Topic: 4022>???

[acidjack]

^^ It's a fine move.

You'll find with the M10 you will sometimes need to run the PS/2 into the mic input on LOW in order to get decent levels, even at a rock show.  As fluffed constantly on this board, the M10s pres are decent, so that's totally fine. 

In the longer run, the Aerco is the smallest thing other than the tinybox, and it sounds pretty amazing - competitive with any of the high-end pres.  I thought about going that route but I stealth rarely, and when I do it's usually not in venues with much of a search. 

Ideally, I'd think having a 48v tinybox for stealth and something else of your choosing for non-stealth is the best move.  The tinybox is certainly better than the M10s pres.  I haven't heard an A/B of the tinybox vs. the littlebox or any other pre for that matter, so I can't say I have an opinion on how it stacks up, other than that hi and lo and I tape together a lot, and he's tried out lots of configs at different shows, and you saw his opinion.   It is a fact, of course, that the LB can have output transformers added, and those will impact how the pre sounds, and transformers aren't an option on the tb.

[yousef]

It sounds like the PS2 is going to be a very temporary solution - I don't like the idea of having to rely on the M10's mic-in to that extent. I'm sure it's ok, but habits of a lifetime and all that.

I guess there's no point in spending years trying to figure out which mics I like the best plus ages agonising over whether to actually spend the money on them only to try and economise on the pre.

One thing that I haven't thought about so far is how these pres are powered. Decent 9v batteries are not cheap here in the UK so I would be really be looking for something that could run off just one or possibly a RC 9.6v pack ala the UA5.  This puts me off the Aerco a bit, which is a shame because I really like how rugged it looks. Would I be right in thinking that the SD Mixpre runs on AAs? Do people actually run it on AAs when using the phantom?

I think it's going to depend very much on what shows up on the Yardsale. Looks like I missed a very reasonably priced FP24 not too long ago...

Aside from all that, I think you're quite right in terms of the Tinybox - no matter what else I decide on, I really like the idea of having something so small on hand for those (increasingly rare, I find) particularly difficult situations.

[bryonsos]

Yes, the MixPre runs on AAs. I've never run it dead, but with fresh batteries I've done 3+ hours in an evening without issue while running phantom. I just switched to rechargeables, so I'm being a bit more conservative now though. It has the best clean gain in that price range IMO, it uses the same electronics as their 7xx decks. The newer MixPre D has a USB and is a bit more expensive, but there are still NIB MixPres out there. I got mine from B&H a few months ago. Buy one, you won't regret it. You do have to be a bit careful with the knobs though, mine turn easily and I can imagine accidentally bumping them and changing the settings. Nothing a bit of tape wouldn't prevent in a lowpro situation.

[jbell]

I think you could get the Aerco configured to run of external power as well as an internal lithuim battery!  I had a Sound devices MP-2 which is the very similar to the Mixpre and I ran it off of DVD batteries.  You could do a festival weekend easy with external power. 

It sounds like the PS2 is going to be a very temporary solution - I don't like the idea of having to rely on the M10's mic-in to that extent. I'm sure it's ok, but habits of a lifetime and all that.

I guess there's no point in spending years trying to figure out which mics I like the best plus ages agonising over whether to actually spend the money on them only to try and economise on the pre.

One thing that I haven't thought about so far is how these pres are powered. Decent 9v batteries are not cheap here in the UK so I would be really be looking for something that could run off just one or possibly a RC 9.6v pack ala the UA5.  This puts me off the Aerco a bit, which is a shame because I really like how rugged it looks. Would I be right in thinking that the SD Mixpre runs on AAs? Do people actually run it on AAs when using the phantom?

I think it's going to depend very much on what shows up on the Yardsale. Looks like I missed a very reasonably priced FP24 not too long ago...

Aside from all that, I think you're quite right in terms of the Tinybox - no matter what else I decide on, I really like the idea of having something so small on hand for those (increasingly rare, I find) particularly difficult situations.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

I think you could get the Aerco configured to run of external power as well as an internal lithuim battery!

The aerco runs great off the wally lithiums.   I have run mine a lot in just about every recording situation.

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Yes, the MixPre runs on AAs. I've never run it dead, but with fresh batteries I've done 3+ hours in an evening without issue while running phantom.

Amount of time you will get out of the AA batteries depends on the mics you're running; the mic's current draw will determine it.  3+ hours is pretty good for a MixPre and you might get similar results with your 4022's.  I did a time test using fresh Duracell AA's and got just a hair over 2 hours running AKG 414's off phantom power, but those are LD microphones.
And yes, as bryonsos pointed out, the gain knobs can be sensitive so it's best to adjust them slowly and carefully.  That aside, it's a great pre-amp.

[F.O.Bean]

Has anyone mentioned a Sonosax SX-M2 I know theyre out of production, but they can still be found USED in MINT/GREAT shape, and for a decent pricetag Not to mention they sound amazing w/ just about EVERY MIC. I have used a Sax with many different mics, and they all sounded SWEET The Sax is the PERFECT mix with Schoeps, but my buddy lasttube runs 4023>SX-M2>722, and his tapes are FUCKIN' SMOKIN' VERY GOOD combo on that one

The Lemosax's are more $$ than a regular Sax w/ XLR inputs, but can DEF be found for a decent price USED

[acidjack]

^^ I think he's looking at solutions in more like the $500 and sub-range, which a Sax (or an Aerco) is not.  I agree that if one wants to spend the $$$ and especially wants a lowpro pre, the Sax or Aerco are pretty hard to beat.

Oh, there's also a used Beyer MV100, which can be had cheap, but I understand that these can have some problems unless modded (?)

[yousef]

They're here.......

And on the same day as the PS2 arrived too.

Just itching to get out there and tape something. I've got a nice open opportunity on Thursday but tempted to go low-pro on Monday night first. Not quite as straightforward as mounting 4060s, is it?

Thanks for the further pre options - It seems sub-$1000 offers a multitude of great options (certainly secondhand) but sub-$500 is a considerably tighter. It's looking more and more like the Littlebox for me, certainly in the short to medium term, especially as they seem to hold their value  so well - did everyone see how quickly that one on the Yardsale got snapped up this week?

[acidjack]

^^^ that latest lb got snapped up so fast bc a certain buddy of mine spends half of every show looking at the YS 

[hi and lo]

^^^ that latest lb got snapped up so fast bc a certain buddy of mine spends half of every show looking at the YS 

And I go to a lot of shows!!!

[yousef]

Getting the itch again...

Happy with my Littlebox but tempted by the FP24 on the Yardsale at the moment. Any thoughts on replacing the LB with this? It looks a little more low-pro-friendly to me. Or should I just go for the v2 Tinybox?

Obviously the Tinybox will beat everything else in terms of size but if there is a significant sonic advantage in going with the FP24, I'd be interested to hear about it.

[spyder9]

Getting the itch again...

Happy with my Littlebox but tempted by the FP24 on the Yardsale at the moment. Any thoughts on replacing the LB with this? It looks a little more low-pro-friendly to me. Or should I just go for the v2 Tinybox?

Obviously the Tinybox will beat everything else in terms of size but if there is a significant sonic advantage in going with the FP24, I'd be interested to hear about it.

Lundahl transformers.

[hi and lo]

Get an Aerco! 

[acidjack]

If small size is the goal, the Aerco MP-2 w rechargeables is one of the better regarded pres that is still made. But it will be $950.

Personally, I like a transparent pre with the transparent DPAs. To me, the SD USBpre2 was great with them.  My buddy runs the MixPre wih them and I like what he gets too. So the FP24 could be a good choice, though apparently it is not EXACTLY a MixPre.

4022>USBPre2 or MixPre I would recommend every time. Personally I like the "sterile" SD sound, ESP with mics that are supposed to be that way.