Topic: upgrade to my stealth rig???

[darktrain]

I run a Marantz PMD620 and it has a great internal pre which will power any plug in mic without a bb or preamp with no problems(i use mm-hlsc-1's(4.7k mod) but the at853(modded) will be pretty similar), i have recorded(and very succesfully) metal bands like Iron maiden, Testament and Danzig with just the mics going mic in(12bd limiter) into the pmd620

[J.Maye]

I would (and did) go with the $249 omni/card/9100 CA package, and you could still get an H120 for ~$400 total. Save up some more cash, get the R09 and sell the h120, and that puts you ~$550 total, but you can do it in steps.

Or, since you already have a battery box, you could get the R09 and a new set of mics now (ca, 853, ect) and worry about a pre later.   

[tcf]

You would be in the 550 range with a used microtracker and new Nevaton mce400's.  I would recomend this setup over anything else.  Highly flexible, no battery box, very good sounding mics.  PM TNJAZZGRASS for samples.

TF

[fmaderjr]

Note on the Nevaton mce400's recommendation: As good as these mics are, I would not rely on any omni mic as your only mic unless you only tape by the stacks. I have DPA 4060's & 4061's. I've made incredible sounding recordings with them when I can get them near the sound source, but the few times I've tried them a decent distance from the stage or stacks, the sound as been very disappointing (not nearly as good as if I had used the much more inexpensive CA-11 cards).

I second J. Maye's H120 recommendation (with rockbox installed) if you want to save money over buying an R-09. Although illconditioned (who is much more knowledgeable than I am) doesn't like the analog in, I think it does a great job if you are recording a loud source. Since it looks like you will also be getting the ST-9100 pre (a great choice) you will be able to use that with the H120 to do a good job recording lower level sources as well. Just get the first 20 dB of gain from the ST-9100.

[tcf]

I disagree strongly with the assertation that omnis are only good for stack taping.  The mce 400's are more akin to a subcard and are certainly directional no matter what the marketing states.  This is first hand info with using these mics for more than a year.  Second, I never stack tape and you don't have the "omni bass bloat" with the mce 400's.  Again, check the samples that TNJAZZGRASS can send you and decide for yourself.  I have been a low pro taper for over 15 years and wish I'd heard about the 400's a long time ago. 

[fmaderjr]

tcf-I'll of course defer to your experience with the mic. That the mics are actually directional will help away from the stage also. I didn't really mean omni's are only good for stack taping, though. I meant up fairly close (and also, I've heard, out doors and in unusually good sounding rooms). My view was based on my experience with the DPA 406* omni series.

[illconditioned]

I disagree strongly with the assertation that omnis are only good for stack taping.  The mce 400's are more akin to a subcard and are certainly directional no matter what the marketing states.  This is first hand info with using these mics for more than a year.  Second, I never stack tape and you don't have the "omni bass bloat" with the mce 400's.  Again, check the samples that TNJAZZGRASS can send you and decide for yourself.  I have been a low pro taper for over 15 years and wish I'd heard about the 400's a long time ago. 

I agree.  I've done a ton of omni taping over the years.  Basically if you can get *close enough* that the sound is good, omnis will sound good.  What often happens is I get way up close, usually close to one stack, so I get PA from that and stage/ambient as well.  I then move about (subtly, between songs) to reduce the chatter.  This only works in standing/general admission venues, but that is where I tape mostly anyway.

The only time I really wish for cardioids is when I'm in a seated venue, and when the room is large and boom.  Otherwise I almost always prefer the open and natural omni sound.

  Richard

[hypnotoad]

I run a Marantz PMD620 and it has a great internal pre which will power any plug in mic without a bb or preamp with no problems(i use mm-hlsc-1's(4.7k mod) but the at853(modded) will be pretty similar), i have recorded(and very succesfully) metal bands like Iron maiden, Testament and Danzig with just the mics going mic in(12bd limiter) into the pmd620

I have to agree with Darktrain on this one, same recorder here.  I've also run a pmd620 straight to a set of at853's with great success.  Also tried the deck with a pair of 943's and liked the way that recording came out too.  That little Marantz deck is very underrated if you ask me.  Great size, great features, great sound.

[Fried Chicken Boy]

My current stealth rig is pretty much what some of our fellow TSer's are suggesting:AT831's (from Sound Professionals) or Church CA-11's through a Sound Professionals battery box and into a regular R-09.  Put simply, I LOVE my rig and I've gotten some great pulls with both the SP's and Church's with and without using the battery box.  Can't tell you about the AT853's or CA-14's but both are a little more expensive, have slightly better specs and (in the case of the AT853's) interchangeable capsules, so I imagine that you could only get better results with them.  Additionally, both Chris Carfagno and Chris Church have outstanding products and are a pleasure to deal with; both have helped me out in a clinch.  Gonna be busy for the rest of the weekend, but PM me if you'd like some samples of both.  Cheers and Happy Halloween.