Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: nic on February 12, 2005, 05:02:55 PM
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I'm looking to compile a quick reference sheet that would break preamps down into categories such as warm, transparent, bright(presence) and to also list power requirements, brief feature list, I/O and ((maybe)) which categories of mics certain pres work/sound best with. I am not including preamps in a recording deck; this is stictly outboard based units.
I understand that some of those are somewhat subjective, but you cant discern from manufacturer specs how a particular pre will affect the sound of mic 'X'; thats where knowledge of use come in.
I will dig up the manufacturer specs for each and compile the info. I am asking you to help provide me with a list of preamps, how you would describe their sound(warm, transparent, etc), and which mics they seem to work best with. You dont have dont have to be specific as to the mics portion; manufacturer, series, size(SD or LD) or pattern(cards, hypers, subcards) is fine.
The more well known pres are obvious: V2/V3/T-UA5 are transparent, m148/MP2/MixPre/W-UA5 are warm, P-UA5/DMIC20 are bright. I realize there are varying degrees of warm and that transparent to Bob could be bright to Joe, but that is beyond the scope of this 'cheatsheet'.
Firstly, what are the preamps we use? I'm including pres that have ADCs like the MiniMe, UA5(w/mods) and V3 because they apply. I'm assuming phantom power based units:
Grace V2/V3 transparent power:6V/12V plug
Sound Devices MP2/MixPre/Shure FP24 warm power: 2xAA or 6V plug
PSP2\PSP3 power: ???
Oade m118/m148/m248 m1xx/warm, m2xx/bright power: internal SLA
Edirol UA5(T/P/M/Plus mods) power: 9V plug
Denecke PS2/AD20 warm power: internal 9V or ???plug
Graham Patten DMIC20 power: 6V plug
Sonosax SX-M2 power: ???
Apogee MiniMe/MiniMp warm power: 6/12V plug
**what other preamps(in current use) am I missing?
I came upon this idea while I was thinking of what preamps sounded warm as that is the direction I am looking to go. I looked through the archival and preamp section but could find out some info for units like the SX-M2 and the Aeta units. I'm going to try to dig up Brian Skalinders mic/pre sheet(is that in the archive section?) and see what information could be imported into this.
thanks
this could also apply to the 'Taping Guide' I guess: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=23767.0;all
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There is also the Beyerdynamic MV100. 24v external or 2 x 9v internal
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Metric Halo ULN-2 (pre and ADC) - clean, transparent, detailed (I'd say even MORE so than the V3 on that last point) - power by 12V via adaptaplug-compatible jack or 4-pin XLR.
Mics I've used it with (in order of preference):
the good:
DPA 4021/4022
Earthworks SR77
Neumann U-89
the not-so-good:
ADK A-51TL
Neumann TLM-170
Neumann KM-184
These rankings are of course, subjective. I was surprised that I didn't like the TLM-170s. I think I expected them to be more like the U-89s. They were too clinical to my ears, though. Based on other experiences, I would expect to like the sound of this unit with AKG 480s and 414s and Earthworks QTC-1s as well as DPA 4006s.
I would be interested in trying this unit with Schoeps to see what it sounds like, but I think it'd be a bad match for my ears. Those of you who like a clean, dark sound might be delighted, though.
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Metric Halo ULN-2 (pre and ADC) - clean, transparent, detailed (I'd say even MORE so than the V3 on that last point) - power by 12V via adaptaplug-compatible jack or 4-pin XLR.
Mics I've used it with (in order of preference):
the good:
DPA 4021/4022
Earthworks SR77
Neumann U-89
the not-so-good:
ADK A-51TL
Neumann TLM-170
Neumann KM-184
These rankings are of course, subjective. I was surprised that I didn't like the TLM-170s. I think I expected them to be more like the U-89s. They were too clinical to my ears, though. Based on other experiences, I would expect to like the sound of this unit with AKG 480s and 414s and Earthworks QTC-1s as well as DPA 4006s.
I would be interested in trying this unit with Schoeps to see what it sounds like, but I think it'd be a bad match for my ears. Those of you who like a clean, dark sound might be delighted, though.
you have sparked my attention on this....PM sent
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There are are always the field "mixers" that are out there, but don't see a lot of use in our circles:
Wendt X2 (there are a few folks besides me who ran/run this baby)
PSC Alpha Mixer (their design, not the Wendt x4 in sheep's clothing, like their prior 4 channel unit)
Wend X4 & X5 (same mixer, different number of inputs)
Shure FP33
SQN Series V (NEW, expensive 4 channel mixer from the Brits)
Filmtech LSP4 (high end 4 channel mixer)
Rolls MX442
Cooper CS-104
Can't think of any others off the top of my head, but you get the idea.
Almost all of these are designed to be "transparent". Almost all of the movies you have seen made within the last 35 years have used one of these or their predecessor.
Wayne
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Dont forget the aerco!
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Dont forget the aerco!
Holy Crap! That thing makes an Oade look state of the art....
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then you have marienus pre's,rme pre's ,stellavox pre....too many mic pre's . :-*
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Metric Halo ULN-2 (pre and ADC) - clean, transparent, detailed (I'd say even MORE so than the V3 on that last point) - power by 12V via adaptaplug-compatible jack or 4-pin XLR.
the few times i ran the ULN2 as a pre/ad i found it to be a bit darker than the v3
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The Mini-Mp is NOT warm, it colors the sound slightly, but it is far from what I would consider warm, at least in the sense of tube warmth. I know not many people have even heard it, but it is extremely clean, detailed, accurate, and extremely fast sounding. If you want to use the term warm I think tubes, none of what we run in general is close to what I would call warm. Colored yes, warm, not so much. When I think warm I think of huge bloomy midrange, and not one of the pieces of gear I have used had such charachteristics.
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The psp-3 uses 6 AA's..I put a spec sheet here http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=28562.0 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=28562.0)
peace
jah
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Dont forget the aerco!
what's inside one??? ;)
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When I think warm I think of huge bloomy midrange
bloomy? do you mean boomy?
Nah, I meant bloomy, like bloomy in big, fat, open midrange, maybe a poor choice of words? Everyone says the mini-me is warm, it just isn't. It's colored to all get out, but warm is not a word I associate with it. Doug actually told me he thinks the v3 sounds warm and the mini-me transparent fwiw.
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if the minime is transparent, how can it be colored? doesn't colored mean not transparent?
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if doug told you that the moon was made of cheese, you'd bite it too?
:-* :-* :-* :-*
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if doug told you that the moon was made of cheese, you'd bite it too?
:-* :-* :-* :-*
you mean its not made of cheese ??? ;)
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how about the RNP
i have some WSP shows from the late 90's with this pre
any comments on it?
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I use a Core-Sound Mic 2496 a/d convertor. It is 24 bit and configurable with toggle switch settings for 44.1/48.0/88.2/96.0 or internally re-configured to allow 192.0 if you have a recorder that accepts that rate. I am using it with DPA 4061 microphones and love the sound qulaity as it is very transparent sounding. The piece is 9 volt battery powered and runs for about 5 hours on a single battery or if needed i can plug in my 4200 maH battery pack and go for a long time. The Mic 2496 is the size of a pda and is the stealthiest piece I have found at a reasonable price ($549.00) Using this with my Microtrack 24/96 makes for an exceptionally small package to carry to concerts. I run mine using spdif coaxial and the sound quality is very impressive.
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if the minime is transparent, how can it be colored? doesn't colored mean not transparent?
Maybe he means like rose-colored glasses!
Craig
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ACM PMD 660 is transparent
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how about the RNP
Supposed to be a clean sounding pre. 450-500 for two channels. 9-12v dc. Apparently has scooped mids and isnt as detailed as manufacturer implies...but may be a contendor, given the fact that it is DC powerable...
(http://www.bananas.com/multimedia/3291/MediumImage/3291_md.jpg)
(http://www.fmraudio.com/images/RNP_rear_panel.gif)
http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm
I use the DAV BG-1 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/davelectronicsbg1.htm
big - clean - smooth - seperation - focused - - fast, detailed, but not clinical..big , rich,sounds like a finished record ;D..great....best preamp I have used as yet.
works well with schoeps CMCX, MG m930s, and AKG426
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What about the Neve Designs Portico 5012?
http://www.rupertneve.com/portico5012.html (http://www.rupertneve.com/portico5012.html)
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Let's not forget the Denecke AD-20, great starter pre-a/d!
http://www.denecke.com/prod04.htm (http://www.denecke.com/prod04.htm)