Topic: TEAM Marantz PMD 660 (Part II)

[flintstone]

The big advantage of 24 bit recording is that you don't have to run "balls-to-the-wall" to get a decent signal to noise ratio.  You can raise the overall level of a 24 bit recording in post without bringing the noise floor up to the point where it's intrusive. 

The noise floor of 16 bit recordings becomes noticeable more quickly as you boost the levels in post.  So a 16 bit recorder like the 660, should be run close to clipping in order to keep the noise floor down.

Flintstone

[intpseeker]

What he said. Run the Oade 660 hot. It's pretty forgiving. Orange is good. A few reds aren't bad.

[bdasilva]

Crap...  I bought a 660 the day they were released and ran just two Radiators shows only to figure out about clipping and brickwalling... a short talk with Doug told me to dump it because it wasn't going to work for what we did and he wasn't going to mod it if I didn't buy it from him.  Does everyone with a bussman mod run it in the green?   could it be the meters just not in sync with the actual levels?
Chris did send me an email offering to help my situation... No questions about his continuing support for our community.

"It should have been able to run hot but it seems with these that it depends on the SPLs produced by the PA. All my tests I was not able to overload the pres but I cannot produce the same SPLs that a PA can. If you continue to have issues let me know and I can adjust the gain stage more to handle it.
They have 4 revisions of the 660 and each one requires different work to the gain stage and in one case I had to rework it after the inital mod. Either way just let me know and I will get it where it needs to be."

[bensyverson]

I may be offloading the Busman 660 I just got -- it's amazing, but I want to try 24 bit.

If anyone is interested before I open it up to the YS, lemme know. LN condition, still under Busman warranty, $500 shipped.

[rockthing]

A PMD660 recording in the kickdown, this was my first time in public with the box.

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,96523.0.html

[Sam Lord]

The big advantage of 24 bit recording is that you don't have to run "balls-to-the-wall" to get a decent signal to noise ratio.  You can raise the overall level of a 24 bit recording in post without bringing the noise floor up to the point where it's intrusive. 

The noise floor of 16 bit recordings becomes noticeable more quickly as you boost the levels in post.  So a 16 bit recorder like the 660, should be run close to clipping in order to keep the noise floor down.

Indeed, but these portable recorders' internal micpre noise levels rarely get to 16-bit equivalent EIN, so 24 bits is far more useful with external, truly-low-noise micpres and ADCs.  But you knew that...

[bruloup]

that modded recorder still available???

 tried to pm but couldn't get it togo through

thank you
jackson

[newplanet7]

that modded recorder still available???

 tried to pm but couldn't get it togo through

thank you
jackson

The pmd 660 isn't available.
However someone has a pmd 670 busman mod
in the yard sale. Great price too.
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,97029.0.html

[bdasilva]

Well.. I sold my PMD-660 in the yardsale so I won't be a member of this team (thread) anymore (Why is there no team?) but I have to tell you how my problem with meters and clipping turned out. Chris and I talked and looked at the waveform...  It was some clipping and flattops on signal that where no clipping. We both figured out the A/D was overloading. I sent it back to him and he turned it right around and now the meters match what is being recorded. What is being recorded is perfect.  What a great sounding box. I could love it.     The R-4 will suit me better tho.  Good luck guys, You made a good choice choosing the modded PMD-660. When you consider what even a UA-5 and a JB-3 have costed... Its a smokin deal.

[rockthing]

Sorry to hear you're leaving the pseudo team.
The R-4 looks like a bad (meaning good) little box.
Multi-track fun in your future, I see.

2 tracks keeps me plenty busy for the time being. (even without a mod)

Well.. I sold my PMD-660 in the yardsale so I won't be a member of this team (thread) anymore (Why is there no team?) but I have to tell you how my problem with meters and clipping turned out. Chris and I talked and looked at the waveform...  It was some clipping and flattops on signal that where no clipping. We both figured out the A/D was overloading. I sent it back to him and he turned it right around and now the meters match what is being recorded. What is being recorded is perfect.  What a great sounding box. I could love it.     The R-4 will suit me better tho.  Good luck guys, You made a good choice choosing the modded PMD-660. When you consider what even a UA-5 and a JB-3 have costed... Its a smokin deal.

[danlynch]

We're a TEAM now!  Topic title changed per suggestions in the topic.

[Krispy D]

woot! team 660...

[Krispy D]

How does the file split work with this box? anybody know?  I have the opportunity to tape tonight with power in a super safe spot and an empty 4gig card.  I want to set up and start taping the opener and just let it go till the end of the show .  Probably something like 9pm-1am.  will this work?  Or will I run into trouble?

[vwmule]

I have AT853 that end in 1/8th inch plug. What do I need to do to use with the 660?

[Javier Cinakowski]

I have AT853 that end in 1/8th inch plug. What do I need to do to use with the 660?

They have a right angle one too...

http://www.naiant.com/studiostore/cleverdevices.html
http://www.naiant.com/pfaspecification.html

PFA Phantom Adaptor for Stereo Plug-in Power Microphones, $59

Use any stereo plug-in power microphone with a standard professional microphone preamplifier! Requires phantom power; supplies +9V to plug-in power microphone. Also available with right-angle XLR connectors for $69.

Using the PFA



The PFA is a phantom-power adaptor for plug-in power mics, which enables the mics to be connected to standard professional microphone preamplifiers. The PFA supplies the appropriate voltage to the plug-in power microphones, and provides a balanced, low impedance output to the microphone preamplifier.


The left and right channels of the PFA operate independently, so phantom power must be supplied to both channels for stereo operation.


The PFA supplies +9V across 4.7KΩ resistors to each microphone channel. The PFA requires +24V to +48V phantom power to operate; lower voltages may work with reduced voltage supply to the microphones.


 

PFA Specifications



Type: phantom power adaptor for plug-in power microphone

Phantom Power: +24V to +48V required
Current: 3mA minimum
Input Impedance: 4.7KΩ
Recommended Preamp Input Impedance: 600Ω minimum
Total Harmonic Distortion, 1kHz @ -10dBV: 0.4%
Total Harmonic Distortion, 1kHz @ -30dBV: <0.05%
Maximum Level, 1kHz @ 1% THD: 0dBV
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
Self-Noise: -103dBV
Weight: 2.9oz (83g)
Dimensions (XLR): 2 3/4" x 3/4"ø (70mm x 19mmø)
Dimensions (minijack): 1 3/8" x 3/8"ø (35mm x 9mmø)