:33:49 PM »
I have bought an MP2 and I have a power cable for a portable battery.

I was told that it works with this:
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Initial-RB-270-Portable-DVD-Player-Rechargeable-Battery/3985593/product.html

unfortunately it looks like this battery is out of stock everywhere.

In reading this thread It looks like i need a battery that can handle 9v

the question is how much power do i need?? (i.e. xx00 mAh) I want to be able to power the Mp2 for at least 4.5 hours without any problems.
Thanks,
Branodn
Neumann KM140 > Sound Devices MP-2 > Edirol R-09HR

Offline fmaderjr

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2010, 07:44:27 AM »
I believe this one will work as well:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lenmar-Model-DVDU923-universal-Battery-portable-DVD-/320559148230?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa2d06cc6

You could wait and keep seaching for the RB-270 though. I got one from an E-Bay seller about 2 weeks ago, but don't see any one E-Bay or anywhere else now.
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

kirk97132

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #21 on: July 31, 2010, 12:08:00 PM »
I believe this one will work as well:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lenmar-Model-DVDU923-universal-Battery-portable-DVD-/320559148230?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa2d06cc6

You could wait and keep seaching for the RB-270 though. I got one from an E-Bay seller about 2 weeks ago, but don't see any one E-Bay or anywhere else now.

I believe that is a Ni-Mh not a Li-Ion...not that it matters.  those 9V dvd batteries have become hard to find at a good price.  I think if you look around you can still find the randoms but they want 40-50 bucks for them now.  I also bought on recently because it looked like they wouldn't be around.  I got it for $25.  Make me wish I scooped up a bunch when they were real cheap.  Like 5 of them isn't enough right now ;D


Same battery as Initial RB-270 with different branding:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Universal-Portable-DVD-Player-External-Battery-/370407592019?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Other_MP3_Players&hash=item563e035053
« Last Edit: July 31, 2010, 12:18:00 PM by kirkd »

Offline spyder9

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #22 on: January 08, 2014, 04:59:05 PM »
If you buy an older model, you may have to send it back to Sound Devices so they can fix the battery compartment so it can accept rechargeables.  They did this for free when I owned one; I am not sure what the deal is now.

Not free anymore.  Standard MP-2/MixPre servicing charge + shipping, came to about $100 when I sent mine in 2008.  But they do give the unit a thorough testing and touch up paint as well.

Sending my MP-2 in this week.  They quoted me $75.00 + parts.  I imagine shipping will carry it to $100.  Just updating the thread, that in 2013, Sound Devices was still upgrading the Spring in the battery tube.

Offline spyder9

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Re: powering the Sound Devices Mix-Pre/ Mp2
« Reply #23 on: February 07, 2014, 03:31:51 PM »
MP-2 on the way back next week! 

Sound Devices gave it the once-over and brought it back to factory specs: new XLR connectors, battery Tube, battery Spring, battery Enclosure, and headphone connector (noise issue).  I think there are a couple more updates that I didn't write down.  Any hoot, $147.00 shipped.  I can live with that.   :)         

 

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