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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: jagraham on January 15, 2013, 03:22:02 PM

Title: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: jagraham on January 15, 2013, 03:22:02 PM
Used my new 9200 for the first time last night after using the 9000 for my last 5 years of taping.  Very happy with the results.  In particular, I like the gain knob much better than the switch on the 9000.  It only happened to me once, but it is possible to switch the gain on the 9000 the wrong way during recording, seems like it would be almost impossible with the 9200.  Anyone else ever use both of these pres and have any observations/input?

A couple questions-

Are the outputs on the two pres the same?  As in, if I have both of them at 100% with +10db gain, will the output be the same given that the mics are of equal sensitivity?

Anyone ever run either of these into a mic in on the Tascam Dr-2d?  I ask because the tascam has 4ch capability, but one input is mic in.  Since Mic in can't take as hot a signal I assume less gain would be in order for that input.  I have a UBB batt box on the way, would it be better to run that into the Mic in instead of the second pre?
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 16, 2013, 01:39:37 AM
Used my new 9200 for the first time last night after using the 9000 for my last 5 years of taping.  Very happy with the results.  In particular, I like the gain knob much better than the switch on the 9000.  It only happened to me once, but it is possible to switch the gain on the 9000 the wrong way during recording, seems like it would be almost impossible with the 9200.  Anyone else ever use both of these pres and have any observations/input?

A couple questions-

Are the outputs on the two pres the same?  As in, if I have both of them at 100% with +10db gain, will the output be the same given that the mics are of equal sensitivity?

Anyone ever run either of these into a mic in on the Tascam Dr-2d?  I ask because the tascam has 4ch capability, but one input is mic in.  Since Mic in can't take as hot a signal I assume less gain would be in order for that input.  I have a UBB batt box on the way, would it be better to run that into the Mic in instead of the second pre?

I have a 9100 that I'm keeping for my ca14 omnis and buying a ca9200 now too, to go along with my ca14 cards! Also have a battery box on the way!!!
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: fmaderjr on January 16, 2013, 08:16:45 AM
Used my new 9200 for the first time last night after using the 9000 for my last 5 years of taping.  Very happy with the results.  In particular, I like the gain knob much better than the switch on the 9000.  It only happened to me once, but it is possible to switch the gain on the 9000 the wrong way during recording, seems like it would be almost impossible with the 9200.  Anyone else ever use both of these pres and have any observations/input?

A couple questions-

Are the outputs on the two pres the same?  As in, if I have both of them at 100% with +10db gain, will the output be the same given that the mics are of equal sensitivity?
I'm sure Chris has them both calibrated so that the setting marked 10 dB on both recorders is actually 10 dB gain, so the output should be precisely the same on both.

Anyone ever run either of these into a mic in on the Tascam Dr-2d?  I ask because the tascam has 4ch capability, but one input is mic in.  Since Mic in can't take as hot a signal I assume less gain would be in order for that input.  I have a UBB batt box on the way, would it be better to run that into the Mic in instead of the second pre?
If you set the 9200 to 0 dB/100% it is acting exactly like a battery box. If you turn the volume control below 100% it is providing lower output than a battery box. There should be no trouble running a 9200 mic in to any recorder when set this way and you have the recorder's plug in power turned off. (If the recorder's PIP can't be turned off, it may sound fine anyway, but you'd have to try it to see). Chris even says that for quiet stuff you can often successfully use some gain from one of his pres into mic in if you need more gain than the recorder provides and you are careful.
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: Ultfris101 on January 16, 2013, 11:08:31 AM
I had same issue with the 9000 switch getting moved once and after that used some tape on it. My main problem was I had a right angle miniplug next to it. I think using straight in helped as much or more than the tape.

I ended up getting a 9200 a bit later and yes I agree, I like the knob better I end up using the same gain levels for the most part, but like the knob. They both yield the same results otherwise as far as i can tell. I like them both.
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: Church-Audio on January 16, 2013, 11:56:57 AM
Yes they will be the same because 10db of gain is 10 db of gain :)

Chris
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 16, 2013, 04:37:23 PM
So does a stock 9200 has stepped or variable gain? Gain for each channel or just one gain knob via 9100 ??? Id MUCH PREFER my 9200 having variable gain
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: Ultfris101 on January 16, 2013, 05:19:20 PM
Bean, the 9200 is stepped at 5db increments but it's a single knob that applies to both channels. the second knob is on/off/volume which I generally leave all the way up when recording.

Chris will have to weigh in or I'll have to go look, but a 9200 with a fully variable gain sounds an awful lot like a 9100.
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 16, 2013, 05:24:16 PM
Bean, the 9200 is stepped at 5db increments but it's a single knob that applies to both channels. the second knob is on/off/volume which I generally leave all the way up when recording.

Chris will have to weigh in or I'll have to go look, but a 9200 with a fully variable gain sounds an awful lot like a 9100.
Bean, the 9200 is stepped at 5db increments but it's a single knob that applies to both channels. the second knob is on/off/volume which I generally leave all the way up when recording.

Chris will have to weigh in or I'll have to go look, but a 9200 with a fully variable gain sounds an awful lot like a 9100.
Bean, the 9200 is stepped at 5db increments but it's a single knob that applies to both channels. the second knob is on/off/volume which I generally leave all the way up when recording.

Chris will have to weigh in or I'll have to go look, but a 9200 with a fully variable gain sounds an awful lot like a 9100.

Exactly, but with 40db of gain instead of 20db gain on the 9100
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: jagraham on January 16, 2013, 06:08:51 PM
The gain applies to both channels, but if you are using CA mics I think they are matched to begin with.
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: Church-Audio on January 16, 2013, 07:07:56 PM
Bean, the 9200 is stepped at 5db increments but it's a single knob that applies to both channels. the second knob is on/off/volume which I generally leave all the way up when recording.

Chris will have to weigh in or I'll have to go look, but a 9200 with a fully variable gain sounds an awful lot like a 9100.
Bean, the 9200 is stepped at 5db increments but it's a single knob that applies to both channels. the second knob is on/off/volume which I generally leave all the way up when recording.

Chris will have to weigh in or I'll have to go look, but a 9200 with a fully variable gain sounds an awful lot like a 9100.
Bean, the 9200 is stepped at 5db increments but it's a single knob that applies to both channels. the second knob is on/off/volume which I generally leave all the way up when recording.

Chris will have to weigh in or I'll have to go look, but a 9200 with a fully variable gain sounds an awful lot like a 9100.

Exactly, but with 40db of gain instead of 20db gain on the 9100
Stepped gain.

Gain settings are 0 db. +10 db + 15 db + 25db + 30db +40 db and they are based on standard sensitivity of my mics and other mics that have the 4.7k mod and are used in a real concert situation.
Title: Re: CA STC-9200 vs. STC-9000
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 16, 2013, 07:25:18 PM
Could i have a custom +20db setting ???