Topic: DPA 4061 How to I find out if the mic is a low sens mic

[swordfish]

SSIA

I bought a used DPA 4061 on ebay a while ago.  And recognized that I have difficilties IMO to get enough level during quiter shows even the CA 9100 is turned up to the max.

Received my M 10 from Sony after a few month in repair(in the end Sony did sent a new one) and tested the mic using the "mic in" instead of the "ine in".

Lineage: DPA 4061(low sens ?)-- CA 9 V battery clip- Mic in(PIP off) - M 10.  Both shows were not too loud and I was not close to the source.  My first impression is that the recording came out very good--- kinda brighter --  better balanced ---- less bass than the shows before.

I know that varies from venue to venue and PA to PA.

Anybody has a similar experience....using the "mic in" on the M 10?  Is there a way to find out if the mic a low sens mic?  I like the linegae due to the fact the  that in Europe open taping is the not the nromal thing you do.

SF

Bare with me if the questions are kinda stupid.

SF

[nickee]

As far as I know (and there's nothing on the DPA web that says otherwise) the DPA4061 is the low sense version of the 4060. I.e there's only one version 4061 available, there's a 4062 that's even less sensitive than the 4061. Is it still not loud enough with mic in?

[mr qpl]

what was the setting on the m10? I have a d50 and have no problem with recording quiet material. I use line in only for very loud stuff.

[Church-Audio]

SSIA

I bought a used DPA 4061 on ebay a while ago.  And recognized that I have difficilties IMO to get enough level during quiter shows even the CA 9100 is turned up to the max.

Received my M 10 from Sony after a few month in repair(in the end Sony did sent a new one) and tested the mic using the "mic in" instead of the "ine in".

Lineage: DPA 4061(low sens ?)-- CA 9 V battery clip- Mic in(PIP off) - M 10.  Both shows were not too loud and I was not close to the source.  My first impression is that the recording came out very good--- kinda brighter --  better balanced ---- less bass than the shows before.

I know that varies from venue to venue and PA to PA.

Anybody has a similar experience....using the "mic in" on the M 10?  Is there a way to find out if the mic a low sens mic?  I like the linegae due to the fact the  that in Europe open taping is the not the nromal thing you do.

SF

Bare with me if the questions are kinda stupid.

SF

You can use my preamp with the mic input if you need more gain just crank the 9100 and then slowly turn up the gain on your recorder. This is only for quiet shows.

[acidjack]

The 4061 is a low sensitivity mic, but if powered properly and not broken it should have enough sensitivity to record most things other than hummingbird wings flapping.

I'd be surprised if you can't get enough gain with the M10 at "unity" gain AND going mic-in AND with the 9100 at max.  That sounds like a broken mic to me.

[swordfish]

what was the setting on the m10? I have a d50 and have no problem with recording quiet material. I use line in only for very loud stuff.

Unity gain is at 4 iand it clocks innewtween -10 and -3 if the music is not to loud 

just listened to last nights recording and I have the same feeling better balanced and better sound.

SF

[swordfish]

The 4061 is a low sensitivity mic, but if powered properly and not broken it should have enough sensitivity to record most things other than hummingbird wings flapping.

I'd be surprised if you can't get enough gain with the M10 at "unity" gain AND going mic-in AND with the 9100 at max.  That sounds like a broken mic to me.

Mic in works just perfect...battery box CA Ugly, Ca9100, haven't checked the tiny box lately the mics requires a lot of juice.  Quit rock shows the +20 DB seems not to be enough.

SF

[swordfish]

SSIA

I bought a used DPA 4061 on ebay a while ago.  And recognized that I have difficilties IMO to get enough level during quiter shows even the CA 9100 is turned up to the max.

Received my M 10 from Sony after a few month in repair(in the end Sony did sent a new one) and tested the mic using the "mic in" instead of the "ine in".

Lineage: DPA 4061(low sens ?)-- CA 9 V battery clip- Mic in(PIP off) - M 10.  Both shows were not too loud and I was not close to the source.  My first impression is that the recording came out very good--- kinda brighter --  better balanced ---- less bass than the shows before.

I know that varies from venue to venue and PA to PA.

Anybody has a similar experience....using the "mic in" on the M 10?  Is there a way to find out if the mic a low sens mic?  I like the linegae due to the fact the  that in Europe open taping is the not the nromal thing you do.

SF

Bare with me if the questions are kinda stupid.

SF

You can use my preamp with the mic input if you need more gain just crank the 9100 and then slowly turn up the gain on your recorder. This is only for quiet shows.

Thanks for all the answers....I will use the mic in for quiter shows in the future and do some testing.

[dogmusic]

I had a strange experience with my M10 while testing a pair of DPA4060's I got off ebay.

My chain was 4060's>SP-SPSB-8 batt box>M10.

I tried both mic-in and line-in and could not get much level even at high record level settings.

Yet plugging in AT853's gave me loud recordings at the M10 unity gain setting of 4.0 going line-in.

I ended up using my D50 for the 4060's tests, which gave me plenty of level with the same chain.

[swordfish]

I had a strange experience with my M10 while testing a pair of DPA4060's I got off ebay.

My chain was 4060's>SP-SPSB-8 batt box>M10.

I tried both mic-in and line-in and could not get much level even at high record level settings.

Yet plugging in AT853's gave me loud recordings at the M10 unity gain setting of 4.0 going line-in.

I ended up using my D50 for the 4060's tests, which gave me plenty of level with the same chain.

It's the same with my AT 853s without the 4.7 mod

[dogmusic]

I had a strange experience with my M10 while testing a pair of DPA4060's I got off ebay.

My chain was 4060's>SP-SPSB-8 batt box>M10.

I tried both mic-in and line-in and could not get much level even at high record level settings.

Yet plugging in AT853's gave me loud recordings at the M10 unity gain setting of 4.0 going line-in.

I ended up using my D50 for the 4060's tests, which gave me plenty of level with the same chain.

It's the same with my AT 853s without the 4.7 mod

My AT853's don't have the mod either.

Why would the M10 react to the 4060's so differently from the D50?

[Gutbucket]

The 4061 is a low sensitivity mic, but if powered properly and not broken it should have enough sensitivity to record most things other than hummingbird wings flapping.

Hummingbird flight is louder and lower in frequency than many people realize. 
I recorded 'em a few years ago flying around my parent's porch (using the more sensitive DPA 4060) and they sound like huge model planes.  They move some serious air for their size.

FYI,
Sensitivity figures for DPA miniature omnis (nominal, ±3 dB at 1 kHz)-
4060 = 20 mV/Pa; -34 dB re. 1 V/Pa
4061 = 6 mV/Pa; -44 dB re. 1 V/Pa
4062 = 1 mV/Pa; -60 dB re. 1 V/Pa

[swordfish]

The 4061 is a low sensitivity mic, but if powered properly and not broken it should have enough sensitivity to record most things other than hummingbird wings flapping.

I'd be surprised if you can't get enough gain with the M10 at "unity" gain AND going mic-in AND with the 9100 at max.  That sounds like a broken mic to me.

would it make sense to buy an additional DPA 4060 for quiter shows or would it be a waste of money?

[aaronji]

^^^ Depends.  If you're really not getting sufficient levels, the 4060s will give you about 10 dB of free gain compared to the 4061s (see Gutbucket's last post).  Another option would be to run a pre-amp that provides the additonal gain you need...Or both for really quiet sources...

Hummingbird flight is louder and lower in frequency than many people realize. 
I recorded 'em a few years ago flying around my parent's porch (using the more sensitive DPA 4060) and they sound like huge model planes.  They move some serious air for their size.

I used to have one living in my yard.  When I first moved to that house, and encountered the thing for the first time, I thought I was being dive-bombed by some kind of prehistoric giant insect!  Surprisingly loud.  I could hear that little guy with the windows closed, no problem...

[swordfish]

^^^ Depends.  If you're really not getting sufficient levels, the 4060s will give you about 10 dB of free gain compared to the 4061s (see Gutbucket's last post).  Another option would be to run a pre-amp that provides the additonal gain you need...Or both for really quiet sources...

Hummingbird flight is louder and lower in frequency than many people realize. 
I recorded 'em a few years ago flying around my parent's porch (using the more sensitive DPA 4060) and they sound like huge model planes.  They move some serious air for their size.

I used to have one living in my yard.  When I first moved to that house, and encountered the thing for the first time, I thought I was being dive-bombed by some kind of prehistoric giant insect!  Surprisingly loud.  I could hear that little guy with the windows closed, no problem...

I do have preamps...but the shows I recorded were so quite that the 20 DB of the CA 9100 were not enough.  Had to raise levels later and got some hiss.  I do record in 24/48.  But still have the impression that If you raise the volume in post from - 15or -12 that it is not the same as to record in betwenn -6 and -3 and raise the level only a few db.  I know some like it hot and some don't.  IMO if you record on a higher level it sounds better..than recording on a lower level and raising the levels in post.

But maybe I am wrong ....

Still the question for me if it makes sens to buy a used 4060....since I am not recording anything super loud and distortion shouldn't be a problem at all.