Topic: SP-CMC-8> ? >iRiver H120

[jbsalt]

I like to stealth and I'd like to get a preamp to go from my AT mics into my iRiver's optical in  I saw an AD-20 on Ebay but I wasn't sure if I would be able to plug my mics directly into the AD-20 (with the correct mini to XLR adaptor) and then go directly from the AD-20 into the iRiver's optical input.  Will I need additional power?  I have a little SP 9volt bass roll battery box that I have been using thus far, but I'd really like to go optical in to my iRiver (as cheaply as possible).  Any suggestions from you professionals?     Sorry for the preamp newbie question.

[Javier Cinakowski]

The Deneke-AD20-mini is what you need.  Or if get the phantom mod done to the mics you could run UA5

[audBall]

I like to stealth and I'd like to get a preamp to go from my AT mics into my iRiver's optical in  I saw an AD-20 on Ebay but I wasn't sure if I would be able to plug my mics directly into the AD-20 (with the correct mini to XLR adaptor) and then go directly from the AD-20 into the iRiver's optical input.  Will I need additional power?  I have a little SP 9volt bass roll battery box that I have been using thus far, but I'd really like to go optical in to my iRiver (as cheaply as possible).  Any suggestions from you professionals?     Sorry for the preamp newbie question.

It is possible to go SP-CMC-8 > SP battery box > (female 1/8" to XLR male cable) > AD20 > iRiver(assuming optical capabilities)

If your mics are terminated to either miniXLR or the XLR Phantom adapters then there are other small stealth preamps available as well, but you'll probably have to run line in.

[jbsalt]

Thank you.  My mics terminate with a stero mini plug.  I like the idea of using the SP battery box + adaptor into AD-20.  That Denecke mini, although I'm sure sweet, is also like $500.  To bookoo for me...  I'm sure I misspelled that.

[lordbelial]

Hi,

One of my configs for stealth (and the very most used) is the following.

AT853 > DIY Battery Box /or/ SP-SPSB-1 > miniplug female to dual XLR adaptor cable > AD-20 > NJB3 / Iriver IHP-120

Of course you need this cable if you have intentions to run the Ad-20 behind the AT853/AT943

Other solution would be

AT853 with miniXLR plugs > SAMSON PM-4 adapters > UA-5 digimod > NJB3/IRIVER.

As far as you can see, those are "stealth but not much stealthy" rigs.... but I can assure you that my config fits perfectly into my bag.

SO:

If you want to go optical in, you've to think on AD-20 or UA-5. Now there are plenty of offers in the yard sale, one of them, the AD-20 SP modded with mini plug into and XLR inputs (no need to adapter cable), from "redbook".

[whatboutbob]

Thank you.  My mics terminate with a stero mini plug.  I like the idea of using the SP battery box + adaptor into AD-20.  That Denecke mini, although I'm sure sweet, is also like $500.  To bookoo for me...  I'm sure I misspelled that.

I learnt from experience that you'll likely get brickwalling if you use the SP batt box taping louder shows.  To avoid that you need a 3 wire battery box or phantom power mod.

I run the same rig that lordbelial mentioned above, but it is a little bulky.  I'm going to give church audio's preamp/3wire batt box a shot at the title.  It obviously doesn't do optical, but it may cut down on the clutter.

Something to keep in mind about the AD-20 is that its got a minimum 17dB gain.

[lordbelial]

I run the same rig that lordbelial mentioned above, but it is a little bulky.  I'm going to give church audio's preamp/3wire batt box a shot at the title.  It obviously doesn't do optical, but it may cut down on the clutter.
Something to keep in mind about the AD-20 is that its got a minimum 17dB gain.

Yes, it's extremely BULKY! I have to put the AD20 inside of my pants if I want to enter in some halls... And, of course, the fact of the +17db minimun gain is really a bad point to the AD-20.

I'd really like to mod the Ad-20 to have 0 db at minimun (or at least 10db at minimum). 17db are a bit too much in louder concerts...

[jbsalt]

Thanks all!  I really appreciate all of the helpful info.  Do you guys know if the SP modified AD-20 with the mini has the same +17db min. gain properties? 

[lordbelial]

Thanks all!  I really appreciate all of the helpful info.  Do you guys know if the SP modified AD-20 with the mini has the same +17db min. gain properties? 

Yes it does...

[jbsalt]

Do you know of anyone that has done that 17db reduction mod on an AD-20?

[lordbelial]

Do you know of anyone that has done that 17db reduction mod on an AD-20?

No... I was just wondering... 

Richard aka "poorlyconditioned" had an AD20 but I think he tried to mod de ADC chipset. Don't really know if he tried to mod the gain stage.

[poorlyconditioned]

Do you know of anyone that has done that 17db reduction mod on an AD-20?

No... I was just wondering... 

Richard aka "poorlyconditioned" had an AD20 but I think he tried to mod de ADC chipset. Don't really know if he tried to mod the gain stage.

I had one of these, but did not do any mods.  I determined that:
- there is a discrete transistor stage that gives most of the gain
- following that, there is a middle quality opamp that gives a few dB gain, plus a balanced signal for the ADC

The mid-stage and ADC are fine, but IMO the transistor front end was of poor design/quality.  I was hoping for something better.  As far as modding goes, I wouldn't really bother.  Hey, if you want less than 17dB gain, why don't you just use a battery box and go line in?  That makes the most sense to me.  Even if you're 10 or 12dB down or something, that is not too bad.  You can easily boost that in post.  I run line in on MD all the time.

  Richard

[poorlyconditioned]

I said you should just try it with a battery box.

I noticed that SP-CMC8 (AT 943, sens -40dB) is about 6 or 7dB "hotter" than SP-CMC4 (AT 853, sens -47dB), so this might work better than you expect.

  Richard

[jbsalt]

Thanks all!

I've decided to go ahead and buy redbook's AD-20 (w/ SP mini Mod) because I really want to give the optical in a whirl on my iRiver + I think it will be good to have when I want to tape in "open" situations with my future non-stealthing mics. 

Really appreciate the advice from ya'll.

[kuba]

I use this:

AT831 > 9V two wire battery box (DIY) > iRiver H120

I use the onboard preamp of H120, at loud concerts I usually go +9dB. Very easy, very stealthy.

[kuuan]

Thanks all!

I've decided to go ahead and buy redbook's AD-20 (w/ SP mini Mod) because I really want to give the optical in a whirl on my iRiver + I think it will be good to have when I want to tape in "open" situations with my future non-stealthing mics. 

Really appreciate the advice from ya'll.

jbsalt, may I ask, how did you like AD-20 > optical in compared to go battery box > line-in on your iriver?

[lordbelial]

I use this:

AT831 > 9V two wire battery box (DIY) > iRiver H120

I use the onboard preamp of H120, at loud concerts I usually go +9dB. Very easy, very stealthy.

I think my forthcoming config will be...

(no extra gain config) AT853 miniXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > I-River IHP120
(variable gain config) AT853 mixiXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > Reactive Sounds Booxt box > I-River IHP120
(AD20 config) AT853 mixiXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > 2x XLR adaptor > AD-20 > I-River IHP120

[corsair]

Dude, try not to use the RS preamp together with the 3 wire box.
The preamp doesn't do well, when the mics are powered by another source.

Look at this link:
http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=215695c26e030a68c257e8a9074fb7a3&showtopic=12847

consider powering ur 853s with the preamp alone, w/o the 3 wire box.

I use this:

AT831 > 9V two wire battery box (DIY) > iRiver H120

I use the onboard preamp of H120, at loud concerts I usually go +9dB. Very easy, very stealthy.

I think my forthcoming config will be...

(no extra gain config) AT853 miniXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > I-River IHP120
(variable gain config) AT853 mixiXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > Reactive Sounds Booxt box > I-River IHP120
(AD20 config) AT853 mixiXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > 2x XLR adaptor > AD-20 > I-River IHP120

[lordbelial]

Dude, try not to use the RS preamp together with the 3 wire box.
The preamp doesn't do well, when the mics are powered by another source.

Look at this link:
http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=215695c26e030a68c257e8a9074fb7a3&showtopic=12847

consider powering ur 853s with the preamp alone, w/o the 3 wire box.

I use this:

AT831 > 9V two wire battery box (DIY) > iRiver H120

I use the onboard preamp of H120, at loud concerts I usually go +9dB. Very easy, very stealthy.

I think my forthcoming config will be...

(no extra gain config) AT853 miniXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > I-River IHP120
(variable gain config) AT853 mixiXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > Reactive Sounds Booxt box > I-River IHP120
(AD20 config) AT853 mixiXLR modded > 3-wire bbox > 2x XLR adaptor > AD-20 > I-River IHP120

Thanks dude!

I'm still waiting for the RSBB preamp to arrive and I was wondering if it provides 9v powering to the mic... so thanks for the advice.

+T for you!

Anyway, I'm just realising that I've a very good collection of preamps right now... AD-20, UA-5 (not modded yet) and RSBB... Am I turning a little gear slut???

[corsair]

Don't worry, the RS preamp provide 9V powering to the mics.

[kuuan]

WOW, really good set ups, a lot of gear.
My iriver is due to arrive today or tomorrow, I don't own any battery box nor the AD-20 yet.
I am planning to do a lot of 'ambience' recording, sound which I use for my videos, and a low self-noise is essential for me. TYherefore I wonder if a battery box would suffice, or the AD-20 is necessary, but I'd really like avoiding having ( buy and ) to carry the AD-20.

any opinion?

thank's

[lordbelial]

WOW, really good set ups, a lot of gear.
My iriver is due to arrive today or tomorrow, I don't own any battery box nor the AD-20 yet.
I am planning to do a lot of 'ambience' recording, sound which I use for my videos, and a low self-noise is essential for me. TYherefore I wonder if a battery box would suffice, or the AD-20 is necessary, but I'd really like avoiding having ( buy and ) to carry the AD-20.

any opinion?

thank's

Guess the battery box and some gain (6 to 10 db) from the iriver should be enough, it seems that is not that noisy...,and of course depending on the kind of music you record you could use less or more gain.

[jbsalt]

Still waiting on that AD-20 to arrive....  Will let ya'll know how it sounds.  Whether it be the SP mod ad-20 or a reg ad-20 w/ powered xlr.

Thanks all!

I've decided to go ahead and buy redbook's AD-20 (w/ SP mini Mod) because I really want to give the optical in a whirl on my iRiver + I think it will be good to have when I want to tape in "open" situations with my future non-stealthing mics. 

Really appreciate the advice from ya'll.

jbsalt, may I ask, how did you like AD-20 > optical in compared to go battery box > line-in on your iriver?

[kuuan]

thank's lordbelial and jbsalt - hope that you are gonna like your AD-20 and yes, please, let me know if it improoves the quality of your recordings noticeably.
My H120 arrived  , I will not use XLR mics, just got an SP battery box and CMC4s from the yard sale.
I want to find out if BB>CMC4>H120 will be good enough to record birds singing, seawaves asf. at otherwise quiet surrounds or if the AD-20 is needed.