Topic: Stealthable mikes for UA5>JB3?

[sunjan]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here, in the sense that I'm just about to shop for my gear.
But I've been taping with low-end gear (minidisc) for years over here in Europe, so I do have a few 100 shows in my archive.
Typical venue setting is small/mid sized club, 2-10 meters from the stage. Mostly loud rock music.

Now I just picked up a JB3, and I've made up my mind about a UA5. Not sure whether digimod will do, or any of the high-end mods.

Now I'm looking for microphones that would suit this combo.
I'd probably go for cards that I would set up in a Kangol, so they need to be reasonably stealthy. I don't feel comfortable with a stand, since in-club security can be quite strict over here, and I'd like to have my hands free for other things (beer, taking snapshots with camera etc).

I'm a bit confused with the whole power/phantom/active cables discussion.
Maybe there's a FAQ that can explain this for dummies like me?!

If I've got a UA5, does it power the mikes? Or  I still need to look for mikes with battery in-body, or additional battery box? I heard that some capsules have the bodies separate, so that I can have them in my bag? Is this the same as active cables?

My budget is about $300-500, Oade offers me a pair of Audix Micro 1245 for $500, which sounds like a good deal to me (they're just 45 mm long, and I rather not go for anything biger than that). Are the 1245s suitable for the UA5, or should I look for something else. Any other gear I need to run this combination?

Many stupid questions, I know... Bear with me, and I'll hopefully reward you with rare shows from over here in a while... =)

Jan
----------
Old rig: Sony ECM 909>Sharp MD 702

[thierryhenry]

UA-5 will provide 48V phantom power, so you're covered, but it isn't very stealthable, it's quite a big box, so if you have stealthy mics what's the point, I think it's unheard of to stealth a UA-5, but I might be wrong. Good luck.

[urobouros]

Stealthing a UA-5?  Anything's possible!  You gotta post pics if you make it work   Check out soundprofessionals.com, they have some great products.

[thierryhenry]

I seriously think stealthing the UA-5 is damn near impossible with one person. Unless you wear a backpack the whole time and keep it in there.

[urobouros]

Aw c'mon, be creative!  "What, that bulge, I'm related to John Holmes."  If you really want to make it work, go to a costume shop and pick up a fat suit.  Many are somewhat hollow with more than enough space to fit a UA-5.  You could also go with the Quasimoto thing and strap it to your back.  Or what about a large novelty hat. 

In all seriouness, stealthing a UA-5 is far more trouble than it would ever be worth.  Between the unit and the battery pack, it's a lot of weight and space.  You're better off looking at the Spasm-2 from sound pros or maybe a sonosax.  I'm by no means the expert on stealth gear.  If I may take a page from Brian's book, check out http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=14;action=display;threadid=15920 and also do a search for stealth in Rig Pictures.

[pfife]

I stealthed my UA-5 a number of times... but it depends, obviously, on what the security at the door is like.  I just had mine nicely situated in a man-purse.

To answer your original questions:  at minimum, you need to do the "digimod" to the UA-5.  That is necessary to get it to output a digital signal w/o having it hooked up to a computer.

And, as far as mics go, I am selling a set of AT853Rx's that I used to stealth w/ my UA-5 all the time... you will just be able to plug them into the UA-5 and go.  I am asking for the low end of your published range for them and a bunch of accessories:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=33354.0

The only downside with these is that I thought the plugs/connectors (AT8533's) are a bit big...

PM me if you are interested.

[thierryhenry]

I stealthed my UA-5 a number of times... but it depends, obviously, on what the security at the door is like.  I just had mine nicely situated in a man-purse.

To answer your original questions:  at minimum, you need to do the "digimod" to the UA-5.  That is necessary to get it to output a digital signal w/o having it hooked up to a computer.

And, as far as mics go, I am selling a set of AT853Rx's that I used to stealth w/ my UA-5 all the time... you will just be able to plug them into the UA-5 and go.  I am asking for the low end of your published range for them and a bunch of accessories:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=33354.0

The only downside with these is that I thought the plugs/connectors (AT8533's) are a bit big...

PM me if you are interested.

But Pfife, once you're in there, how did you get it all setup under "stealth conditions," you had to have put the UA-5 down, and had a stand etc. etc, wouldn't security walking around see that?

[pfife]

I stealthed my UA-5 a number of times... but it depends, obviously, on what the security at the door is like.  I just had mine nicely situated in a man-purse.

To answer your original questions:  at minimum, you need to do the "digimod" to the UA-5.  That is necessary to get it to output a digital signal w/o having it hooked up to a computer.

And, as far as mics go, I am selling a set of AT853Rx's that I used to stealth w/ my UA-5 all the time... you will just be able to plug them into the UA-5 and go.  I am asking for the low end of your published range for them and a bunch of accessories:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=33354.0

The only downside with these is that I thought the plugs/connectors (AT8533's) are a bit big...

PM me if you are interested.

But Pfife, once you're in there, how did you get it all setup under "stealth conditions," you had to have put the UA-5 down, and had a stand etc. etc, wouldn't security walking around see that?

Go into the bathroom, and clipped the mics to my hat, so no stand.  Have the UA-5 pre-connected, so all Ihave to do is turn it on.  The man purse has a cover, so it blocks out all the lights.  I made some holes in the man purse to run the cables out to the NJB3.

Now, also keep in mind that I don't necessarily tape where there's gestapo security, but I have taped in a number of places where it was specifically prohibited, and announced so over the PA ahead of time.  I've also taped shows where I've seen other people get busted too.

[thierryhenry]

Yeah i see, i See.

[Brian Skalinder]

FWIW, I've stealthed with my V3 in the same fashion as PFife.  But I've also been busted - turned in by an over-zealous fan.  Oh, well.

[thierryhenry]

That's cause you're the shit Brian.

You should have knocked that guy out by the way.

[Brian Skalinder]

You should have knocked that guy out by the way.

I don't think the police officer escorting me would have appreciated me flattening a lady who may or may not have belonged to AARP.   

[pfife]

You should have knocked that guy out by the way.

I don't think the police officer escorting me would have appreciated me flattening a lady who may or may not have belonged to AARP.   

really?  I thought cops were into that kind of thing...

[Brian Skalinder]

really? I thought cops were into that kind of thing...

Only a fairly small percentage, and only if they're on the giving end. 

[urobouros]

I don't think the police officer escorting me would have appreciated me flattening a lady who may or may not have belonged to AARP.   

Cops are so picky about who gets to beat whom