Topic: DPA 4021's > Microtrack MT 24/96 Powering Options

[scb]

The MP2 doesn't look all that much smaller than the mini-me, so adding another accessory (and more power issues, and more cables) sort of defeats the purpose and doesn't really provide the "super" stealth set-up I'm aiming for.

just an fyi, the mp2 is a hell of a lot smaller than a minime and can be powered by internal AA's

mp2: 1.7 x 3.7 x 5.5
minime: 1.5 x 5.4 x 9.8

it's half the size

not telling you have to do it, but just clearing that up

[Shawn]

DPA 4021-> ACM 660   

That would be tits!!

You guys, you keep making me look stuff up 

You're talking about this item:

http://tinyurl.com/27tmzm


Hm.  Now that's an idea.

IMO that's a much better solution than PS2 > microtracker.

[danlynch]

Thanks for the post, Tim.

At this point, it would appear that the best 2 options would be a stealthy pre-amp or an ACM-660.
I have a lot to think about.

Again, the speed and the depth of information available on this board amazes me.  Thanks to all

[Colin Liston]

The Microtrack 24/96 HAS phantom power and can power the DPA 402x series, including the 4021.  Why not just use the microtracker and no preamp?

[Nick's Picks]

ACM 660.
no mess
no wires
no expenses (you'll never need more than a 4gb CF card) and will rival or surpass any of those preamps mentioned (paired up the the MT).
perfect little stealth deck.

[danlynch]

ACM 660.
no mess
no wires
no expenses (you'll never need more than a 4gb CF card) and will rival or surpass any of those preamps mentioned (paired up the the MT).
perfect little stealth deck.

I woke up this morning thinking about this, and deciding that giving Doug a call was
in my near future!

[Nick's Picks]

agreed

[Nick Graham]

it'd be analogous to buying a '72 nova and dropping a 4 cylinder motor in it for power. 

I have nothing to add to this conversation other than my first car was a sky blue '72 Nova with a 350.

Not the car for a drunken 16 year old....

[danlynch]

Well the mics are in.  And I must say they're bigger than I thought they'd be.  I'm thinking now through hat-mounting options.  I'll probably take these out a few times in non-stealth settings (the mic cable terminates in a standard xlr which fits nicely into the Mini-me) before working up to the stealth-necessary events planned for May.

In terms of the powering/pre-amp'ing options, I'm pretty sure I'm going the the 660, although from what I read, the Marantz decks do not do 24-bit.

[danlynch]

Sell the Neummies?!? 'Dem's fighting words, my friend.

[bluntforcetrauma]

2 cents

denecke PS2

stealth as hell.

works great with my set up

control the gain thru the MT

[Nick's Picks]

personaly, I wouldnt go for the 671 just for the extra bits.

it really depends on what you are recording.  if you are just taping PAs and jambands, there isn't any "good" info floating in the air that requires 24bit anything to capture in full detail.
some minor spacial clues, IMO are not worth the added expense or hassles.

[danlynch]

Just to update this topic....
Today I ordered the Marantz PMD-660 (Oade Basic Concert Mod).  Doug was as patient
and helpful as could be, and I should have this baby in hand on Friday.

Many thanks for all the extremely helpful information posted in this topic.  This board rocks.

[danlynch]

Just to update this topic....
Today I ordered the Marantz PMD-660 (Oade Basic Concert Mod).  Doug was as patient
and helpful as could be, and I should have this baby in hand on Friday.

Many thanks for all the extremely helpful information posted in this topic.  This board rocks.

Finally, got this rig out tonight.  Graham Parker with a 5-piece rock band in the Knitting
Factory.  The DPA's are beautiful.  The BCM, not.  This kind of setting was a nice test
for the rig, and it can't handle the high volume/small club/upfront setting.  There is significant
clipping/crackling/distortion at the higher volumes (levels are fine), which means to me that
the BCM pre-amp doesn't have enough head room to handle a hot signal from powerful mics
like the 4021's.
I've sent an email to Doug about "upgrading" to the ACM.  I really hope that the ACM
solves the problem, because otherwise I'm going to have to go back to the
DPAs>preamp>MT scenario that I had avoided for a more streamlined approach.

I'm going to do a DPA 4021 > Apogee Mini-me > MT (non-stealth) set-up in a small
club (more acoustic act) this Sunday to give the DPAs another test run.

[ford prefect]

There is significant
clipping/crackling/distortion at the higher volumes (levels are fine), which means to me that
the BCM pre-amp doesn't have enough head room to handle a hot signal from powerful mics
like the 4021's.

Before you pump more money into it, you should probably talk to Doug about this first.  From his website:

The Basic Concert MOD is designed to optimize recording quality on the 660 for music recording. This MOD differs from the Basic MOD in that it allows for a much higher input level via the microphone XLR inputs that allows the recordist to use a very high output condenser microphone without fear of input overload or clipping while further reducing the noise floor.

My advice: Give him a ring first and ask for his opinion on your problem.  Just upgrading to the ACM might not be the fix.