Topic: pre for mbho 603/ka100/ka200

[mmmatt]

Hey all,
I'm thinking I want to get out of the lappy taping (for ambient) and go back to a jb3.  My current rig is mbho 603/ka100/ka200 > usbpre > lappy.  I haven't used it a lot, but so far I do like the sound... just not the inconvience of the lappy. The  24bit is nice, but I prefer a simpler and smaller rig for the type of ambient taping I do.  I do very little taping at large venues.  Mostly it is on stage or sweet spot.  I tape primarily bluegrass, jambands, and jazz.  I never stealth so that isn't an issue.
     So anyways, I need a few suggestions on what pre to get.  I have had a ua-5 in the past but it was just a digi mod.  I'm thinking a warm mod or a t mod would be sweet.  Also thinking maybe a mini me, v2/3, mp2/3 or m148/248.  I definately don't want anything that has a presence boost type flavor.  The mbho's have enough of that already.  Something transparent or warm would be best I think.

Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance!

Matt

[sleepypedro]

i owned the mbhos for a couple of years, and you can't beat those mics with a sound devices mp-2

[creekfreak]

I would recommend V2-->modsbm-1 (I ran this with the MBHO's, great sound) or just a mini-me which will warm up those MBHO's nicely

[mmmatt]

i owned the mbhos for a couple of years, and you can't beat those mics with a sound devices mp-2

yeah... I like the sound with the USBPre, and I assume that would be similar.  One other point... I would like something that will work as a stand alone analog pre to incorporate into my multitrack as my mixer only has 4 pres on it.

[mmmatt]

I would recommend V2-->modsbm-1 (I ran this with the MBHO's, great sound) or just a mini-me which will warm up those MBHO's nicely

I was thinking the mini-me just for that reason (as well as the mp-2).  I think these mics like a little warmth.

Matt

[marc0789]

i owned the mbhos for a couple of years, and you can't beat those mics with a sound devices mp-2

ditto. ran 603a/200>mp-2>warm modsbm1, and it is super fat, warm but still plenty of that mbho detail. imo it helps beef up the low end, and obviously a super small setup. I think the mbhos are just a little bright to sound real good into a v3. however v2>modsbm1 is pretty nice, the modsbm1 warms things up nicely.

[Brian Skalinder]

FWIW, I loved the MBHO > V2 > modSBM-1 combo. And - shocking! - I agree with Marc that the MBHOs are a little bright to pair with the V3.

[mmmatt]

are all "mod" sbm1's warm moded?  I've never used an outboard adc so I'm clueless.

Matt

[Nick Graham]

Another vote for MP2>(mod)SBM1

[marc0789]

are all "mod" sbm1's warm moded?  I've never used an outboard adc so I'm clueless.

Matt

most, but doug did some presence and transparent mods too. the mp-2 is so warm that I think you'd do fine with a t-mod too. but the vast majority out there are warm mods.

[Kevin Straker]

i owned the mbhos for a couple of years, and you can't beat those mics with a sound devices mp-2

Agreed, or even better, an aeta psp2.

[creekfreak]

I also did the mp-2/modsbm-1 combo back when I had the MBHO's. That also sounds good though I preferred the extra tightness the V2 gave while the modsbm-1 kept things nice and warm.

[marc0789]

i owned the mbhos for a couple of years, and you can't beat those mics with a sound devices mp-2

Agreed, or even better, an aeta psp2.

forgot, I also ran mbho>eaa>mod a few shows, liked that a lot too....although I almost thought the mp-2 sounded a little better with the bhos.

[OOK]

I have the mbho648/ka200 paired with a minime and I am very pleased with it...the only thing I find warmer than that is the mp2 infront of the minime!!!!!!

[marc0789]

I can attest to that. my buddy ran that combo and was very happy with it. nice and warm, and the high end in the mbhos shine.

[mmmatt]

Has anyone use a w-mod u-a5 with the ho's?  Seems the minime and mp-2 are well represented and certainly viable options for me.
(+T's for the thread... thanks guys!)
Matt

[creekfreak]

I think there are a few guys out there that used the UA-5 with the ho's....

[C.Clark]

i got in on this late, but i run very similar mics, the Audio technica 4051's, i think the minime and mp-2>mod sbm1 would be the way to go, i would choose them by what bit rate you would want to run since they are both sweet rigs

[Simp-Dawg]

the psp2>mod sbm-1 combo is super sweet!  got good depth all around.  but it's easy to brickwall the sbm-1 since the psp2 provides so much minimum gain and those mics are pretty sensitive.

i like the v3 behind the 'hos, its pretty transparent but the silver cables brings out a lot of warmth from these puppies.  my stl wsp show sounds really nice!

[mmmatt]

thanks guys... t's

Matt

[stober]

i owned the mbhos for a couple of years, and you can't beat those mics with a sound devices mp-2

I did as well and loved the tapes I pulled.I played around with a V3 with those mics and my tapes were hit and miss.Great for bluegrass but the V3 was way to transparent for me taping when something that you wanted some good low end sound.mp-2 is the way to go for these mics with an sbm-1 moded or not imo.v2>sbm-1 if its got the mod

[peterbilt]

i owned the mbhos for a couple of years, and you can't beat those mics with a sound devices mp-2

I swear, some of your shows that were on STG are what swayed my choice to go with the 603's as opposed to 480's, which were the only other mics for "ambient" taping that I was considering.
I still haven't run these 'Ho's with anything but an AD20 and I am definitely noticing the thin-ness of it, and I most assuredly needed attenuators to keep levels  from blowing through the roof!
I would love to try out an SBM-1 with these, as I have never run one before and I have opportunnities to run both my NAK's and MBHO's on the same stand, at the same venue on the same night with another D8 just for the sake of comparison.


And for what it's worth, I have only run my 603's in one venue, for several different types of bands and I still don't get the "brightness" that people speak of.Running them NOS, ORTF, A/B... the only time I have noticed anything evenly remotely "bright" was due to the onstage and PA sound. The biggest thing I have noticed was the lovely way they grab the low end tones and mid's, and the really high ends (like my buddies cymbals) come through much more smooth, as opposed to the distinct tonal difference that I had with the Nak's.


I'm actually considering scrapping the AD20 for a night and just running the 603's line in, just so I can get a better feel and taste of their sound, but from what I have heard in the past I really think an MP-2 is what I am going to search out.

[tmfraley2]

mp2>ad500e were the best tapes i heard, i liked my v3 with them, so far i cannot complain about the  722 as a pre though 

[svenkid]

I run mbho 603 hypercards>v3 and Ive gotten some crispy ass tapes. but some come out likecrap in crappy venues.

[mmmatt]

Well guys,
I got a great deal on a v2 so I'm going to try that for awhile using the jb3's adc.  I have been using the internal adc of my jb3 as a backup from the mixer in my multi rig, and it has been sounding real nice.  The jb3 adc to my ears is a little on the warm end, and in my testing (white noise > {jb3 analog} -vs- {ua5 rca > jb3 opti in} > wavelab spectrum analizer) it was a little heavier in the lower end than the ua-5 I was testing it against (ua-5 since sold).  I figure that my main focus is my multi rig and this will be a spectacular addition to that, as well as being OK for the ambient stuff.  I fear some of the detail of the mbho > v2 will get lost without first rate adc, but I guess I'm willing to try it thinking I will be able to resell the v2 without much loss if any if I'm unhappy with it.  I will most likely be looking at one of the newer 24bit HD recorders as they surface anyway, and this may be a good frontend for that.  I may also end up going away from the mbho's in a while.  I'm thinking these mics are best in huge venues, and I don't really do much of that.  However, a little bit of post eq has gone a LONG way on the recordings I have done so far.  I'm amazed at how "upfront" the sound is from these mics... just stunning really!  Vocals sound like a sbd patch on the last one I did.  I also had them directly on an 12 string acoustic yesterday in a little studio session, and they were amazing there as well.  Wouldn't it be nice to have $10,000-$15,000 worth of mics in your bag?  I guess bouncin' around a bit and sluttin it up is the next best thing!!!  Thank God for the yard sale!  Thanks for all the input here guys.

Matt