Topic: Recommendation for recorder with XLR/P48

[yates7592]

^ Thanks for the tip, but does seem too large for stress-free stealthing, shame....

[yates7592]

Coming to the conclusion that what I am looking for doesn't exist:

R-26 - too big for stealth to my mind
DR-100mkii - v.poor battery life
LS-100 - only 2-3 hrs internal battery
DR-40 - not great preamps (?)
PMD661 - doesn't seem to take a hot signal + prob too big for me

So I'm going to hold on to my cash until Sony or Roland come up with a P48 recorder that's in between the M10 and the R26 in size, but with all the quality of both recorders in terms of battery life, line input level and preamps (not holding my breath).

[jbell]

Tinybox > M10 is a great stealth or open rig, if it were me I'd stick with it.

Coming to the conclusion that what I am looking for doesn't exist:

R-26 - too big for stealth to my mind
DR-100mkii - v.poor battery life
LS-100 - only 2-3 hrs internal battery
DR-40 - not great preamps (?)
PMD661 - doesn't seem to take a hot signal + prob too big for me

So I'm going to hold on to my cash until Sony or Roland come up with a P48 recorder that's in between the M10 and the R26 in size, but with all the quality of both recorders in terms of battery life, line input level and preamps (not holding my breath).

[adrianf74]

What jbell just said.

There really is nothing comparable to the TinyBox / M10 solution.  That's why I went that route.

[pohaku]

I sure wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Sony and Roland.  The Taper community isn't a significant enough market to drive their product development.  The Tiny Box/M10 rig works just fine for P48 for most gigs - certainly    able if that's what you need.

[ninjadave]

I run the pmd661 with my milabs. They are not super hot but I owned the Beyer ck930s before that which are super hot and when I bought the pmd661 from Doug oade - which u must get the mod from him for sure or don't bother with the pmd661 as the stock preamp is not that great and his mod helps handle the signal, he actually modded my mic in -18 db setting and made it -30db so I could handle the signal and be able to run the pmd661 at loud gigs at about 5 on the level anything around or under 4 on the pmd661 has very good chance of brickwalling that is ur only risk right? Doug can mod ur mic input settings to whatever u want. I pulled some great tapes with the Beyers at super loud shows....The milabs are better mics IMO and less sensitive and the -30db setting with them allows me to run the pmd661 at 6 on the level at the loudest show imaginable and no risk of blowing the levels or brickwalling the signal. Check my shows on dime search my username I have shows with both mics up. The funny part of all this is I'm actually thinking of trying to go to a tinybox> m-10 and ditch my pmd661 since I use barrels and interconnects and it's a lot to steath. Doug is great u can ask him anything he will totally put ur mind at ease and will make sure whatever ur trying to do can be done. He won't just sell u the gear if it doesn't fit.

Didn't I sell u my beyers? Duh! I just realized that...

[yates7592]

^ Yep, i was the one that bought your Beyers. Only used them twice since with the R-26 and only problem was levels too LOW, not too hot! I've eliminated the PMD661 for the very reasons you stated.

[ninjadave]

i'm pretty sure, you can run those beyers with a tiny box and your M-10, jon at naiant has already built the box to do that.....i'm pretty sure others are doing that and without a PFA cable and the beyer bodies.  just a mini xlr to the 5 or 6 pin on the tiny box.

i think that is going to be the best option,  you'll have to check with jon though. i'm thinking of doing the same with the milabs. however, i'm worried its gonna change the sound alot by ditching the bodies. won't know til we get some comps. he still has to build it also. but he said its doable. good luck.

 

[yates7592]

Well Ive run round in circles looking at recorders, P48 power sources and preamps for stealthy operation of my CK930's.

All the preamps Ive looked at are either too big, wrong sound, too many knobs and dials for stealth or suffer interference. The P48 power packs are just an extra box but with poor run times..

I've found what I think is the (almost) perdect solution. An all in one recorder with really good preamps and like 7-8 hours battery life on P48, flexibility to run 4 channels, takes up to +24dBu input level, has balanced XLR inputs for interference free taping - the R26 - yes the very same recorder I sold because I felt it was too big. Actually I didnt have any trouble stealthing the R26 in and out of venues, just checking levels etc was a PITA. I actually think my jacket pockets were too small rather than the recorder too big for my needs.  Larger pockets would let me do everything I need to without removing the R26. So its now time to look for another R26, and a new jacket with big inside pockets!