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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: coffeebreak on August 04, 2019, 05:57:41 AM

Title: Neumann & PCM d100, distortion problem
Post by: coffeebreak on August 04, 2019, 05:57:41 AM

Hi guys :)
I know this is probably a total noob question, but I'm at my wit's end here. I was looking for an external mic to use with my Sony PCM d100. Someone recommended the following setup:

Neumann KM184 stereo set > 2x XLR female to XLR male > audioroot femto portable microphone preamp > XLR5 female to 3.5mm jack (= costume-made) > Sony PCM d100

Long story short, the first recording turned out to be an absolute disaster. The distortion was like nothing I've ever heard before... where did we go wrong?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. :)

Title: Re: Neumann & PCM d100, distortion problem
Post by: seethreepo on August 04, 2019, 02:32:47 PM

Could be a number of things too much gain , battery issues,  loose or bad cables .. a sample may help w diagnosis. Need to know what gain setting , level on the deck, new or used batteries. Can you reproduce the issue at home ? If you have different cables you can try and eliminate those as a cause.

Title: Re: Neumann & PCM d100, distortion problem
Post by: if_then_else on August 04, 2019, 03:49:07 PM

I've also got an AudioRoot Femto.

I've never run it
(1) without any attenuator pads (-15dB) in order to avoid saturating the pre-amp'sa XLR-ins and
(2) I've always made sure to use some high-capacity Li-Ion rechargeables (8.4V, 650 respectively 880mAh).
If memory serves, Antoine Malnati from AudioRoot had recommended Li-Ion rechargeables to me at the time.

Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Neumann & PCM d100, distortion problem
Post by: jerryfreak on August 05, 2019, 06:24:01 AM

my first guess is that you are overloading the D100. what is the D100's line-in input level set to? if its very low (below 40%) theres a fair chance thats the problem

if you record quieter sounds does it sound ok? something that requires your d100 to be in the top half of the input level knob... if this works you prob just need some 15 or 20 dB bads between the pre and the recorder, or perhaps you could just turn the preamp way down

Title: Re: Neumann & PCM d100, distortion problem
Post by: aaronji on August 06, 2019, 09:28:11 AM

Perhaps a stupid question, but were you using the mic or line input on the Sony? In either case, what were the gain settings on the Femto and the D100?

Title: Re: Neumann & PCM d100, distortion problem
Post by: Gordon on August 07, 2019, 07:17:07 PM

Quote from: if_then_else on August 04, 2019, 03:49:07 PM

I've also got an AudioRoot Femto.

I've never run it
(1) without any attenuator pads (-15dB) in order to avoid saturating the pre-amp'sa XLR-ins and

I had a Femto for a while and never ran pads on it!  Never had an issue.....