Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: DaryanLenz on October 27, 2003, 12:34:38 PM
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Here's a description I just found. Sound's to me like it will be a warming type pre, most likely like the mini-me.
The Mini-MP 2-channel Analog Mic-pre, is Apogee's latest addition to their Mini-Series.
Featured in the Mini-MP are two, low distortion, ultra-fast, high-gain pre-amps that offer a full 70 dB of gain. Input/output options on the Mini-MP are strong and flexible. The phantom powered microphone inputs are capable of handling level of up to +18dB and the auto select High-Z inputs are a great feature for instruments and consumer level equipment are ideal for giving direct guitars, basses and keyboards that warm analog sound.
On the output side Mini-MP uses Apogee's newly developed electronically balanced line drivers, which simulate true transformer behavior and allow for perfect symmetry when used in balanced mode and no increased distortion when used unbalanced.
Other useful Mini-MP features include Middle-Side Mode, great for recording audio using an M-S configured mike setup, an 80 hZ High-pass filter, and a phase switch.
Mini-MP card at a glance:
- Two-channel microphone preamplifier with phantom power and HI-Z instrument inputs
- Low distortion pre-amps with 75dB of gain. THD+N: –105 dB at unity, -85 dB at 60 dB of gain
- Ultra-linear gain control
- Mid-Side (M-S) feature
- 80 Hz Hi Pass filter with a roll off of +18dB/oct
- Low power consumption allowing the use of several types of batteries and third party power packs
Availability: November 2003 - MSRP: $995
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so how do those specs compare to what the mme offers? is there a difference?
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it offers m/s and a hpf... making it more of a full function pre like the v3 etc. That's a big improvement over the minime!
haven't heard what chipset they used in it though...
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"transformerlike" outputs sucks.why not use the real thing?
oh i remeber nice trafos adds production costs and the specs get messed after a while.
the amek 9098 has a traf-like output...but i liked the it's midrange texture.
then again i'm a idiot.
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I wil e-mail Gary and ask about chipset so we can get a better idea on sound.
D
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be curious to see how it sounds, but I think its way over priced if $1000 is what they are going to ask for it.
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be curious to see how it sounds, but I think its way over priced if $1000 is what they are going to ask for it.
I find it very interesting from a business perspective that, generally speaking, Apogee built 2 devices at a cost of $2200 to their customers what Grace built in 1 device at a cost of $1500 to their customers. Of course, if you love the Apogee (or Grace) sound and have the cash to spend, the business perspective is moot. But I find it very telling.
Hmmmmm...this might be the first time I've openly invited flames on this board... ;)
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I asked gary yesterday about the op-amps in the new mini-mp and the answer was I can't tell you...yet I will let you all know as soon as I know, as he is going to e-mail me and tell me the deal as soon as he is allowed.
Daryan
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If MSRP = $995, you have to figure this thing is going to sell for less than that. $800 maybe?
The thing that kills me is the meters. -20,0 +6, clip? Not exactly what I was hoping for. And those little metal toggle switches? They's all over the place. Is there a worse kind of switch for what we do?
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If MSRP = $995, you have to figure this thing is going to sell for less than that. $800 maybe?
The thing that kills me is the meters. -20,0 +6, clip? Not exactly what I was hoping for. And those little metal toggle switches? They's all over the place. Is there a worse kind of switch for what we do?
apogee doesn't seem to be learning from previous design mistakes.......
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I have no problem with their designs whatsoever. I have never flipped anything by mistajke, and running upright is fine as well. Also, I find that after using the mini-me for a while, I don't even lopok at the levels on the deck anymore as the meters are very easy to read and understand after you get used to them. If I wanted a light show, I would go to see fireworks!
Have a great day all
D
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apogee has a unique design that they stick with... so does grace
it's part of the marketing...
bunch of whiners!
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so it's overpriced but you haven't heard it yet, right? Just clarifying.
its MSRP is $1000... I'd bet it'll sell for $750-800.
Skalinder - you're right, the people who buy these boxes are buying the apogee sound or the grace sound, price be damned. And actually compared to the price of Apogee's other gear the minime and the minimp are a great deal.
I use both boxes extensively and like them both for different applications but the hubris of grace owners on this board is, at times, nauseating.
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LOL!
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but the hubris of grace owners on this board is, at times, nauseating.
i prefer "Steely Confidence" over hubris, but whatever big guy. :thebirdman:
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hey - the minime doesn't get hot, it just occasionally catches on fire. ;D
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Anyone have a spatula?
This Grace unit needs a flippin! :bigsmile:
(http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/attachments/DSCF0053.JPG)
is this what your referring to 'nads?
;D
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WHOA! :) Anytime, Mike.
Yeah, 'nadsie, you sure it's hubris?
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I like "steely confidence", goes hand in hand with the metallic sound. ;) Seriously, I love the top end. It is spectacular. Just don't like the sound otherwise. I am not forming an opinion from one show, but I sucked up every ounce of Mule hf distortion last week, which isn't the fault of the v3 but the 4022>v3 combo. A little warmth in the chain is critical. I would *kill* for a fully adjustable a/d only that isn't a sony. How 'bout a v4, Mike, ansr only?! ;D
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>> sucked up every ounce of Mule hf distortion last week, which isn't the fault of the v3 but the 4022>v3 combo. <<
how do you know another box would have been so different? gotta run it a few times :)
maybe it was just the room and not the rig...
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>> sucked up every ounce of Mule hf distortion last week, which isn't the fault of the v3 but the 4022>v3 combo. <<
how do you know another box would have been so different? gotta run it a few times :)
maybe it was just the room and not the rig...
all this complaing and no one has brought up the user... user error has got to come into effect at some point :afro:
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decent room, but there was definitely a lot of hf distortion to my ears, which seems to happen a lot for the Mule. Scott, I've loved every show I've taped until this one, the high end is spectacular. The two del/los shows I taped are just stunning in their high end detail. Trying not to make a rash decision. Plenty more shows in November and December. I do miss that warm blanket that transformers bring, and that the transformers can mask that hf distortion a bit, but I also know that will cut into the high end of the 4022's, which is really their calling card.
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Is it time for a poll?
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Boswell, no need to be a smartass. The show was at the Pantages in Minny, which for a vaudeville theatre sounds surprisingly good. They stuck everyone on the floor in the LAST row though. I weaseled up to the balcony and clamped onto the balcony dfc about 35' from stage after being told not to. Same venue I got the heave-ho from at MMW in April. Same security too. Unfortunately, I think there were some PA issues, up front on the floor and actually further back in the balcony had less HF issues than where I was, which I realized way too late to do a thing about it. What I'm sayin' is that after taping maybe 20 Mule shows, and dealing with similar HF issues most every time, transformers can mask hf distortion to some degree. We can all agree the V3 doesn't mask anything. So no, I don't think there was user error.
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I have no problem with their designs whatsoever. I have never flipped anything by mistajke, and running upright is fine as well.
Daryan-
I'm talking about the little metal toggle switches for the Hi-Pass/Phantom/Phase shift. There aren't any of those on the Minime.
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I stand corrected!
I guess I should carefully look at pictures before I run my mouth! :P
D
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I have no problem with their designs whatsoever. I have never flipped anything by mistajke, and running upright is fine as well.
Daryan-
I'm talking about the little metal toggle switches for the Hi-Pass/Phantom/Phase shift. There aren't any of those on the Minime.
Its the mics that are pulling that sound, not the V3, its seems that the same comon denominator here is the mics. No matter what gear you use behind it you aren't happy, so try using different mics, that is the only way to truely change your sound.
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If it was just the mics that pull the sound, everyone would run just phantom, and Doug wouldn't have built his m148 to accentuate the low end, or as he says, and I paraphrase, "nothing like it to bring out the Phil bombs". I loved my 4022>eaa>adk, never once a bitch about the sound, just trouble with the units themselves. A $200 trip to France for the eaa, sketchy battery cage, and we all know about the adk. My mistake to give it up to try something new. Liked mbho 603/200>mp2>adk better too. Gonna try to come up with an m148 and run 4022>m148>hhb for awhile, hell for $3,600 new or whatever it was, the hhb a/d ought to be good. Glad I can entertain you all. 8)
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Marc-
That is a great idea. I have been wanting to hear some 4022's with a 148!
Chris Pennington run 483>hhb at every Drive-by Truckers show and his tapes would really surprise you... The pdr1000 is by no means a slouch.
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Why not 4022->m148->mme. I bet it would smoke!
D
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aaaaaaaahahaha, i didn't even catch it. nice, mike!
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only prob. with the mme = screwpots, baby!!! I have a whole one tape run 4022>m148>mme, 12/30 last year for the Mule. Great, great tape, particularly for the Mule. To me, the m148 is a lot like the eaa but a lot tighter, and a bit more defined in the kick drums, which could be described as dryness. And more reliable than the eaa, I think.
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only prob. with the mme = screwpots, baby!!!
I've said it before, that's a small problem considering you generally have the levels set within the first five minutes of the show or first five minutes of a loud passage. After the first few minutes, I'm watching the levels but only changing them if the soundguy drastically changes what's coming out of the PA. Also the soft limit saves you if you're running a little hot or the crowd levels are higher than the music.
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If it was just the mics that pull the sound, everyone would run just phantom, and Doug wouldn't have built his m148 to accentuate the low end, or as he says, and I paraphrase, "nothing like it to bring out the Phil bombs". I loved my 4022>eaa>adk, never once a bitch about the sound, just trouble with the units themselves. A $200 trip to France for the eaa, sketchy battery cage, and we all know about the adk. My mistake to give it up to try something new. Liked mbho 603/200>mp2>adk better too. Gonna try to come up with an m148 and run 4022>m148>hhb for awhile, hell for $3,600 new or whatever it was, the hhb a/d ought to be good. Glad I can entertain you all. 8)
hmmm...maybe, but as Doug said, there is no pre like no pre
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so which is it, Doug?! 8)
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Why not 4022->m148->mme. I bet it would smoke!
D
I was wondering if anyone would catch that...haha. What a day it's gonna be. As far as calpots, when I have some time next week I am gonna see if I can take the mini-me to the hardware store and come up with a way to extend the pots. Something tells me with a little sawing and maybe even a nail or something we could fashion extebders and super glue or something them onto the original calpots to avoid using screws. Who knows, Inwill let you know what I find.
D
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daryan, isn't tinkering a bad idea, if you know what i mean? ;)
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things might go BOOOOOOOOOOOOM
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cool, D., let us know. Enjoy moe.!
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so which is it, Doug?! 8)
Thats what I was thinking ;D
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so which is it, Doug?! 8)
haha, yeah, i saw his posts about runnin his schoeps with transformers in the 80s or some shit, then he goes and sells the preamp he fuckin' invented... thought that was pretty funny
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Yeah Armen, it might go boom, but hopefully I can't blow up a metal object using just a saw...then again, who blows up two mini-me's!!!! :o
Daryan
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i wouldn't be surprised... ;D if anyone can pull it off, it's
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Yeah...it's....ME ;D Justine's still bitchin about the fire I started on the deck with a cigarette a couple months ago ;D
Armen, you have me crackin up at my desk!
D
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daryan, given your history with apogee smoke i'd stay away from anything that burns on PURPOSE
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Daryan-
I'm talking about the little metal toggle switches for the Hi-Pass/Phantom/Phase shift. There aren't any of those on the Minime.
What do you think the on/off and phantom power switches on the mini me are?
-JB
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I saw that the MMe does have a couple of the switches, but they're situated closer to the middle of the unit. Seems like they'd be harder to flip accidentally. :)
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the blasted thing isn't even out yet, just simma down chilluns
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Anyone buy the Mini-MP yet? Sonic Sense has it in stock right now but I can't remember the exact price. I want to hear this thing.... basically, I'm just looking for an excuse to unload by DMIC. ;D