Topic: Stealth Suggestion: DPA 4021 > ??? > Korg MR-1

[Chrysler]

Hi Folks,

i'm thinking about upgrading to the DPA 4021s and running them into my MR-1. What stealthable & high-quality Preamp would you suggest using with the 4021s?

Please make suggestions with URL to the product for i don't know all the devices...

Cheers
C.

[landshark]

Church Audio CA 9100

http://cgi.ebay.ca/CHURCH-AUDIO-ST-9100-STEREO-MICROPHONE-PREAMP_W0QQitemZ260034413751QQihZ016QQcategoryZ3281QQcmdZViewItem

Chris Church is a longtime poster here at TS and does great work.  With some luck, I'll be taping tonight using his UGLY preamp (an extra small version of the CA9100) and his carodid mics into my MicroTrack.  I've tested his preamp with my Korg MR1 and it seems to work very well.  You can spend more and get better sound, but you'll have to spend a lot more and only get marginally better sound.  His stuff is great bang for the buck.

Mike

[JasonSobel]

as far as I know, the Church Audio CA 9100 does NOT provide phantom power (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).  you need phantom power for the 4021's.

I'd suggest the Aerco MP-2.  see this long thread for a lot of details and pictures:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,56579.0.html

other small pre-amps that are also probably worth looking into would be the Sonosax SX-M2, or the AETA PSP-2 (if you can find one used).

[Colin Liston]

I've run the 4023 > Byer MV100 > MR1 and I am currently running 4023 > Sonosax > MR1. 

Nice small set up.

[prof_peabody]

Aerco MP2.  Probably the smallest option.  A nice transformer based pre.

[jeromejello]

the sound devices mp-2 is a nice little tank... only available used.  or you can get the sd mixpre or shure fp24 (which are basically the same pre)

[Brian]

psp-2

[landshark]

Ahh, correct on the CA preamp, I didn't look into it enough to realize the DPAs require true phantom, not just "mic power". 

I have the Shure FP24, the rebranded MixPre running into my Korg MR1.  It's a little tricky to use, since the Shure is not designed for high-spl situations and keeps wanting to send a really beefy signal to the Korg.  I actually have 10db in-line barrel attenuators between the mics (AKG 460s) and the Shure, and again from the Shure to the Korg.  This adds significantly to the size.  Other TS'ers have pointed out that the Shure has a tape out and a tape return, either of which could probably be used to send a signal to my Korg that wouldn't require attenuation, but I haven't tried that out yet.

I like the Shure, and it definitely is built like a tank, but there are probably better solutions for a true low-profile rig setup.  It sounds like the psp-2 would be the holy grail in this setting, but it also sounds like they are pretty darn hard to find.  The Aerco looks pretty cool as well.  The Sonosax size looks awesome, but I think it's the most expensive of the alternatives.  I do know that Chris Church is working with someone else to design something that might fit this bill perfectly, but they haven't finalized it yet. 

 Good luck!

Mike

[H₂O]

E.A.A. PSP-2

[rePat]

I just picked up some 4021's myself, and am running them with a SD MP-2.  I've only done 2 shows, but have been happy with the results.  The guy I bought them from ran 4021's>Beyer MV-100, which was mentioned already.  I think he still has it and is looking to sell it, if you're interested.

Pat

[Chrysler]

Thanks for your good suggestions. 
When looking into the Sonosax SX-M2 i stumbled over this one (which is no actual preamp - just ps and attenuator):

http://shop.digitalaudioservice.com/product_info.php/cPath/149_212/products_id/2548

Can onyone make a testimony on it?

(they also sell a lavalier mic i didn't notice before: http://shop.digitalaudioservice.com/product_info.php/cPath/149_151_196/products_id/2701)

Also the Beyer MV 100 seems also to be manufactured by Sonosax (http://www.sonosax.ch/ACCESSORIES/accindex.html) ??

[manamana]

I run 4022s and a sonosax, virtually all the shows I tape are at least semi-stealth.

it's nice, a great setup for ultra-stealth, but I really miss the detail of my old V2. Lately I've been wondering just how many shows I see that I could get away with the sax and not with a V2/V3 and li-ion battery pack, and I think it's not that many - li-ions are getting smaller/lighter and I've got a bag with a hidden compartment. Personally I'm watching ebay and FS for a V2, but I'd say it's sax or psp-2 if you need REALLY compact.

[prof_peabody]

I run 4022s and a sonosax, virtually all the shows I tape are at least semi-stealth.

it's nice, a great setup for ultra-stealth, but I really miss the detail of my old V2. Lately I've been wondering just how many shows I see that I could get away with the sax and not with a V2/V3 and li-ion battery pack, and I think it's not that many - li-ions are getting smaller/lighter and I've got a bag with a hidden compartment. Personally I'm watching ebay and FS for a V2, but I'd say it's sax or psp-2 if you need REALLY compact.

Just curious - What recorder do you run the sax into?

[manamana]

I run 4022s and a sonosax, virtually all the shows I tape are at least semi-stealth.

it's nice, a great setup for ultra-stealth, but I really miss the detail of my old V2. Lately I've been wondering just how many shows I see that I could get away with the sax and not with a V2/V3 and li-ion battery pack, and I think it's not that many - li-ions are getting smaller/lighter and I've got a bag with a hidden compartment. Personally I'm watching ebay and FS for a V2, but I'd say it's sax or psp-2 if you need REALLY compact.

Just curious - What recorder do you run the sax into?

R-09. I'm waiting on either Version 2 of the Korg MR1 (or a similar DSD device), or I may consider a microtracker 2 paired with a mod v3.