Topic: SP Battery module vs. phantom power kit

[Zeb]

Firstly, hello everyone, nice to be here!  Decided I'd like to start taping shows I go to, and it was recommended that I come and join these forums. 

I've read through a wealth of knowledge from around the forums, and I've decided to go with a JB3 and get CMC-2 mics and mic power from Sound Pro.

My question is:  I can't decide, should I get the sound pro basic battery module ($45) or the sound pro phantom power adapter kit ($100)? 

Also, do I need anything else for a half-decent recording, or should the mics, mic power and JB3 be enough?  My budget won't stretch to too much more, but if there's anything else that would improve performance without breaking the bank, what do you recommend?

Link to the item page:  http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-CMC-2

I'm mainly going to be stealth recording...

Thanks!

[pfife]

phantom power.  You'll be able to record at higher SPL concerts and not overdrive the mics.  There are many people around who have reported overpowering the mics at louder concerts when using the battery box setup.

If I were you, I'd go with phantom power and purchase a PS-2 instead of a battery box (often sold used for $75 - $100 used) -  but that's just me.

[bmr]

It's really an issue of SPLs. If you're going to be stealthing rock concerts or anything loud like that, the SPLs you'll run into at those sorts of shows will be in the range above generally what the CMC-2s are able to handle on battery power. With the phantom power, you increase their natural ability to handle louder sounds, and as a result your recording's going to see a jump in quality.

Of course, the drawback is that you have to deal with the bulk of the Samson PM-4 XLR connectors (part of the phantom power kit) and the increased size of the PS-2 instead of the 1/8" mini jack + the small battery box. The phantom-powered CMC-2s & the PS-2 can absolutely be stealthed, but since you're just starting out it's hard to say how comfortable you'd be with doing that. If you're fine with bulkier stealth items, then yeah, I'd go with the PS-2 and the phantoms like pfife said.

[Humbug]

I'm politely disagreeing here - the CMC2s do not need phantom power.

I've not done a direct comparison, but recording very loud rock / metal bands does not overload these mics. I've 100+ stealth recordings to prove this..

The CMC4s, 6s, and 8s do overload at high spls.

[Wedge]

My CMC-2s > SP-SPSB-1 (flat) worked a treat for Scorpions/Judas Priest.  And Priest were loud.

[leegeddy]

I'm politely disagreeing here - the CMC2s do not need phantom power.

I've not done a direct comparison, but recording very loud rock / metal bands does not overload these mics. I've 100+ stealth recordings to prove this..

The CMC4s, 6s, and 8s do overload at high spls.

many factors (mainly spl and one's proximity to sound source) are in play with overloading the battery powered mics.  so i would have to disagree with this in general.

i've overloaded AT831 mics (not the SP cmc2 version) in the past.

marc

[pfife]

I'm politely disagreeing here - the CMC2s do not need phantom power.

I've not done a direct comparison, but recording very loud rock / metal bands does not overload these mics. I've 100+ stealth recordings to prove this..

The CMC4s, 6s, and 8s do overload at high spls.

many factors (mainly spl and one's proximity to sound source) are in play with overloading the battery powered mics.  so i would have to disagree with this in general.

i've overloaded AT831 mics (not the SP cmc2 version) in the past.

marc

I have no personal experience with this - just relaying what I've read many times here. 

Also, there is the possibility that some models of SP AT's handle high SPLs, and others do not... I don't know enough about them, and admittedly lump all of them together...

[Humbug]

Bet the original poster is really confused by now, if he's checking back on this thread 

[George]

Not only do phantom powered mics handle loud concerts better (not overloading), the sound quality on the mics should improve quite dramatically (it's like lifting a veil off the mics when i got my sp mics upgraded to phantom power).  I would definitely get the phamtom power kit and be done with it.  It'll save you a lot of hassle down the road, imho.

The only downside is sneaking in the gear.  I miss those days of sneaking in that mini battery module...so damn easy to hide just about anywhere.