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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: Distant Jay on November 20, 2003, 08:47:21 PM

Title: km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Distant Jay on November 20, 2003, 08:47:21 PM
I'm going to start running Neumann km 184's into a sound devices mp-2, is there anybody out there that has ran this rig that can give me a heads up on what to expect.  Thanks for the help,  Jay
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Tim on November 20, 2003, 08:54:20 PM
what are you running behind the mp2? General consensus is to run the mp2 with as low gain as possible and crank the a/d or deck.

Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Swampy on November 20, 2003, 09:15:17 PM
I think he just runs mp2 > D8. Im not positive...
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: John R on November 20, 2003, 11:36:33 PM
i ran this for a while.  i ran the mp-2 hot, and used the adc-20 to pot the signal to the dap1.

jr
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Distant Jay on November 21, 2003, 01:21:36 PM
Yea, I run the mp-2 into a D8, I usually keep the mp-2 real low and turn up the D8's level to at least six but sometimes 8. It all depends on how much gain I can give it off the mp-2. It usually isn't to much. I may have had the gain on that around 2 for some acoustic acts but with an electric band usually up to 1 or so. I like to run my levels as hot as I can without peaking them out. I'm hoping the mp-2 can handle the output of the neumanns and I can run the gain around the same, if not a little more.  
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Tim on November 21, 2003, 01:27:37 PM
sounds like you're going about everything in the right way. I'd imagine you'll be fine!
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: cpclark on November 21, 2003, 02:09:16 PM
i used the mp-2 for about a month and a half before going to the v2 with my audio technica 4051's which put out as hot of signal as they come, i would have the mp-2 as zero gain and still getting action all they way accross the meters of the mp-2 up to +16db, you should be fine, its a warm pre, so i would say run it low and the d8 high and i think that what your gonna do, let us know how it turns out
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Distant Jay on November 23, 2003, 05:27:43 PM
Thanks for the info guys, I can't wait to use the 184's.
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Chapper on November 23, 2003, 06:13:51 PM
If you are taping anything loud, have some attenuators handy.  I usually had to use mine when I was running the 184's into the MP2...but the stuff I tape is usually very loud.
I use the 10db pad on the 140's almost all the time with the 140's.
Chapper
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Charlies on November 27, 2003, 03:26:10 PM
Todd R (I think he may post here) used to run that.  Sounded good! I think you'll like it until you get the upgrade bug!
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: jazzunit on December 14, 2003, 06:56:02 PM
Hey Distant Jay,

I'm currently running 184's>MP-2>D7  and absolutely love it.  I'll agree that  sometimes you really need to set the gain on the MP-2 really low to accomodate Loud shows.  Fear not though, the MP-2 has a lot of headroom. I recall taping an outdoor soulive show (approx. 20' from PA stack)  were the the gain on the MP-2 had to be set to "0" to prevent clipping.  Being that the show was so damn loud and we were so close to the PA, the red LED clipping indicators occasionally  came on. I thought the recording was going to be trashed as a result but, the tape came out flawless to my surprise.  Good luck with your new combo.

Dave
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Sean Gallemore on December 14, 2003, 07:10:06 PM
yeah, the clipping lights come on around 2-3 dB before they actually clip.
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: nickgregory on December 14, 2003, 07:25:05 PM
I would also recommend using the tape rtrn mini out, in that you will get a significantly "less hot" signal than you would using the XLR outs....gives you more room to work on the A/D...
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Sean Gallemore on December 14, 2003, 07:51:13 PM
i use the tape out because it is on the same side as the mic ins and is more convenient for stealthing
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: zhianosatch on December 14, 2003, 07:52:57 PM
And for the reason that Nick stated... there is some shit in the Oade archives about why it's better
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: nickgregory on December 14, 2003, 09:30:26 PM
I think (if memory serves correctly) it is 16 db lower...
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Jason B on December 14, 2003, 10:01:56 PM
I think (if memory serves correctly) it is 16 db lower...

I believe it is 6 db lower.  I think the XLR outs are 16 db and the mini out is 6 db.

-JB

<edit: grammer>
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: nickgregory on December 14, 2003, 10:04:06 PM
I think (if memory serves correctly) it is 16 db lower...

I believe it is 6 db lower.  I think the XLR outs are 16 db and the mini out is 6 db.

-JB

<edit: grammer>

nope, you are right, knew that didnt sound right when I typed it
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Nick Culbreth on December 14, 2003, 10:04:19 PM
actually the gain on the mp2 is 10 db less when running 1/8 out - the minimum gain via xlr out is +16db and the minimum gain out via 1/8 is +6db.
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Sean Gallemore on December 14, 2003, 10:16:11 PM
I think (if memory serves correctly) it is 16 db lower...

11.8dB i think, it has to do with the standardized voltage differences between balanced and unbalanced connections.
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: zhianosatch on December 15, 2003, 02:55:36 AM
looks to me like a bunch o' stinkin' tapers posting in this thread... ;)
Title: Re:km 184's into an mp-2
Post by: Todd R on December 15, 2003, 05:04:25 PM
Yep, as noted earlier in this thread, I ran km184s>mp2 for awhile, just over a year I think.  ran them >AD500e, >D100 (interim, after Apogee died), >SBM1, and into modSBM1.  I really liked the sound overall, very good setup for the price at the time (which was before such innovations as the warm-mod UA5).

I always ran out of the 1/8" mini out, which had 10db less gain as I recall.  Never used attenuators, never had a problem with clipping even at loud shows.  The oft-quoted bloated low end of the mp2 (which I think people exaggerate about) was never really an issue running at absolute minimum gain out of the mini-out.

Enjoy your rig, I think you'll like it.

-Todd