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Author Topic: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??  (Read 7519 times)

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Offline RedDawg

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confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« on: February 21, 2007, 06:51:15 PM »
I've taped a few shows over the past couple of weeks and my outcome hasn't been great to say the least.  Here's what I'm running....
481's>dogstars>PMD671.  I had the mics at 0db.

It sounds like I've clipped some parts of the shows (only when the band "hits it" all at once).  I checked the wave and there is NO clipping.  The highest I ever went was -5db.  It just seems to be distorted in those certain areas. We compared the same rig with different mics and the when we viewed the wave, the 480's had a "fatter" line than the other mic.  What causes that??  The other mic (Audio-something) did have it's wind screen on and the 480's didn't....could this have mad a difference. 
One show I was 30 ft away, the other I was about 35-40 ft away...could this affect it?

Please help...I have YMSB this Friday night and can't afford to screw that one up!!

thanks in advance.
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AKG 480 (61,62,& 63) > Dogstars > ACM R-4


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Offline OFOTD

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2007, 07:43:25 PM »
First things first.  What do the switches on the bodies read?   
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Offline RedDawg

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2007, 07:48:01 PM »
dB= 0
Hz= Lin
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AKG 480 (61,62,& 63) > Dogstars > ACM R-4


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Offline OFOTD

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2007, 08:04:14 PM »
Quote from: RedDawg on February 21, 2007, 07:48:01 PM
dB= 0
Hz= Lin

Alright so we know the mics are set properly.  How about the recorder.  Do you have a limiter on?  Is the phantom on?  What config are you placing the mics in?

We'll get there hang on!
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Offline RedDawg

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2007, 08:12:24 PM »
phantom power....yes
Limiter...not sure where or what that is/does
I used ORTF both nights
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AKG 480 (61,62,& 63) > Dogstars > ACM R-4


Once in awhile you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Roving Sign

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2007, 08:20:27 PM »
Sounds like you are brickwalling the mic preamp input...

Try running the -10 pad on the mic...anytime I've had an unruly 480 - the pad did the trick...

I believe there are some mods for PMD671 that will give you more headroom...
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Offline shaggy

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2007, 08:22:33 PM »
describe 'fatter' maybe give us a screen cap (hit print screen, paste into MS Paint, save as bmp pr jpg).  Is the waveform at those points square shaped (not like a peak, but flat or rounded?)
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Offline RedDawg

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2007, 08:41:24 PM »
The files are at my buddy's house right now.  I can get them tomorrow. 

As for the Limiter...I broke out the user's guide.  The Limiter is set on "Manuel".  I have the options of Manuel (I control with Rec Levels), Limited (peaks sounds are limited), and Automated Level Control (the 670 will automatically change to the input level).

Is this where I'll get my "head room"????
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AKG 480 (61,62,& 63) > Dogstars > ACM R-4


Once in awhile you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Roving Sign

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2007, 08:46:14 PM »
You really shouldn't need the limiter - "Manual" is fine...

You will get more headroom by using the -10db pad on the mics or the -20db pad on the recorder...one or the other...

I'd start at the mic...sounds like the mic is a little hot for the 671 preamp
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Roving Sign

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2007, 08:47:37 PM »
Quote from: shaggy on February 21, 2007, 08:22:33 PM
describe 'fatter' maybe give us a screen cap (hit print screen, paste into MS Paint, save as bmp pr jpg).  Is the waveform at those points square shaped (not like a peak, but flat or rounded?)


He mentioned "The highest I ever went was -5db." - that gives it away as brickwalling...(as opposed to out and out distortion from setting levels too high)
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Offline F.O.Bean

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2007, 08:47:59 PM »
strange for sure. i have used my 480's in the loudest sound environments i possibly could and never had this happen

both mics or just one?
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Offline RedDawg

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2007, 09:00:54 PM »
running both mics at a true ORTF.

so I should start with moving the mics down to -10dB for a starting point...agree?

could someone tell me what "brickwalling" is??? 
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Offline sygdwm

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2007, 09:01:32 PM »
first, is this unit stock? secondly, are you using the -20db pad on the recorder? stock or modded ALWAYS run the pad on the 671 for loud shows.
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Offline Church-Audio

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2007, 09:01:41 PM »
Quote from: Roving Sign on February 21, 2007, 08:20:27 PM
Sounds like you are brickwalling the mic preamp input...

Try running the -10 pad on the mic...anytime I've had an unruly 480 - the pad did the trick...

I believe there are some mods for PMD671 that will give you more headroom...


I was just going to say with AKG I always run the pad. If I don't know how loud the source is. AKG mics have very hot preamps built into them and they will overload really easy. Its not the capsule that's overloading its the mic body. So the pad will help. I hate to use it all the time because I find it does something to the top end any pad on any condenser mic Not just AKG. I don't think its a windscreen issue.

Chris Church
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Offline RedDawg

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Re: confused...what am I doing wrong with my 480's??
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2007, 09:16:12 PM »
Quote from: Church-Audio on February 21, 2007, 09:01:41 PM
Quote from: Roving Sign on February 21, 2007, 08:20:27 PM
Sounds like you are brickwalling the mic preamp input...

Try running the -10 pad on the mic...anytime I've had an unruly 480 - the pad did the trick...

I believe there are some mods for PMD671 that will give you more headroom...


I was just going to say with AKG I always run the pad. If I don't know how loud the source is. AKG mics have very hot preamps built into them and they will overload really easy. Its not the capsule that's overloading its the mic body. So the pad will help. I hate to use it all the time because I find it does something to the top end any pad on any condenser mic Not just AKG. I don't think its a windscreen issue.

Chris Church


So am I better to use the -10 on 480's or should I use the -20 on the 671?

Side note, I don't have any MOD's on this model. I will be getting the Oade upgrade on a new box if I decide to stick with the Marantz.
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AKG 480 (61,62,& 63) > Dogstars > ACM R-4


Once in awhile you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
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