Topic: SoundProfessional CMC-8 (AT caps) MOD

[leegeddy]

hello gang:

in continuation of this thread:
http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=11679

here are some scans of the modified SP-CMC-8 mics that i did for a friend.

few comments about the CMC-8 mics.

1. i don't know why people call these "AT853". they are definitely not the 853s. when i spoke to SP, they told me that they use the AT933 capsules (discontinued by AT over a year ago).  i believe that SP is now using AT943 capsules, not 100% sure.

2. my bud wanted to run his Beyer with his mics, so i offered to mod his mics for him.  he also wanted to use his SP battery box in extra stealth situations so he wanted that option as well.

The MOD:

basically, i inserted a Male/Female Mini-XLR connection as you see here:



he can use the mini-plug > battery box as he has done before.

if he wants to use his Beyer w/ 48V phantom power, he would use this setup:



Final price:

Mini-XLR Male/Female were about $6.50 each ($26)
AT8533 Phantom Power Module were $60 each ($120)

i made a quick comparison recording between the 2 setups:

SP CMC-8 > SP-SPSB-1 batt. box > DAT
SP CMC-8 > Beyerdynamics w/48v phantom > DAT

as expected, there was a very noticeable difference between the 2 samples.  the Beyer setup was punchier, warmer and had more definition/dynamics in the recording. the normal SP setup was flat in comparison.

marc

[Sean Gallemore]

yeah! i just used the AT853 (w/phanntom @48V cortesy of Goose!) and the tapes are my best, and simply amazing! Except these weren't from SP, Goose's were from an AT dealer.

[hoyt]

Just out of curiosity, why did you go with the AT power module over the Samson?  Thanks.

--hoyt

[leegeddy]

Just out of curiosity, why did you go with the AT power module over the Samson?  Thanks.

--hoyt

AT modules were recommended to be used with AT capsules. i didn't look further than that.

marc

[hoyt]

AT modules were recommended to be used with AT capsules. i didn't look further than that.

marc

Oh ok.  When I talked to the SP guy he said they used the Samson ones, which are 1/2 the price of the ATs.  Also, I think people call the cmc-6's the at853s, not the cmc-8s.  The cmc-6 is made with the at853 capsule.

--hoyt

[leegeddy]

AT modules were recommended to be used with AT capsules. i didn't look further than that.

marc

Oh ok.  When I talked to the SP guy he said they used the Samson ones, which are 1/2 the price of the ATs.  Also, I think people call the cmc-6's the at853s, not the cmc-8s.  The cmc-6 is made with the at853 capsule.

--hoyt

from SP site for CMC-6

The Premium Slimline Audio Technica microphone system utilizes a matched set of Audio Technica Omnidirectional microphones, similar to the popular AT853 in performance, but with a metal body that is much smaller than the AT853. The entire microphone capsule measures .3" in diameter and is about .9" long.

i don't think it's the AT853 based on their description.

marc

[greenone]

The CMC-6's and the CMC-8's both say "similar to the AT853", which I thought was odd. Most of the other mics on there actually say which ones are used. Odd.

[Sean Gallemore]

they aren't at853s, the SP-CMC-4s are the AT853s (switchable caps)

[BobW]

What do these things sound like ?
Any bass ? Very present and up front ?
Tinny ?
They seem so small to have much bottom at all. 'Tho the DPAs really put that assumption to bed.  Can they take a full 48V phantom ?

Any recordings to share ?

[Sean Gallemore]

i have done recordings with the AT853 and the SP-CMC-2(at831) recently.  The sound on the ATs is undescribably better.  I should have a recording up soon in Kickdowns

[leegeddy]

What do these things sound like ?
Any bass ? Very present and up front ?
Tinny ?
They seem so small to have much bottom at all. 'Tho the DPAs really put that assumption to bed.  Can they take a full 48V phantom ?

Any recordings to share ?

sample1:  AT853 > Beyerdynamics MV-100 w/48v phantom > Sony D100. XY config. 9' stand DFC approximately 40' from stage.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/mkim/MP3/primus2003-10-17-sample.mp3

sample2:  AT853 > Beyerdynamics MV-100 w/48v phantom > Sony M1. XY config. 8' stand at SBD, DFC approximately 25' from stage.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/mkim/MP3/caressofsteel2003-10-11-sample.mp3

you can feed them 9-52v of phantom power according to AT's specs.

marc

[Sean Gallemore]

wait, are these with true AT853 or the SP?

[leegeddy]

wait, are these with true AT853 or the SP?

they are the truuuu AT mics.

marc

[save]

i thought if you ran 48v to the sound pro at mics that they would fry them?  i thought they were only made to run @ 9v?

[leegeddy]

i thought if you ran 48v to the sound pro at mics that they would fry them?  i thought they were only made to run @ 9v?

that was the whole point of the following thread:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=11679

you can run up to 52v of -PHANTOM POWER-, ONLY if you have the necessary modules like the AT8533, AT8532 or the Samson one someone mentioned.

if you have a battery box powering your SoundProfessional "AT's", then you need to stick to their 9v design.

marc