Become a Site Supporter and Never see Ads again!

Author Topic: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?  (Read 13526 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline F.O.Bean

  • Team Schoeps Tapir that
  • Trade Count: (126)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 40690
  • Gender: Male
  • Taperus Maximus
    • MediaFire Recordings
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #30 on: January 22, 2011, 03:36:29 PM »
The mico was kinda big for my tastes.

It's definitely an awkward size but what's more important - a smaller bag or a better recording?

BOTH ;D
Schoeps MK 4V & MK 41V ->
Schoeps 250|0 KCY's (x2) ->
Naiant +60v|Low Noise PFA's (x2) ->
DarkTrain Right Angle Stubby XLR's (x3) ->
Sound Devices MixPre-6 & MixPre-3

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/diskobean
http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/Bean420
http://bt.etree.org/mytorrents.php
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/j9eu80jpuaubz/Recordings

Offline sunjan

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 2006
  • Gender: Male
  • Taping since 1988, 28 years of fine recordings...
    • Just a handful of stuff I put on etree
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #31 on: January 22, 2011, 08:30:39 PM »
Very interesting thread.
AFAIK, all below are supposed to work stand-alone, and have DC powering.
Note that some have limitations to controlling bitrate/frequency, phantom power (ie you have to connect some of them to a PC to change settings).
I'm not saying that they are all good value or even good sounding, but for the record...

E-MU 0404 USB (street $165)
M-Audio Fast Track Pro / Ultra / Profire 610 (street $171/$298/$299)
Tascam US-600 / -800 (street $200)
Echo Audiofire 4 (street $249)
TC Electronic Konnekt 8 / 24D / Impact Twin (street $299/$399/$325)
Edirol FA-66/101/UA-101 (street $339/$379/$469)
RME Fireface 400 / UC (street  $1100/$1249)
Metric Halo ULN-2 / 2882 ( $1695/$1895)
« Last Edit: January 23, 2011, 12:09:29 PM by sunjan »
Mics: A-51s LE, CK 930, Line Audo CM3, AT853Rx (hc,c,sc),  ECM 121, ECM 909A
Pres: Tinybox, CA-9100, UA5 wmod
Recorders: M10, H116 (CF mod), H340, NJB3
Gearbag: High Sierra Corkscrew
MD transfers: MZ-RH1. Tape transfers: Nak DR-1
Photo rig: Nikon D70, 18-70mm/3.5-4.5, SB-800

kirk97132

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #32 on: January 22, 2011, 09:14:49 PM »
The mico was kinda big for my tastes.

It's definitely an awkward size but what's more important - a smaller bag or a better recording?

Around that price point I went with the USBPre2.  I think the mico would sound nice but for me it was just too big.  You are the one who actually clued me into the size.   

Offline jielka

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #33 on: January 23, 2011, 12:23:30 PM »
hello from Strasbourg, France!
i use one MIXY (AETA)+PMD661(Marantz).
very good pres with a typical "sound" for music or song.
spdif 24-96 .
Beyer ribbons or m201 can do their job without noise.
my NT1a or superlux S502 too...
10 hours berfore a new batterie charge!
JLK

Offline dogmusic

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 850
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #34 on: January 27, 2011, 08:52:25 AM »
I like the mico a bit better however it doesn't play nice with the 680

What happens when you use the Mico digital in to 680? I was wondering if it's the same problem as with the Sony D50 dig input.
"The ear is much more than a mere appendage on the side of the head." - Catherine Parker Anthony, Structure and Function of the Human Body (1972)

"That's metaphysically absurd, man! How can I know what you hear?" - Firesign Theatre

Offline tcf

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 274
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #35 on: January 27, 2011, 11:06:48 AM »
Re: the mico, the 680 gives a dig input error message. It works with my other digi gear. Audient said the 680 was to "consumer" for the mico.  The audient is a very nice piece of gear whether for multitrack or two track needs

kirk97132

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #36 on: January 27, 2011, 04:11:03 PM »
Well actually that is too bad that Mico choose that wording.  Seems a little too much of a brushing off of the issue rather than addressing the problem IMHO.  Funny that Sound Devices choose to listen the the issue from us, deal with the problem AND resolve it.  It takes Audient down a notch or two in respect for me.  Having dealt with this for the USBPre2, it is the way that the D50 and DR-680 read the incoming data stream.  If that makes it "too consumer" then so be it.  Sure seems like my 680 made some damn fine professional sounding recordings to me.  Those units read the header to get the digital info.  It sure didn't seem very hard for Sound Devices to fix the problem, took about a week.  Too bad Audient just decided to dismiss the problem rather than address it. 

Sorry to derail thread....rant off...back to your regularly scheduled programing. 

Offline sunjan

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 2006
  • Gender: Male
  • Taping since 1988, 28 years of fine recordings...
    • Just a handful of stuff I put on etree
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #37 on: January 27, 2011, 04:19:35 PM »
Going back to the OP, I've been putting the dimensions of all pres with digi-out into a spread sheet.

Looking at which units are smaller than the V3, here they are, arranged from smallest to biggest:
Model                                 Street price   Cubic inches
Core Sound Mic2496                 599   23
USBPre2                                         649   47
Echo Audiofire 4                         249   49
Graham-Patten DMic-20/24 (disc.)   75   56
Aeta Audio MIXY                        2100   62
Edirol FA-66                                 339   65
Sonosax SX-M32                        2716   68
Marenius MM-4220                       2100   70
Aeta Audio MIX2000 + AD card (disc.) 1300   75
Grace Lunatec V3                       1390   77
...
Audient Mico                                660   160

So if the OP wants a quality pre smaller than the V3 without breaking the bank, the USBPre2 is hard to beat for the money/size ratio.
If you're on a budget, the Echo Audiofire4 or Dmic-20 might be an option, but I doubt they have the same sound, and definitely not the versatility...
« Last Edit: January 27, 2011, 04:28:47 PM by sunjan »
Mics: A-51s LE, CK 930, Line Audo CM3, AT853Rx (hc,c,sc),  ECM 121, ECM 909A
Pres: Tinybox, CA-9100, UA5 wmod
Recorders: M10, H116 (CF mod), H340, NJB3
Gearbag: High Sierra Corkscrew
MD transfers: MZ-RH1. Tape transfers: Nak DR-1
Photo rig: Nikon D70, 18-70mm/3.5-4.5, SB-800

Offline OFOTD

  • Amorican
  • Trade Count: (7)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 6307
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #38 on: January 27, 2011, 04:22:17 PM »
Sorry if I missed it somewhere but is the MICO easily field powerable?    The website says 10v-16v but I don't see if it will work on battery power.

 

Offline sunjan

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 2006
  • Gender: Male
  • Taping since 1988, 28 years of fine recordings...
    • Just a handful of stuff I put on etree
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #39 on: January 27, 2011, 04:32:49 PM »
Mics: A-51s LE, CK 930, Line Audo CM3, AT853Rx (hc,c,sc),  ECM 121, ECM 909A
Pres: Tinybox, CA-9100, UA5 wmod
Recorders: M10, H116 (CF mod), H340, NJB3
Gearbag: High Sierra Corkscrew
MD transfers: MZ-RH1. Tape transfers: Nak DR-1
Photo rig: Nikon D70, 18-70mm/3.5-4.5, SB-800

Offline tcf

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 274
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #40 on: January 27, 2011, 09:33:51 PM »
The mico works fine off battery power, plus I'd bet there are not too many people lugging a mico into the bars. They didn't really make it for our purpose, however with a little planning can be a very nice piece of gear in the kit. Just not with a 6&0 :). Currently there  is a nice selection of 12volt battery options.

If you have the money and like the sd pres, the new USB box is a no brainer.

If your on a budget look at the focusrite saffire. I've enjoyed mine a lot, however if you are using bright mics it may be a bit much.  I run nevaton mc 49 & mce400s which sound great with the  saffire and works with the 680.  My Audio technicas r too bright unless that's what the room calls for. There was one on.Nashville craigslist last month for a hundred dollars. I bought mine at guitar center due to their return policy.

Have fun
Tom



Offline TNJazz

  • Ninja
  • Trade Count: (44)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 5530
  • Gender: Male
  • "Those who know, know."
    • NINJA DYNAMITE
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #41 on: January 30, 2011, 11:36:49 AM »
Well actually that is too bad that Mico choose that wording.  Seems a little too much of a brushing off of the issue rather than addressing the problem IMHO.  Funny that Sound Devices choose to listen the the issue from us, deal with the problem AND resolve it.  It takes Audient down a notch or two in respect for me.  Having dealt with this for the USBPre2, it is the way that the D50 and DR-680 read the incoming data stream.  If that makes it "too consumer" then so be it.  Sure seems like my 680 made some damn fine professional sounding recordings to me.  Those units read the header to get the digital info.  It sure didn't seem very hard for Sound Devices to fix the problem, took about a week.  Too bad Audient just decided to dismiss the problem rather than address it. 

Sorry to derail thread....rant off...back to your regularly scheduled programing.

S/PDIF is considered a consumer digital stream, as opposed to a professional stream (AES/EBU).  They are referring to the bit flags that get sent in consumer streams by default.  It's a Sony thing.  Remember SCMS?
Check out my band!  --> http://www.ninjadynamite.com

Offline Hypnocracy

  • Site Supporter
  • Trade Count: (46)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *
  • Posts: 2011
  • Hypnocratic Missionary
    • Hypno on teh LMA
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #42 on: April 17, 2011, 04:48:32 PM »
Awesome resource. Why this is not pinned I don't know.

Good to see the Focusrite getting some movement. I'm torn between the Saffire 14 and Saffire 24 that has meters and for 4 Channels to boot! To run 4 channels you would need a Tascam 680 or other 4 channel recorder with digi in? IOW there is a cheap bit bucket that would support the Coaxial SPDIF for 4 channels short of a laptop?
_____________
hypno on teh Archive

This must be heaven -- 'cause here's where the rainbow ends
If this ain't the real thing, then it's close enough to pretend

Offline OOK

  • Trade Count: (17)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 2727
  • Gender: Male
  • formerly OtherOneK
Re: Pres with digital outs - what's out there?
« Reply #43 on: April 17, 2011, 05:59:46 PM »
should add the Sound Device mixpre D to the list.............
DPA/HEB 4060's > R09HR
MBHO648/KA100Lk/KA200/KA300/KA500 > SD702

 

RSS | Mobile
Page created in 0.07 seconds with 42 queries.
© 2002-2024 Taperssection.com
Powered by SMF