Topic: field powering for schoeps tubes?

[trajhip2000]

I've never actually seen a set of these running in the field - what are the powering options? The Schoeps literature says "12V car battery," is that really what the folks running them for e.g. Phish were using?

A related question, but maybe for the mic forum - any downside to getting the DC unit as opposed to the AC? From what I can tell the DC unit does come with an AC adapter, and at most of the shows I run I have access to AC. There appears to be a difference in the output levels and amplification stages tho.The ouput would be going into either a 744T or V3, so I could take either mic or line level. Thanks.

Steve

[F.O.Bean]

the DC ones are def powerable in the 'field'

i believe everyone just used a 12v sla battery, i recall seeing my friends running them w/ those at phish

[scb]

a 12v 7 amp hour was fine for a full allmans show for me in march 03.  not sure how long it can go, but was fine for over 3 hours

[trajhip2000]

is it just one 12V for both supplies, or do you need 2 batteries? I guess it's a custom cable either way? thx.

Steve

[F.O.Bean]

sideshow/dave, where are you

[sideshowbob]

I've never actually seen a set of these running in the field - what are the powering options? The Schoeps literature says "12V car battery," is that really what the folks running them for e.g. Phish were using?

A related question, but maybe for the mic forum - any downside to getting the DC unit as opposed to the AC? From what I can tell the DC unit does come with an AC adapter, and at most of the shows I run I have access to AC. There appears to be a difference in the output levels and amplification stages tho.The ouput would be going into either a 744T or V3, so I could take either mic or line level. Thanks.

Steve

From Schoeps:
The M 222 can be ordered with two different powering units. With the NT 222 DC, an AC adapter is supplied but portable operation from an external 12 Volt supply (e.g. car battery) is possible as well; the output is also switchable to line level.

The NT 222 AC has identical dimensions, but its mains transformer is internal and the output is not switchable to line level. Thanks to its universal output circuitry it can be used with any microphone input, whether phantom powered or not and whether balanced or not. When connected to 48 V phantom power (“P48 ON“), cable runs up to 200 m can be used. “HARMONICS"  is adjustable in five steps.

For operating "in the field", you will need the DC power option for the NT222's. You can get the AC version if you will have AC power available. I run mine (DC NT222's) off/from a 12v battery, not a car battery, and get more than sufficient powering time (I've run them for well over 8hrs at a time with no troubles). The difference in the 2 is the line level output. With the DC version, you can run it at "tube direct" in "which there are no semiconductors in the signal path whatsoever" (the NT222's are pre amps...I run tube direct to let the V3 do it all). The AC version has a fixed line level. I have never run the AC version, so I have no real opinion.

Despite carrying the 12v batteries, i think that the DC version would be a more versatile choice.

Thanks.

----Jason

[sideshowbob]

is it just one 12V for both supplies, or do you need 2 batteries? I guess it's a custom cable either way? thx.

Steve

Yes, a custom cable is needed, but you only need one 12v to run both NT222's.

Thanks.

----Jason

[F.O.Bean]

great info jason