Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: airbladder on March 01, 2008, 09:12:49 PM
-
As mentioned in a recent post I feel like trying out some new gear. Rite now I run: Neumann U89> V2> Minime> HD-P2. I was thinking about picking up a Minimp to see what that sounds like in front of the Minime. More that one person has told me they like the Minimp more than the V2. I am wondering if anyone out there has had both a Minimp and V2 and have any feedback on the situation. I am also wondering if anyone has run the Mp>Me combo and what they think of that. My guess is that Apogee designed the two peaces of gear to work well with one another. A Mp would fit in my bag just fine it. It may be nice for the apogee to have a friend.
-
I have owned neither (owned a mme and about to own another) but have played with v2's and v3's on various occasions and with various mics as well as the mmp. The mmp is so real, lifelike, 3d sounding. Much prefer it.
-
"Real, lifelike, and 3d"
I like the sound of that.
-
"Real, lifelike, and 3d"
I like the sound of that.
so did I when I had the pleasure to play with one ;D
Of course, I'm biased as I love the apogee sound. Been away for almost a year and been missing it ever since. Finally getting back to it.
-
I've owned a V2, V3 and MiniMP. The MiniMP does sound great (altho ultimately I prefer the sound of the Grace units), but imo the level knobs are not ideal for live recording - too small, too much range, and hard to adjust in a live taping situation, especially if you've set them a little high to start and need to bring them down during a show. I much prefer the 5 dB steps on the Grace and the better resolution on the trim knobs. The form factor is a little strange too.
Steve
-
Buttons are too small ? If they are anything like the minime, I can't say they are small by any means. Now those fostex fr2le trim knobs are small.
Too much range ? I believe it is 70-75 dB max gain, which isn't that much. Like any other piece of gear you get to know it in the field. With the MMP in front of the MME, I assume that you have your mme screw pots set to a decent level and have the mmp drive the rig, just because those screw pots are small and you need an eye glass sized screwdriver to adjust them.
I totally agree on the form factor though and that is the biggest knock on both the mmp & the mme. I've cracked open my mme and just couldn't understand why they had to make it so deep, shrug ...
-
hmmm....one company's "bread winner" is it's converters. the other company's bread winneris preamps (debatable perhaps but i think so) .
however...let your own ears decide. ;) both companies are top notch and make great products. i've been a long time grace design user in many different realms of recording but i've liked the taper recordings i've heard with the mini-mp
-
Buttons are too small ? If they are anything like the minime, I can't say they are small by any means. Now those fostex fr2le trim knobs are small.
Too much range ? I believe it is 70-75 dB max gain, which isn't that much. Like any other piece of gear you get to know it in the field. With the MMP in front of the MME, I assume that you have your mme screw pots set to a decent level and have the mmp drive the rig, just because those screw pots are small and you need an eye glass sized screwdriver to adjust them.
Yeah, and that 75 dB gain range is covered by a less-than-360-degree turn of a knob that's about a half-inch in diameter, with marks at 10 dB intervals, and no click-stops. Whereas the Grace has large knobs with 5 dB steps for a quick drop in levels, and trim knobs about the same size as the Apogee that cover only 10 dB, with marks at 1 dB intervals. I found it hard to set the same gain on both channels of the Apogee in my living room, much less in the field with poor lighting, bad viewing angles etc. With the Grace units I can confidently adjust gain within a half-dB or so. It's the worst gain adjustment setup of any pre I've owned, and in addition to the V2/3 and MiniMP that also includes the Sonosax and Portico. Like I said, still a great sounding pre, and I wish I could have afforded to keep it and my V3, but the poor ergonomics were certainly one of the reasons that I sold it.
Steve
-
I find that I can dial it in quite easily as I know the mme meters in combo with the MT and actual prefer the variable gain as opposed to stepped. It just something you get to "know" in the field. Plus I like the sound and I wouldn't let the ergonomics dictate that, YMMV of course ...
http://www.apogeedigital.com/images/minimp_fp_sm.jpg
-
same.
I like both preamps. the V2 is more transparent, the MMP more "pleasing" and bad environment friendly.
IMO....YMMV
-
I dont and never have run Neumann's...but, I have spoken with many here and elsewhere who swear that the V2/V3 is THE pre for Neumann mics. Again, no experience but feedback from very credible sources.
Rich
-
Again that is purely subjective as I am sure you can find just as 'credible' sources who will say the opposite. It has always come down to what you prefer. Myself I don't like the V2/3, high quality piece of gear but not for me.
Anyhoooooooo, hey airbladder didn't you pick a MMP ? Just curious if you have run it in front of the MME yet or not and how you liked/disliked it ?
-
I dont and never have run Neumann's...but, I have spoken with many here and elsewhere who swear that the V2/V3 is THE pre for Neumann mics. Again, no experience but feedback from very credible sources.
Rich
i ran a v2 with 84i's and didnt care for it. so, i ouldnt be as so bold to say "THE". but ymmv
-
speaking of MMP, I need to borrow one to test against the new m248 and see which I like.
any takers ?
:)
-
speaking of MMP, I need to borrow one to test against the new m248 and see which I like.
any takers ?
:)
did you ever get any takers?
-
nope, not yet.
-
airbladder
not sure if you are still searching for the Mmp > Mme sound..if so, (and this is sure to bring out the wtf's) , the closest thing I have heard to this rig are some of the old M148 > Apogee AD1000. if you cant find let me know and i will send you discs.
rich
-
Thanks. I got a MMP, ran it for a few shows, but don't have a 4 track recorder to do a true a/b. I am going to keep both pre's for a while. I don' have many shows coming up so it may take a while to decide what pre I will keep. My initial observation is that the two pre's are just different not that one is better than the other. The V2 seems very transparent while the mmp seems to have more color. The mmp seems to have more mid lows or it could be that the V2 has less not sure. I like running the mmp next to the mme having two apogees in a bag seems more stable than just having one. My only complaint is that you have to turn on the phantom on for each channel every time you turn the mmp on. But if you are paying attention that should not be a problem.
I am thinking about selling my HD-P2, picking up an R-44, and doing some comps. That is unless someone will let me borrow a 4 track recorder for a little while.
-
you pretty much got it.
v2 = clean gain. no flavor
mmp = total apogee flavor.
both are excellent. just a matter of what you like and synergy w/the mics.