Topic: Cardioids>iRiver H320 with no preamp between (I'm in a temporary pinch)?

[greatape]

I'm having some issues with my preamp but next week I need to record two wonderful shows.  My preamp has only one working channel and I don't have enough time to get it fixed.  This is my choice:

1. Record one channel through my cardioids>preamp>iriver and double the left track.  I did this the night my preamp starting acting up and it sounded good, but it wasn't stereo of course.

or

2. Plug my cardioids directly into the iriver H320 line input, with no preamp between. 


I guess I have a third option if somebody in Chicago can loan me a low profile preamp on Oct 12 and somebody in Bloomington, IN can loan me any size preamp on Oct. 14.

[stantheman1976]

The iRiver provides a small amount of plug in power.  You can use the mics without an external preamp and use the gain on your iRiver.  If you have a battery box you can still potentially pull a very nice recording using the iRiver gain.  It's not as clean in the higher settings as an external preamp but it will do in a pinch.

Or use the one good channel and dupe it.  There's really nothing wrong with that unless you are super picky about needing two separate channel.

[Arni99]

I´d use the mics plugged into the line-in of the iriver which provides about 3V plugin power I guess.
Set l+r gain in rockbox to 10-15db for loud shows and 20-24dB for silent shows and let saftey-clip do the rest(lowering in case levels were set to high manually).

[bugg100]

Which mics?  That could make all the difference as some mics don't play well with only 3 volt put out by the recorder...  Also the source material will have an effect on this as well.

Joe

[greatape]

They're Church Audio cardioids.  The bands will be loud.  Serj Tankian, Tom Morello, and Dead Kenny G's.  Actually, Dead Kenny G's will be very dynamic.  Some of it will probably be quiet.

I really appreciate the help.

[Church-Audio]

They're Church Audio cardioids.  The bands will be loud.  Serj Tankian, Tom Morello, and Dead Kenny G's.

I really appreciate the help.

The mics will work just fine with your iriver with out a preamp the noise floor will be higher but thats about it.

Chris

[greatape]

Thanks Chris.  I was sending you a PM at the same time you replied to this.

They're Church Audio cardioids.  The bands will be loud.  Serj Tankian, Tom Morello, and Dead Kenny G's.

I really appreciate the help.

The mics will work just fine with your iriver with out a preamp the noise floor will be higher but thats about it.

Chris

[bugg100]

My girlfriend will want us to catch the Serj show in Nashville... If he's there, seems like a it is up in the air for Nashville, The Nightwatchmen for sure, question on Serj's tour starting there or next day in Chicago.  let us know how it turns out, please.

I'll be out tonight in a loud club setting, if you like, i can run CA omni's into an iRiver.  Let me know, otherwise I'll be running a 9100 pre.

Joe

p.s.  Thanks for the heads up on the show!

[greatape]

My girlfriend will want us to catch the Serj show in Nashville... If he's there, seems like a it is up in the air for Nashville, The Nightwatchmen for sure, question on Serj's tour starting there or next day in Chicago.  let us know how it turns out, please.

I'll be out tonight in a loud club setting, if you like, i can run CA omni's into an iRiver.  Let me know, otherwise I'll be running a 9100 pre.

Joe

p.s.  Thanks for the heads up on the show!

Where did you hear about a Nashvllle show?  I've been hoping for one.  If there is one announced I'm selling my Chicago tickets and going there instead.

Don't worry about testing without the preamp.  I'm going to try some test recording with my stereo this weekend and see how it goes.

[69mako]

PM sent.  i have a battery box you can borrow.

Mako

[bugg100]

Excellent!  Great offer.....

[danzz1234]

http://www.sendspace.com/file/eepfvz

Church Audio Cards > H320

I had problems in my first 'real' recording, probably my 9v was with some kind of problem, I wasn't getting any signal so I went to mics > iriver directly.

Check the results. REALLY loud heavy metal band.

[greatape]

Sounds great to me.  This makes me feel a lot better.
Thanks!

http://www.sendspace.com/file/eepfvz

Church Audio Cards > H320

I had problems in my first 'real' recording, probably my 9v was with some kind of problem, I wasn't getting any signal so I went to mics > iriver directly.

Check the results. REALLY loud heavy metal band.

[greatape]

Here's a follow up on my results without a preamp or battery box.

Nightwatchman sounds great.  It was just Tom Morello on acoustic guitar, not very loud.
Serj Tankian and the FCC was much louder.  It totally distorted even though my levels looked fine.  It's a real shame since I was also able to run video of their first show ever.


Sunday night I recorded Critters Trio (Dead Kenny G's) with only the left channel of my preamp.  They were very loud, but at times were very quiet.  It's probably the best recording I've done.  With the small, quiet crowd, this could almost be mistaken for a soundboard.  I had perfect recording spot so if I could've got this in stereo I could have died a happy taper.

[danzz1234]

It totally distorted even though my levels looked fine.

Wich mics you used?
Funny thing that 'it totally distorted', as I ran CA cards > H320 directly and got decent results at a VERY loud (actually I can't think of many bands that would me much louder than that) show.

H320 levels at +15dB.

Final sample:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/rmh61i

Cheers