Topic: Equipment upgrade >>> CA-UBB or CA-9100

[pillowman]

hey community !

I'm thinking about how to upgrade my current equipment.

At the momment I use R09 > CA-UBB > SP-CMC-8 bodies > AT-ADAPT > ATU853

Will there be an significant upgrade in quality if I replace the CA-UBB against
the CA-9100 or will there be no difference ?

Also what will be the next upgrade step for stealth taping.
Don't want to go the schoeps route ... still want to some small stuff for hat taping.

any hint would be wonderfull - cheers
pillowman

[jbell]

the 9100 would be an upgrade from the battery box!  You would be able to apply gain.  As for mics a price range would help if you want suggestions.

[Belexes]

If you tape loud stuff, there won't be that noticable of an upgrade.  The 9100 benefits more from acoustic/quiet recordings when you are obtain clean gain from it versus the deck.

In your chain, I'd upgrade the mics first and foremost.  I'm happy with CA mics, but there are a lot of threads on here where everyone lists their favorites.

[acidjack]

If what you record is loud, I think the pre is a waste of money *relative* to what could be gained by spending on mics.

But on the mics, you'd have to spend a lot more. 

Maybe you'd like the Audix 1280 system with Church Cables more - really a preference issue there.  Your SP omnis are as good as any of the small omnis other than maybe the Nevatons, DPA 406x or Countryman B3 and even then might be pretty competitive with them. 

There isn't much of quality in small cardiods to move to without spending way more money and getting bigger mics.  Some sub-$1000 options would be:

Beyerdynamic ck930>tinybox (this is probably the best sounding, but this would require you to find a way to order the beyer caps without the mic bodies to keep you under $1000).  The beyers are a nice, clean transparent mic.  And they are reasonably well made.

AKG ck9x capsules with a Church pre.  Great option if you like the sound.  But you'd need to have the wiring work done or get the AKG active cables to make this work.

AKG ck6x capsules>tinybox (not yet in existence but coming soon; total price a little north of $1000)

Personally, I'd suggest working on technique and post-processing and saving up for the Schoeps or DPAs, or wait for the new AKG>tinybox system.  That seems the easiest to implement and should sound amazing once it's ready.

hey community !

I'm thinking about how to upgrade my current equipment.

At the momment I use R09 > CA-UBB > SP-CMC-8 bodies > AT-ADAPT > ATU853

Will there be an significant upgrade in quality if I replace the CA-UBB against
the CA-9100 or will there be no difference ?

Also what will be the next upgrade step for stealth taping.
Don't want to go the schoeps route ... still want to some small stuff for hat taping.

any hint would be wonderfull - cheers
pillowman

[jbou]

or wait for the new AKG>tinybox system.  That seems the easiest to implement and should sound amazing once it's ready.

This set will be awesome when it happens.

[Chuck]

The mics make the biggest impact on your recordings. So, I'd start there.
If you like the sound of your mics then look at the the rest of the recording chain.

[su6oxone]

The mics make the biggest impact on your recordings. So, I'd start there.

Agreed. 

Acidjack's suggestion of the Beyer CK930 (or AKG when released later) > Tinybox is probably your best bet and won't need to be further upgraded unless you want a different sound. 

[F.O.Bean]

or wait for the new AKG>tinybox system.  That seems the easiest to implement and should sound amazing once it's ready.

This set will be awesome when it happens.

I will DEF be running ck63>TB>R09, or
                             ck63>TB>LB>R09

[Teen Age Riot]

The mics make the biggest impact on your recordings. So, I'd start there.

Agreed. 

Acidjack's suggestion of the Beyer CK930 (or AKG when released later) > Tinybox is probably your best bet and won't need to be further upgraded unless you want a different sound.

If I understand the OP correctly those would already be too big.
If small size is the main concern, I would recommend DPA 4061s. There's a pair in the yard sale right now.
While these are omnis I would definitely consider them an upgrade over the ATs.
If cardioids or hyper cardioids are what you want, I think you'd have to invest significantly more money to get an upgrade. However, I don't think there is anything as small as the ATs that would sound significantly better.

[su6oxone]

If I understand the OP correctly those would already be too big.

I think the OP meant that the Schoeps route would be too costly.  CK930 > Tinybox is pretty darn small, albeit, not as tiny as the 406x.  I've always found the 406x too be too harsh sounding for my taste, and not optimal for stealthing because they're omnis (not to stir up another cards vs omni for stealthing debate).

[F.O.Bean]

He could also go the Audix Micros route as well. And they make Cards/Hypers/Omnis Id buy the MBHO 603A deal in the YS right now, or the Neumann 140 set still FS...

[pillowman]

ok friends,
thanx for all your input about my question.

yes the schoeps route is not interesting to me because of sice and price 

so what acidjack told about the Audix 1280 system with Church Cables sounds interesting to me.
maybe he can jump in for more information (prices, how to get them aso) - btw I got my ATU853 from him some time ago.

To be honest I still have a pair of DPA4061 and an CA-9100 ...  but for some reasons
I don't like to use them very often. For my personal taste it is easier to put the AT's into a hat
and the CA-9100 is a bit huge.

To be clear - I really like my stuff - so if there is not significant upgrade inside this sice and price range
I'll keep me stuff. again thanx for all the input into this - nice day to all!
pillowman

[jbou]

For small cards another option is the Microphone Madness MM HLSC 1s. Here is the link
http://microphonemadness.com/products/mmhigsencars.htm

I have no experience with these, but I just wanted to put this out there as it is an option. I'm sure people can chime in with their opinions on these if they have used them. And I believe they are a tad bit smaller the AT 853s.

[pillowman]

For small cards another option is the Microphone Madness MM HLSC 1s. Here is the link
http://microphonemadness.com/products/mmhigsencars.htm

I have no experience with these, but I just wanted to put this out there as it is an option. I'm sure people can chime in with their opinions on these if they have used them. And I believe they are a tad bit smaller the AT 853s.

thanx for the hint - I already had these mics but sold them quickly because I liked the AT-sound more.

I already had the following mics: Sony ECM-717, SP-TFB-2, OKM2rock,MM HLSC 1, CA-11, CAFS omnis, DPA 4061, AT943, ATU853,

curious what could be the next step for an upgrade staying into the same size and price range,
I still can go with the ATU853 stuff because they brought some nice results !
Any hint is appreciated !
kisses
pillowman

[acidjack]

I've posted on this before, but the Audix caps are CPS-MICRO-C (or HC, or O) and it's a parts order at www.fullcompass.com $250 I believe for two.  The Church Cables are $65. 

However, I do not really think the Audix are necessarily an "upgrade" to the AT853.  They are "different" sounding, and a bit smaller.   The main reason I kept the Audix and sold my AT 853s was I knew I would only run the Audix as a backup rig and where I would want something REALLY small and not want to run a hat or something.

I do not think any small cardiod mic (by small, I mean, roughly, smaller than the Schoeps/Beyer/AKG caps discussed above) is particularly better than another; they all just have a different sound that different people will prefer.  It sounds like you have tried everything pretty much. 

The only real upgrades in sound for you are going to a bigger mic like the Beyer/AKG/Schoeps or refining technique IMHO.  For low-profile taping of loud music I just don't think that buying an external pre is a particularly worthwhile upgrade (unless that pre is a tinybox, NBox, Aerco or something similar, and being used to run one of the above). 

ok friends,
thanx for all your input about my question.

yes the schoeps route is not interesting to me because of sice and price 

so what acidjack told about the Audix 1280 system with Church Cables sounds interesting to me.
maybe he can jump in for more information (prices, how to get them aso) - btw I got my ATU853 from him some time ago.

To be honest I still have a pair of DPA4061 and an CA-9100 ...  but for some reasons
I don't like to use them very often. For my personal taste it is easier to put the AT's into a hat
and the CA-9100 is a bit huge.

To be clear - I really like my stuff - so if there is not significant upgrade inside this sice and price range
I'll keep me stuff. again thanx for all the input into this - nice day to all!
pillowman