Topic: 1990s taper finally upgrading gear - a few questions about mics, power, stealth

[rigpimp]

Thanks.

Lots of user manuals online, and some on this very site!

I have looked at some product manuals, but the kind of elementary level overview I am looking for I have not found yet.  Did everyone else on this board get advanced degrees in sound engineering or work as electricians or ?

What Rory said, go out and hit record.  There is a thread you can post in (or review in advance) about all of the mistakes we make...and repeat. 

You could do what I did and buy or borrow a book on micrphone technology and recording techniques.  It helped me tons.  There is also TONS of youtube video and DPA University.  https://www.dpamicrophones.com/mic-university

[rocksuitcase]

in the education vein:
https://audiouniversityonline.com/5-must-read-books-for-audio-engineers/

I like the fifth choice: 5.) Best Book for Technical Audio Concepts – Handbook for Sound Engineers by Glen Ballou- https://amzn.to/3jcZ3RH

#1 too: Best All-Around Book for Audio Production – https://amzn.to/3m5C38R

[morst]

30 years ago I checked out the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook from the library, and read that whole thing.
There is now a third edition available.

book review
https://www.musitechnic.com/en/yamaha-sound-reinforcement-handbook-book-review/

The YSRH is a classic for a reason; it goes through everything you need to know about live sound that can be taught in a book. It is a technical read, there are no anecdotes, just straight facts. The book covers the audio theory involved and the practical applications of that theory, that will allow you to design, use and troubleshoot a sound system for a variety of needs.

[aaronji]

It is all pretty complicated, but, as vanark mentioned, you don't necessarily need to understand it all to make good tapes. It does help to figure out combinations of gear that will work well together and settings, though. I PM'ed you with a few thoughts. I hope it doesn't just add to the confusion!

[chiefscribe]

Thanks, all.

Even though this is about headphones mainly it covers some of the things I was wondering about
https://www.headphonesty.com/2019/04/headphone-jacks-plugs-explained/

as does this https://www.audiostance.com/audio-connectors-and-cables/

though neither one mentions LEMO. 

I think I was spoiled by DAT & digital cables - yes, S/PDIF cables were somewhat difficult to find back then, and there was copy protection on consumer decks to worry about, but at least data = data = data so I wasn't worried about destroying devices by plugging something in.  Either analog is much more complicated, or I am too old a dog to learn new tricks very easily.

[seethreepo]

https://www.headphonesty.com/2019/04/demevalos-guide-to-building-audio-cables/

another nifty article linked to the above headphone jack wiki

[chiefscribe]

Cool. That actually seems doable, not by me necessarily, but good to know it's not brain surgery.

[chiefscribe]

Having received much advice and assistance from several forum members, I have assembled enough gear to record some shows this week.

one with used Schoeps Colette capsules > actives > platinum nbox to go into my old R-05 recorder, with used PFAs that could go into my Tascam DR-100mkiii as an alternative
Ended up with MK4s, which sound the best to me overall in my listening tests, but also MK41s for more difficult or noisy situations, and MK4Vs which fit best in the concealed location for subtle field recording purposes.  Obviously don't need both 4s and 4Vs, but couldn't decide based on the samples I heard so wanted to test for myself and decide which one to sell later.  Baby nbox will be on the way soon but I won't have it in time for the shows this week, my first live music since the pre-pandemic era.  Don't know if I remember how to go to shows, but it'll all come back to me soon I hope.

and

one with DPA 4060s > DPA MMA-A/d:vice preamp > refurbished iPhone SE running metarecorder and the DPA app. 

Still a few lingering questions about setting up the DPA rig.  I wasn't planning on using the windscreens for  but when I tried putting them on just to test them I fiddled around for a while and thought I was going to rip them and gave up.  If I ever need the windscreens hopefully I'll figure out how to put them on without damaging anything. 

Also in the midst of setting up the iPhone and am wondering whether to delete mail and message apps from there. I will keep it in airplane mode of course but wondering what else I can do to keep that phone clear of any distractions and interruptions while it's recording. 

Also wondering about the metarecorder file format - CAF is better, I assume? But my computer is too old to run dropbox so I am wary of huge files.  I like the R-05's automatic seamless file-splitting feature. That would come in handy for making phone files easier to transfer to computer. 

And still trying to figure out a few details about how mic placement would differ with the different capsules. 

Thanks again to everyone who advised me.  Wish me luck...

[morst]

You can download directly from Dropbox without using their terrible app, if that helps.

[MakersMarc]

You can download directly from Dropbox without using their terrible app, if that helps.

Yep, once I decided to abandon the shit apps, it’s really quick and solid for downloads

[chiefscribe]

Welp, I thought I was doing enough research and searching how people set levels with the R-05.  The post I found said 40 was great for really loud shows, and I was not going to a really loud show, so I thought 40 would be OK.  Nope, quiet songs sound great but everything else is clipped a little, just enough to sound not that great.  Too bad because the sound in person was absolutely perfect.  Perhaps that was with babynbox rather than nbox.  Where is that time machine so I can do this again?   

[capnhook]

Welp, I thought I was doing enough research and searching how people set levels with the R-05.  The post I found said 40 was great for really loud shows, and I was not going to a really loud show, so I thought 40 would be OK.  Nope, quiet songs sound great but everything else is clipped a little, just enough to sound not that great.  Too bad because the sound in person was absolutely perfect.  Perhaps that was with babynbox rather than nbox.  Where is that time machine so I can do this again?   

PM sent about the clipped .wav....don't throw that shit out yet.

[daspyknows]

Welp, I thought I was doing enough research and searching how people set levels with the R-05.  The post I found said 40 was great for really loud shows, and I was not going to a really loud show, so I thought 40 would be OK.  Nope, quiet songs sound great but everything else is clipped a little, just enough to sound not that great.  Too bad because the sound in person was absolutely perfect.  Perhaps that was with babynbox rather than nbox.  Where is that time machine so I can do this again?   

PM sent about the clipped .wav....don't throw that shit out yet.

Thx.  Was hoping someone could help with this.

[chiefscribe]

PM sent about the clipped .wav....don't throw that shit out yet.

Thanks. Reply sent. It's not too bad, not digital noise, just some distortion. Maybe some of it is salvageable. 

[jbosco]

30 years ago I checked out the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook from the library, and read that whole thing.
There is now a third edition available.

book review
https://www.musitechnic.com/en/yamaha-sound-reinforcement-handbook-book-review/

The YSRH is a classic for a reason; it goes through everything you need to know about live sound that can be taught in a book. It is a technical read, there are no anecdotes, just straight facts. The book covers the audio theory involved and the practical applications of that theory, that will allow you to design, use and troubleshoot a sound system for a variety of needs.

^^^^ +1

I know it's old school, but back in the 80's and 90's when people would ask for tips about audio and mixing this book is the first place I sent them.