Topic: PIP - Plug In Power

[adrianb]

With the new Tascam FR-AV2 and its promise of 5v PIP on my purchase list I thought I would check the PIP capabilities of the recorders I use. Feel free to add yours here, and particularly interested if someone can actually test the AV2.

The test was simply done by putting a 3.5mm TRS to 3.5 TRS cable into the mic input and measuring the voltage across the sleeve and tip.

Sony PCM M10 - 2.99v
Sony PCM D100 - 4.87v
Roland R07 - 3.10v
Sound Devices Mixpre-3 II - 2.69v

This is one of the disappointing things about the Mixpre, that I cannot just plug in my DPA 4060s without a battery box. I have found my Roland R07 to have just sufficient voltage to power my CA mics during gigs when I want a minimal setup.

[aleal5687]

Marantz PMD620 5V

[TheJez]

Edirol R-09HR: 2.99V
Tascam FR-AV2: 2.62V / 5.08V (selectable from the menu as either 2.5V or 5V)

I'm not sure if the exact PIP is really very relevant. It should be 'sufficient and not too much' for your mic at hand. Theoratically it seems that a higher voltage could result in a lower noise floor and a higher max SPL, but the improvements seem just extremely marginal and, as said, more theoratical than practical. At least that's what I hear... I've tried a couple of Clippy mics myself with 2.5V and 5V and could see and hear no measurable difference in noise behavior.

[Gutbucket]

^ Yes.  As you mention, the practical take away in general is achieving "sufficient and not too much" PIP voltage.  The specifics of how much is sufficient, how much is too much, and the ways in which the performance of the microphone is effected when PIP voltage is outside of that range is going to depend on the mic.

[martinskater]

Olympus LS-100 - 2.99v
Tascam DR60 mk2 - 2.49v

It would be great to have a comprehensive list of PIP voltages and have it pinned somewhere...

[audBall]

Sony PCM D100 - 4.87v

Anyone out there running DPA 406x > PCM-D100 with positive results?

[adrianb]

Anyone out there running DPA 406x > PCM-D100 with positive results?

I’ve run DPA 4060 and 4061 out of the PCM-D100 no problem using PIP.

This should mean they will be okay with the new Tascam FR-AV2 and Deity PR2 with their 5V PIP.

[Gutbucket]

Confirming that DPA 4061 works well with the Deity PR2's 5V PIP.

However, be aware that 4060 is not a good choice into PR2 for concert recording. 

That's not because of insufficient PIP voltage (4060 has the same powering requirement as 4061 so PR2 will power both correctly), but because at amplified concert SPLs the higher sensitivity of 4060 produces a hotter output that will overload the PR2's mic-input stage.   Line-in to PR2 would accommodate it, but unfortunately PIP is not available on PR2 when it is switched to line-input mode.  4060>PR2 works fine in lower non-amplified SPL applications, but be aware and use caution.

[audBall]

Thanks for the feedback, adrian and gut. That was my thinking re: 4060 and ~5v.

In my case it'd be 4061 > PCM-D100 so hopefully good there. Never really thought of trying without the battery box.

[adrianb]

Zoom H1 XLR - 2.48v

[audBall]

Is it possible a pair DPA MMP-GR/GS cables could be PIPowered along with a 3.5m y-cable into the PCM-D100? 

[Gutbucket]

It is.  At least it should work.  Opens up a whole new world, doesn't it?

[audBall]

Opens up a whole new world, doesn't it?

I'm trying not to think about that right now lol. Just picked up a guitar amp and am trying to offload other gear.

[grawk]

Is it possible a pair DPA MMP-GR/GS cables could be PIPowered along with a 3.5m y-cable into the PCM-D100?

I do 4015gs with the pr2.

[adrianb]

Tascam Fr-AV2

No surprises here:

When set to 2.5v it’s 2.63v
When set to 5.0v it’s 5.10v

So slightly higher than specified.