Topic: Aerco MP-2 Information > $750 new & 1 Month Lead Time

[spyder9]

Learned something new tonight:  Run the Aerco wide open.  Gets it over line level for all the little recorders.  White Noise virtually disappears when run this way. 

Can I get a do-over for '07?    Gosh that year sucked. 

Confused... do you mean run at 0 db gain?

Wide open.. Hmm...  Maybe he's running it with the cover off

Nice!   

Mine actually doesn't have stickers on it.  So I don't really know what I'm running at.  My guess is I've been wagging the dog:  setting the R09 to unity, then adjust the Aerco accordingly.

My tests have proved that's incorrect.  Aerco needs to be cranked up to get over line-level in the R09.  If not, you can definitely hear audible hiss in the recording.  I found this to be true by cranking the Aerco all the way and just recording the room.  I was testing out different recorders at the time.  By upping the gain until hiss diminishes to nil, one would then adjust the R09 for the incoming signal to get proper levels.  Hence, dog (Aerco) wags tail (R09).

   

[it-goes-to-eleven]

That's still kinda confusing.  I mostly run my aerco with a 722 and only rarely with the r09.  I tend to run the 722 gain at 0 dB, just as I do when running any pre-amp with it (v3, bg1). A 722 at 0 will take a pretty hot signal (about -19dBFS, I think), a fair bit hotter than an r09 at 8, I think.

So what trim setting have you been running the r09 at (before and now)?  In the "what is unity?" threads I've repeatedly asked "what sounds best?", hoping to generate some interest in determining that.  But folks seemed more focused on a nebulous unity number. I tend to run the r09 at setting 8.  Going much below that causes bass distortion in my bench testing.

Maybe with your serial number Jerry could tell you what gain each detent should be?  I have a 0-50 model so it is 0, 10, 20, etc.

I run the gain on the aerco at pretty much the same setting I'd use with a v3, etc.  Though the output from the aerco is a bit lower than a v3 because of the unbalanced outputs vs. balanced.  On the 722 I tend to strive for peaks of about -12dBFS to -8dBFS. I typically need to add about 6 to 8dB in post to bring the peaks up to 0.

[prof_peabody]

... so what level have you been running the R-09 at?

[spyder9]

I bought mine from musicsherlock (Christian)  Its on page 3 of this thread.

My Aerco has a gain scheme of 0 12 24 30 36 42.  I've been running it at 12-24, which proves to amplify white noise in my R09.  R09 is set at 8.  When I set the Aerco at 36, hiss goes away.  (shrugs)   

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,56579.30.html

[prof_peabody]

I bought mine from musicsherlock (Christian)  Its on page 3 of this thread.

My Aerco has a gain scheme of 0 12 24 30 36 42.  I've been running it at 24-30, which proves to amplify white noise in my R09.  R09 is set at 8.  When I set the Aerco at 36, hiss goes away.  (shrugs)   

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,56579.30.html

Weird.  Any idea why?

[spyder9]

None.  Been thinking of sending it in to Jerry for a once over.  Might do it in the middle of March, in hopes it comes back for Allman NYC run. 

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Seems like it might be useful to do a recording with your aerco>r09 (without mics) where you start at min gain on the aerco and click up the gain range...  and then analyze the s/n to see if any settings are troublesome. And maybe another recording where you increase the gain on the r09 to make sure the noise builds fairly linearly as gain is added. You could try doing it without mics or maybe with a resistor load.

In the gain ranges you've mentioned your aerco should be really quiet.. The only thing that should cause noise is adding too much gain in the r09 (unless something is not working right). I did some tests a long while ago and my aerco is about as quiet as the v3.

[Myco]

Just got an email from Jerry today. Said he'd have mine fixed on Feb. 4th as he has the day off then. I've noticed that I had to run my gain high with the R-09 also, about +40 db to +45db to get decent levels on the R-09. This was before I sent it into Jerry. I also had probs with the balance control not working, so we'll see what I get with both issues once I get it back. I'll be using it for Levon Helm Band (former singer/drummer of The Band) on Mar. 1st, so we'll see how it goes.

[prof_peabody]

Just got an email from Jerry today. Said he'd have mine fixed on Feb. 4th as he has the day off then. I've noticed that I had to run my gain high with the R-09 also, about +40 db to +45db to get decent levels on the R-09. This was before I sent it into Jerry. I also had probs with the balance control not working, so we'll see what I get with both issues once I get it back. I'll be using it for Levon Helm Band (former singer/drummer of The Band) on Mar. 1st, so we'll see how it goes.

I wonder what Jerry will manage to get done that day.  He said he'd be finishing mine as well (on order since September).

[Myco]

Well hopefully he can do both. Mine is just a repair as opposed to a full build. I'd also hope that he has some of yours done by now at least. September until Feb is a long time to wait, so I do understand your frustration. I had ordered mine on Mar. 17 St. Patricks day last year, I received it through much coercion the Thursday before I was to leave for Mtn Jam the last weekend in May. Long waits seem to be par for the course when dealing with these units, but your wait seems exceptionally long I must admit. Jerry works as a teacher in a school for the deaf so he doesn't get to work on them full time as would be the case in most situations I can say that. I hope you get yours soon because they are great pre-amps.

+T for your patience. 

[Colin Liston]

Did you guys have to pre pay for these? 

I was thinking of ordering one, but if I have to prepay and wait a year I guess I might not.

[prof_peabody]

Well hopefully he can do both. Mine is just a repair as opposed to a full build. I'd also hope that he has some of yours done by now at least. September until Feb is a long time to wait, so I do understand your frustration. I had ordered mine on Mar. 17 St. Patricks day last year, I received it through much coercion the Thursday before I was to leave for Mtn Jam the last weekend in May. Long waits seem to be par for the course when dealing with these units, but your wait seems exceptionally long I must admit. Jerry works as a teacher in a school for the deaf so he doesn't get to work on them full time as would be the case in most situations I can say that. I hope you get yours soon because they are great pre-amps.

+T for your patience. 

Hey guys - I know all about what Jerry does, etc.  We're all busy, I know, because I work a real job as well and have a couple hobbies/volunteer efforts on the side.  I have a message from Jerry saying he will complete it this weekend.  If it's not complete, and someone else's gets serviced, well that's reason to be upset and disappointed.  

[prof_peabody]

Did you guys have to pre pay for these? 

I was thinking of ordering one, but if I have to prepay and wait a year I guess I might not.

Prepay.  It might be okay if you order these towards the end of the school year (May in TX?).  I would guess that Jerry is more available to build these in the summer.

[bgalizio]

Did you guys have to pre pay for these? 

I was thinking of ordering one, but if I have to prepay and wait a year I guess I might not.

Prepay.  It might be okay if you order these towards the end of the school year (May in TX?).  I would guess that Jerry is more available to build these in the summer.

Probably why mine was done in a ~2 month time frame (August 2, 2007 to Sept. 20, 2007).

Sucks that you guys have to wait so long, but it really is an excellent pre. I had buyers remorse more than a few times while I was waiting, but it was all worth it in the end.

[spyder9]

Seems like it might be useful to do a recording with your aerco>r09 (without mics) where you start at min gain on the aerco and click up the gain range...  and then analyze the s/n to see if any settings are troublesome. And maybe another recording where you increase the gain on the r09 to make sure the noise builds fairly linearly as gain is added. You could try doing it without mics or maybe with a resistor load.

In the gain ranges you've mentioned your aerco should be really quiet.. The only thing that should cause noise is adding too much gain in the r09 (unless something is not working right). I did some tests a long while ago and my aerco is about as quiet as the v3.

My bad.  I just checked and I've been actually running gain mostly at 12, once in a while 24.  That's what happens when you don't have markings to go by. 

Taping tonight.  Will set the Aerco at 30 and adjust R09 accordingly.  As for the 30 setting, I checked out a show I did this fall, Mule 10/07/07 Schenectady where I ran the Nak 1000's out front.  Had the Aerco set at 30, and by gosh it was the best recording I made last year.  I hate discovering crap like this.........