Yesterday I got my SP-CMC-4U mics (low sensitivity) and the SP-SPSB-10 battery box without the attached cable. I tested it with my new Roland R-07 with "Plug in Power" set to "ON"
I have some questions:
1. Is the LOW sensitivity version supposed to record at a LOWER level than the no-low version, if both are not using a Battery Box (bb)? Meaning that the recording level needs to be boosted up to get the LED meters to display at the same level?
2. In my sample recording, with the bb the recording the meters did not get as high. I thought a bb would boost a low sensitive mic to be more sensitive? Instead, adding the bb made the recording lower.
3. I did a sample recording (voice only for now) with and without the bb. SQ is the same to me. Should it be?
4. Or is a battery box used to make the microphone parts "tighter" so it does not vibrate as much so that when recording louder sound (concerts level) that the mic doesn't oscillate past it designed distance and break (if any of choice of words made sense)?
4b. So should would it be ok not to use the bb when recording in quieter environment?
Edit:
I think I am supposed to set the Roland R-07 with "Plug in Power" to "OFF", not "ON", if I am using the BB. I originally though the BB is the "Plug in Power" so if I am using the PiP than I want to say "yes, the BB is connected ON to the recorder".
1. Yes, you will need more gain with the low sensitivity mics to reach the same levels as unmodified mics.
2. The battery box does not supply gain, so all of the gain is coming from your recorder's preamp. Try recording some music and see what happens.
3. At low volumes, yes. At higher volumes, your mics will be heavily distorted when using only plug-in power from the recorder. You may figure this out the hard way if you try recording a show without the BB.
4. The mics need a certain bias voltage to operate correctly. If they do not see that, they will not operate correctly. Read this:
https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/support/what-is-bias-voltage/Your mics were designed to be powered by a certain voltage. Always make sure to use the battery box - there are zero reasons not to. When using a battery box, turn off the recorder's plug-in power (which is pretty much never enough power for what we do here).
Please correct me if I am wrong!