Topic: DPA - Battery box for microdot connectors

[breakonthru]

While we're on the topic of the d:vice, does it work with the newer USB-C iPhones? (Not that I have one, but just curious about the longevity of this thing.)

Reports are it does not.

To be precise, reports are that the dpa app does not work, so you can't adjust levels.  But I believe you can set levels using an older iPhone and then record with, say, Metarecorder on the new iPhone.  Would love to hear if anyone is trying this.

metarecorder overrides DPA app levels, the only thing dpa app does that metarecorder doesnt is select sum/stereo/dual and toggle HPF on or off

[dynamicalories]

My DPA app hasn't functioned in ages. It's there but you can't do anything with it. I've had the best results with the Shure Motiv app but recently that failed on me. The Apogee app is a nonstarter completely because if I opened my phone to check the time or check that it was still recording, it would momentarily switch to the iPhone's internal mics.

[dynamicalories]

There's also the option of having a breakout y-cable made (microdots > 1/8" trs). That way you can retain the microdot terminations of the mic cables and use a fairly standard 9-volt battery box with 1/8" input. It's an extra cable, but not bulky when paired with a tiny battery box roughly the size of the d:vice.

Oh, that's a pretty good idea. For some reason I thought that wouldn't work.

I've also got a microdot CA Ugly on the way that detroitlightning is hooking me up with so I'll give that a try.

[grawk]

My DPA app hasn't functioned in ages. It's there but you can't do anything with it. I've had the best results with the Shure Motiv app but recently that failed on me. The Apogee app is a nonstarter completely because if I opened my phone to check the time or check that it was still recording, it would momentarily switch to the iPhone's internal mics.

I haven't tried the motiv app, but I haven't had any issues with the apogee app or the dpa app on my iphone 12mini or iphone 14 pro.

[breakonthru]

My DPA app hasn't functioned in ages. It's there but you can't do anything with it. I've had the best results with the Shure Motiv app but recently that failed on me. The Apogee app is a nonstarter completely because if I opened my phone to check the time or check that it was still recording, it would momentarily switch to the iPhone's internal mics.

interesting. what phone/ios version. if i unlock my screen to check time i hear a little glitch thru the monitor but its not on the recording

[dynamicalories]

My DPA app hasn't functioned in ages. It's there but you can't do anything with it. I've had the best results with the Shure Motiv app but recently that failed on me. The Apogee app is a nonstarter completely because if I opened my phone to check the time or check that it was still recording, it would momentarily switch to the iPhone's internal mics.

interesting. what phone/ios version. if i unlock my screen to check time i hear a little glitch thru the monitor but its not on the recording

It's an iPhone 12 mini. The Apogee thing happened to me on a couple recordings in 2022 and I never used it again.

The Shure Motiv issue just cropped up recently. It's never failed me before this. What happened is it just randomly stopped recording after around 58 minutes on a couple different recordings.

[breakonthru]

My DPA app hasn't functioned in ages. It's there but you can't do anything with it. I've had the best results with the Shure Motiv app but recently that failed on me. The Apogee app is a nonstarter completely because if I opened my phone to check the time or check that it was still recording, it would momentarily switch to the iPhone's internal mics.

interesting. what phone/ios version. if i unlock my screen to check time i hear a little glitch thru the monitor but its not on the recording

It's an iPhone 12 mini. The Apogee thing happened to me on a couple recordings in 2022 and I never used it again.

The Shure Motiv issue just cropped up recently. It's never failed me before this. What happened is it just randomly stopped recording after around 58 minutes on a couple different recordings.

ive had apogee stop recording on rare occasions, usually when the storage is close to full. the only time ive seen the phone drop the connection to the dvice is cable issues. some lightning jacks are chronically loose

[stl_oni]

I had the same problem (connection issue) with my iPhone 12 mini and the DPA d:vice. Constantly loosing connection resulting in recordings with the internal mics ... thought it was the cable but found out it was the iPhone. Exchanged the iPhone 12 mini with an old iPhone 5s and since then no more connection issues with the DPA d:vice.

Only once had an issue with the Apogee recorder app (The National, Berlin 2022): Recorder stopped recording for unknown reasons also it was showing to record when I checked during the show. Never found out what the reason was.

[WiFiJeff]

metarecorder overrides DPA app levels, the only thing dpa app does that metarecorder doesnt is select sum/stereo/dual and toggle HPF on or off

Well I can move the level indicator in metarecorder, but the incoming signal on the metarecorder app meters is the same whether it's at 100% or 0%.  The d:vice is outputting a digital signal, if the analog audio is clipping there I don't see how the metarecorder app can fix that.  It doesn't seem to affect what the MMA-A is outputting.

[breakonthru]

metarecorder overrides DPA app levels, the only thing dpa app does that metarecorder doesnt is select sum/stereo/dual and toggle HPF on or off

Well I can move the level indicator in metarecorder, but the incoming signal on the metarecorder app meters is the same whether it's at 100% or 0%.  The d:vice is outputting a digital signal, if the analog audio is clipping there I don't see how the metarecorder app can fix that.  It doesn't seem to affect what the MMA-A is outputting.

mine doesnt work like that at all, though level control is unpredictable when dvice app is in 'locked' mode

dvice app tries to reconnect and do stuff when switching back from metarecorder to dvice app, so i usually verify settings are where i want, and unlocked, then close it and only use metarecorder, with full level control

[kindms]

Do the DPA microdot to TA3 adapters pass power ?

If so you could go Sonosax m2d2 with the TA3 adapters > microdot > dpa and still run the phone

not the cheapest option but an option

[grawk]

Do the DPA microdot to TA3 adapters pass power ?

If so you could go Sonosax m2d2 with the TA3 adapters > microdot > dpa and still run the phone

not the cheapest option but an option

yep

[WiFiJeff]

metarecorder overrides DPA app levels, the only thing dpa app does that metarecorder doesnt is select sum/stereo/dual and toggle HPF on or off

Well I can move the level indicator in metarecorder, but the incoming signal on the metarecorder app meters is the same whether it's at 100% or 0%.  The d:vice is outputting a digital signal, if the analog audio is clipping there I don't see how the metarecorder app can fix that.  It doesn't seem to affect what the MMA-A is outputting.

mine doesnt work like that at all, though level control is unpredictable when dvice app is in 'locked' mode

dvice app tries to reconnect and do stuff when switching back from metarecorder to dvice app, so i usually verify settings are where i want, and unlocked, then close it and only use metarecorder, with full level control

The issue is not running metarecorder with the dpa app locked or unlocked.  The dpa app is reported not to run on the new iPhones at all.  When I try running my old iPhone _without the dpa app at all_ I get that the metarecorder level control has no effect.  If you don't have the dpa app running at all do you still show level control from the metarecorder app??

[breakonthru]

yeah on every phone ive ever tried, (2016-2022 era) from ios 10 to ios 17

heres a short vid

https://tinyurl.com/mma-meta-test

[Gutbucket]

There's also the option of having a breakout y-cable made (microdots > 1/8" trs). That way you can retain the microdot terminations of the mic cables and use a fairly standard 9-volt battery box with 1/8" input. It's an extra cable, but not bulky when paired with a tiny battery box roughly the size of the d:vice.

Oh, that's a pretty good idea. For some reason I thought that wouldn't work.

Works great.  I adapt most of my microdot-terminated DPAs to either TA3 or miniplug by building adapters.  The key has been purchasing a pre-terminated cable with female microdots on both ends.  Cut the cable to whatever length you want and install whatever connector type you want on the other end.  One cable can supply two mono adapters or one stereo adapter.