Topic: SD MP-2 Powering Question

[Cheesecadet]

It says on their fact sheet that 2 x AAs will not provide phantom power. 

So my question is: Is it possible to run the MP-2 off a DVD type battery and does it require a custom battery cable?  I may be aquiring one of these soon but want to be sure of my powering options beforehand.  Need to run 48 phantom for Peluso mics, but like th eoption of being able to use lower voltage for other mics as well.

[rastasean]

I've got the mixpre and a power cable from Ted and it runs without any issues on a dvd battery.

[Celac]

It says on their fact sheet that 2 x AAs will not provide phantom power. 

So my question is: Is it possible to run the MP-2 off a DVD type battery and does it require a custom battery cable?  I may be aquiring one of these soon but want to be sure of my powering options beforehand.  Need to run 48 phantom for Peluso mics, but like th eoption of being able to use lower voltage for other mics as well.

Do you mean this: http://www.sounddevices.com/download/lit/mp2_lit.pdf

I think you are misreading the spec... it says: "2 AA  alkaline batteries, 6 hours life typical, no phantom power" meaning that you might get six hours of life out of the AA's if you switch the phantom off.  If you leave it switched on you will get a shorter battery life, (quite a bit) meaning that if you want to run phantom and internals you need to use a higher cap battery, e.g., AA lithiums.  Phantom works with both internal and external batts.

[Cheesecadet]

Thanks for your answers...that is what I was wondering.  Any idea how much runtime in the real world one would get running 48 phantom on lithium AAs?

[jbell]

I ran my MP-2 off 9v DVD batteries and got really good runtimes!  I never used AA batteries

[ashevillain]

Thanks for your answers...that is what I was wondering.  Any idea how much runtime in the real world one would get running 48 phantom on lithium AAs?

Depends on the mics (as well as the specific batteries used) but i've got close to 6 hours out of lithiums before and about 2.5 - 3 hours out of nimh rechargeables on a regular basis. I never made a habit out of using lithiums so I can't tell if that's the norm or the exception. I have used nimh AA extensively and can say that as long as you use a reputable battery with a decent mah rating (and leave the meter light OFF) you should be good for a 3 hour show.

[mepaca]

With my Mixpre I get about 6 hours using lithium AA batteries

[Teen Age Riot]

I'm getting about 5 hours out of 2850mAh NiMH's, with 48v phantom turned on.

[jbell]

Get a couple DVD batteries or a Tekkeon and have Ted build you a power cable!  Then you won't ever have to worry about runtimes.  I had a dually DVD battery cable and used 2 DVD batteries and even on a 6-8 hour day of recording I would only lose about one light on a DVD battery. 

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Using AA's, I got a little over 2 hours of runtime with fresh Duracells powering a pair of AKG 414's.  But DVD batteries/Tekkeon are definitely the way to go for the MixPre/MP-2; you'll get plenty of time out of those power sources.  Had Ted make me a dually cable so I could hot-swap and it works beautifully.

[Charlie Miller]

It says on their fact sheet that 2 x AAs will not provide phantom power. 

So my question is: Is it possible to run the MP-2 off a DVD type battery and does it require a custom battery cable?  I may be aquiring one of these soon but want to be sure of my powering options beforehand.  Need to run 48 phantom for Peluso mics, but like th eoption of being able to use lower voltage for other mics as well.

That's gotta be a misprint. I was able to get a 2 hour set out of Duracell AA's. I never tried to get a 2 sets out of them though. I would just fill up a box with the used batteries and keep them around for flashlights. I love the MP2.

[taperj]

That's gotta be a misprint.