Topic: line in vs mic in on minidisc?

[smat]

another question for the kick ass knowledge base out there:).  I'm currently running coresound cardioids into a sharp minidisc.  I run them 'mic in' and  was recently made aware that running them 'line in' may yeild better results.  I tried this out with my band--loud signal; mics 3 feet from amps----even with levels cranked to the max, the signal was too weak.  Any recommendations on getting better success with this? ...Or is it even worth fucking with?  .............Core sounds has a little batt box powered by a 9v batt......

[Zaphod]

I've heard that Core Sounds don't work too well going line-in. I think that it might be because they do not have a high sensitivity. They are made for really LOUD enviroments. This is my guess.

But do you have the low cost versions or the regular CSCs?

Someone else will chime in I'm sure.

[taperkat]

Turn up the volume on the Sharp (what version?) to 30 (max) and then hit record, pause, so you can chekc your levels, then use the track advance/ff button to crank your *recording volume* to 30. I suspect you don't have one or the other up.

let me know if you have more issues.

[Robby Grossman]

I've heard that Core Sounds don't work too well going line-in. I think that it might be because they do not have a high sensitivity. They are made for really LOUD enviroments. This is my guess.

But do you have the low cost versions or the regular CSCs?

Someone else will chime in I'm sure.

Go ahead and pick up the battery box.  That will give you what is called "Plug-In" Power, to bring your mics up to a line level.  Once that's done, you should be good to go!  My stealth setup is CMC-16's > Batt Box > Sony MD.

Hope that helps!
Robby

[smat]

But do you have the low cost versions or the regular CSCs? 

I have the $250 CSC's
I've got the levels max'd out and still just a very weak signal.

Go ahead and pick up the battery box.  That will give you what is called "Plug-In" Power, to bring your mics up to a line level.  Once that's done, you should be good to go!  My stealth setup is CMC-16's > Batt Box > Sony MD.

I am using the batt box that came with the CSC's.  Is there another batt box I should be using?

[Robby Grossman]

I am using the batt box that came with the CSC's.  Is there another batt box I should be using?

My bad, I thought you meant you were doing it without the batt box, but that there was a batt box available.  Disregard what I said, sorry. :-/

[dklein]

If you can't get the levels high enough then just use the mic-in at the appropriate setting.  A battery won't do anything for boosting levels - it's a passive device.  A preamp would boost to line level.  CSBs sensitivity (i.e. output level) is on the low side - I only once caught sound loud enough to drive line level with the same setup, near a bass cabinet and it sounded awful.

[ehg]

If you can't get the levels high enough then just use the mic-in at the appropriate setting.  A battery won't do anything for boosting levels - it's a passive device.  A preamp would boost to line level.  CSBs sensitivity (i.e. output level) is on the low side - I only once caught sound loud enough to drive line level with the same setup, near a bass cabinet and it sounded awful.

Go ahead and pick up the battery box.  That will give you what is called "Plug-In" Power, to bring your mics up to a line level.  Once that's done, you should be good to go!

Which of these statements are true? I just bought a Archos Gmini 220 and tried to plug in my CSC's without a battbox and got nothing on the level meters.

Instead I plugged it to my laptop's speaker out and it worked just fine. Now, my intention is to buy new mics with a battbox... and I thought the battbox would bring it up to line-level just like AmbysShrink says? Am I wrong?

[leegeddy]

battery boxes provide power to condenser microphones. battboxes output a mic level signal, not line level.

marc

[silverbullet]

I know a buddy who uses core mics with a sony MD. He only uses the mic-in and and gets good results.

If you want to extended the MD's battery life, possibly get better recordings, and don't mind having an extra item then get a battery box and use the line-in.

[leegeddy]

I know a buddy who uses core mics with a sony MD. He only uses the mic and and gets good results.

If you want to extended the MD's battery life, possibly get better recordings, and don't mind having an extra item then get a battery box and use the line-in.

in your buddy's case, his md provides "plug in power" to the mics. whether it's plug-in, battbox or phantom pwer, condensor mics require outside power to operate. 

marc

[thierryhenry]

Get something other than CSB's in my opinion..

[musicsherlock]

dklein is correct; you need a pre-amp to use the Line-In option on MD.  I use CSB (w/Batt Box) as well, however I use a Deneke AD-20 pre-amp (Analog>Digital converter) which allows the Line-in to become Optical/Digital-in.  I have had great results with this set-up.  The AD-20 is a little bulky for stealth jobs but you can still maintain a low-profile.

[zhianosatch]

highly recommend the ad-20 for all you md users. it's not too hard to stealth, either. do it, and your ears will thank you.

[silverbullet]

highly recommend the ad-20 for all you md users. it's not too hard to stealth, either. do it, and your ears will thank you.

The Denecke AD-20 only takes left and right xlr input mic cables, right? I would think most MD tapers have mics with a 1/8" jack at the end. Is there a small 1/8>xlr cable readily available to purchase for such said stealth techniques? The shorter the cable the better.