Topic: I can't get my SP-SPSB-11 to work with my Tascam Dr-07

[Funkyman3121]

Since I am newbie to recording I guess I must be doing something stupid.
But I am a fast learner so here's what I do that doesn't work:

On the Tascam I choose the 'Line In' on 'input settings'. Then I to plug the batterybox in with my mics (SP BMC 2)
The settings on the Tascam are like I said 'Line In', gain:low, type:stereo, power:off, filter:off level ctrl:off.

To me it seems the recording levels should be visible now, but they are not.
 
I checked the mics if they are working and they did (when I used the 'Mic In' setting)
I checked the 'Line In' when I plugged it into my stereo cdplayer and it worked (I got recording levels)

So please tell me what I 'm doing wrong!
The SP BMC-2 mics are supposed to work with the SP-SPSB-11, right?


  newbie
 

[OOK]

what level is the gain turned up on the dr7.  You should be able to adjust the gain ie.. record level.....is it turned all the way down?

[Funkyman3121]

On the Tascam DR-07 there are 3 'gain' options low, medium and high. I put it on low and the recording level at 6 (unity).
That way I should get levels, right?

[drewski1986]

I think you can raise the level with the wheel on the right side.  Bring it up to 10 and see if you get levels.

[fmaderjr]

On the Tascam DR-07 there are 3 'gain' options low, medium and high. I put it on low and the recording level at 6 (unity).
That way I should get levels, right?

Going line in I would think the L/M/H gain options would have no effect. I imagine they only effect the mic in as with all other recorders I know about. Only the record level control should effect the levels. Talk into the mic as a test and turn up the gain until you (hopefully) get levels.

[Funkyman3121]

I did all you proposed and nothing worked 
It looks like the batterybox isn't giving any power to the mics!

[fmaderjr]

I did all you proposed and nothing worked 
It looks like the batterybox isn't giving any power to the mics!

Yeah, I don't know what else it would be. You could confirm by turning off the DR-07's plug in power and running mic > battery box > mic in (and setting the DR-07's input to mic). If you don't get levels now you know for sure you need to send the battery box for repairs.

[OOK]

did you try a fresh battery........is your battery dead?

[SmokinJoe]

Mics > battery box > line in works great when it is really really loud.  When I run my CSBs > it's battbox > my R09 line in, I generally run the gain all the way up at a concert.  If you can yell into the mics from close distance and get a blip of some sort, even if it's only -20db, then they are working fine.  If you can't get any reading even when you tap on the mics, well then... obviously it's really not working.

It's probably not very loud at your house where you are testing, not compared to a ear-ringing rock concert anyway .  It's probably 50db difference, which is enough so its not even on the scale of your recorder.  http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

Also, if the battery box has roll off switches (some of the Sound pros ones have a bunch of switches), I've seen people flip all the switches the wrong way, which basically made bass roll off go to infinity, and you get almost no signal.

[fmaderjr]

Also, if the battery box has roll off switches (some of the Sound pros ones have a bunch of switches), I've seen people flip all the switches the wrong way, which basically made bass roll off go to infinity, and you get almost no signal.

That's a possibility. His box does have roll off switches. I did that once and thought one channel of my box was dead.

[setboy]

Also, if the battery box has roll off switches (some of the Sound pros ones have a bunch of switches), I've seen people flip all the switches the wrong way, which basically made bass roll off go to infinity, and you get almost no signal.

That's a possibility. His box does have roll off switches. I did that once and thought one channel of my box was dead.

did it once as well on my first recording.

[sunjan]

I did all you proposed and nothing worked 
It looks like the batterybox isn't giving any power to the mics!

Plug a 3.5mm>3.5mm interconnect into the bbox instead of the mics, and measure the voltage with a multimeter. If you don't get ~9V, the bbox is dud.
While you're at it, measure the voltage straight from the battery as well...

[Funkyman3121]

Thanks for all your replies. It's really appreciated!!

I measured the voltage of the battery and it gives 12 volt power. So the battery is ok!
I flipped the switches in all the possible ways I could think off. I shouted into the mics. Result nada!

fmaderjr wrote: You could confirm by turning off the DR-07's plug in power and running mic > battery box > mic in (and setting the DR-07's input to mic). If you don't get levels now you know for sure you need to send the battery box for repairs.

I did what you said and I didn't get any levels, so I am gonna send it back to SP.

I already have been in contact with them, so I am gonna send it back this week.

Thanks for all your help, people!

[SmokinJoe]

Where to you live?

Perhaps you can hook up with another experienced taper in your area, try to mix and match your gear with his, and using process of elimination verify the battery box is the issue.

[acidjack]

Those little batts in the SPSB-11 don't last terribly long, but it sounds like you tested that. 

Also, how loud was the source you were testing? I'd think you'd get levels with line-in, but if not, try plugging the bb into mic-in, if you didn't already.  Running a bb line-in with some mics won't give you much in the way of levels unless the source is pretty loud...