Topic: TEAM Marantz PMD 660 (Part II)

[fp]

Hi guys !
i'm a proud new owner of a PMD660 (busman mod).
Have to make some tests and i accept all advices and tips from the "older" users (recording level, batteries, PMD menu settings, ...).

You can PM me or post here (will read all the topic, be sure !!).
Thanx
fp

PS : Will use it with my AT831 (1/8 plug) that i'm satisfied with ... perhaps i will buy a cable to go via the XLR or modded them .... i'm mostly stealth and used to record with a NJB3.

[Javier Cinakowski]

Hi guys !
i'm a proud new owner of a PMD660 (busman mod).
Have to make some tests and i accept all advices and tips from the "older" users (recording level, batteries, PMD menu settings, ...).

You can PM me or post here (will read all the topic, be sure !!).
Thanx
fp

PS : Will use it with my AT831 (1/8 plug) that i'm satisfied with ... perhaps i will buy a cable to go via the XLR or modded them .... i'm mostly stealth and used to record with a NJB3.

http://www.naiant.com/studiostore/cleverdevices.html

scroll down to the PFA.   THis is what you will need for the AT831.....

[newplanet7]

Welcome aboard!

I also have one of the very few busman mods and love it.
If you decide to run it hot and it clips it does so with exceptional grace where it's inaudible.
If you run it cool (I do around 6) you can raise it in post without the noise even being an issue.

Best all in one 16 bit around, the busman/oade boxes are.
A lot of battery and cf card solutions in this thread.

[tfs8271]

tips from the "older" users (recording level, batteries, PMD menu settings, ...).

(pad on with manual adjusted levels, http://www.batterybarn.com/pr2310.htm , preset - 1 is for all concerts and goes like this... input - mic, output - line, date/time - just that, rec format - pcm-44.1K, recchannel - stereo, Prerecord - ON, Manual Trk - OFF, Auto Trk - OFF, Auto Mark - OFF, Silent Skip - OFF, Level Control - Manual, Meter Mode - Normal (with battery pack - peak only when using AAs), Mike Atten. - -20dB, AutoPowerOff - ON, Battery - (which ever your using), Beep - OFF, Machine ID - (performers name), Default - NO, Version - ?)

I set Preset -2 for the same with no pad but hardly use it, Preset - 3 is for mp3 recording for stuff around the house (kids, frogs, birds etc.)

I found this battery pack to be great for use.

I have had batteries in the recorder and still used the battery pack.  I was recording an outdoor show that they shut me down.  So I powered down, unplugged the pack, showed security that I removed the battery pack and placed it on the blanket for them to see during the show, as I put the recorder away in my pack I hit on, record and shift-lock to get a nice recording of Richard Thompson.

Make sure you use the Shift-Lock, function it comes in handy.

Enjoy

[krsb]

re: shift-lock

I wish I had kept this in mind on Saturday night as I lost the first set of a show.

I still haven't quite figured out where things went wrong, but the only thing I didn't do that I amost always do was: Shift Lock. 

Arrived the venue late, rushed to get a spot, lights go out, hit record pause, hit record (I think) check levels, check red record light is solid (I think) groove to a sweet first set of a wicked show (Les Cowboys Fringants) hit stop (I think...no, I know) at the set break, check gear, start recording way before second set starts and hit: shift-lock!

Get home, first set is 6secs of applause and then nada.  Second set is fine...and fine sounding for a boomy room. First time out with new hat too.

Lesson: start recording early...hit shift-lock!


(still sad)  cb

tips from the "older" users (recording level, batteries, PMD menu settings, ...).

Make sure you use the Shift-Lock, function it comes in handy.

Enjoy

[paulbaptiste]

New Busman 660 owner here.  Just been playing around with it at the house.  Anybody run any mics w/o the pad? I have some naks that are naturally pretty quiet, was curious if there is any experience amongst the team here, any negative effects not using the pad (noise)?.

Thanks

Nick

[Krispy D]

New Busman 660 owner here.  Just been playing around with it at the house.  Anybody run any mics w/o the pad? I have some naks that are naturally pretty quiet, was curious if there is any experience amongst the team here, any negative effects not using the pad (noise)?.

Thanks

Nick

I have.  but then you end up running the gain at like 8 or 9 o'clock.  I have much better results at 2 o'clock.

[newplanet7]

Use the pad or you'll brickwall.

[newplanet7]

Well,
had some bad luck last night.
Nothing bad per se.

My output pin on my external batt disconnected while I was running at mmw in NYC.
It happened during the second set.
There is a file on the cf but it reads 0bytes.
So I am guessing that it didn't save the data.

I tried opening it in soundforge and cd wav to save it but no go.
I also tried the header repair utility and it didn't work.
Trying a file recovery program right now.   

[newplanet7]

Problem solved!
I got a copy of Bad Copy Pro.
Ran it to save files on my cf card.
It located and saved the files.
I then had to run fixwav to correct the header.
Got most of the second set right up to where my recording stopped.
Now I'll have to join it with another source and whalla!

[Krispy D]

anyone ever fed their 660 9v? just curious if I have to step down a 9v battery or if it was safe to run as is.

[newplanet7]

Hai there bump.

[nickee]

Did anyone really pin point the cause of the ticking noise some pmd660 owners have had? I've never really cared much earlier since it has been barely noticeable when recording normal amplified music but it's suddenly gotten a lot worse. Nothing have been changed so I guess that it could be my rechargeable batteries that have begun to crap out. Maybe I would be better of (noise wise) with an external power solution?

[paulbaptiste]

I also noticed that clicking noise on a quiet acoustic show, but never had heard of it being from the 660 itself, sounded almost like a cieling fan or something.

Anyway.


Does anybody know where to get the PMD Marker Edit software, i posted in the computer help forums and never heard anything.  I know there is software, somewhere, that if you put the markers in manually in a recording, like during playback, which i did, that i can pull them off in the same manner, track by track instead of retracking>  any help appreciated.  Thanks

Nick

[nickee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVcnD-IphEg

Here's an example of the sound. Hit the link above and skip to the end of the clip when they talk and tune their instruments. Very obvious.

I'll probably buy a new set of batteries and/or try to run ps2>pmd660 for a show.

I also noticed that clicking noise on a quiet acoustic show, but never had heard of it being from the 660 itself, sounded almost like a cieling fan or something.
Nick