Topic: Is this an Upgrade at822 SP-PREAMP --> C-14 9100 ?

[johnnybottom]

Trying to figure just owning at822, if I should get the SP PREAMP for it,
or go with the Church audio c14 9100 .
Price point being close enough to each other.

Recording live loud music,

Thank you!
Jc
www.ReflectionsBand.net

[rastasean]

what recorder are you using?

[johnnybottom]

Previously just going into Sony DR-7 MD mic in,
NOW...using Fostex MR8 HD which is a 4 channel with
line level inputs I guess...

..so my At822 w/o a preamp has been really lame
I post mix 2 channels from Sbd , with 2 from mic,
for a 'so-called' matrix.

Any thoughts appreciated
Thanks,
JC

[johnnybottom]

Interesting.... i was really expecting a few pro CA14 comments.

[illconditioned]

I don't know about the CA14 sound, but the AT822 is a very nice mic, particularly for a matrix, where you can strengthen and/or crisp up the vocal with the soundboard feed.

The main thing is get the mic close to the stage.  If you can clamp it somewhere, run wires, and put your recorder at the board, that is an ideal setup.  I've used this many times.

If you're going to put the mics farther back, I would hold out for some good condensers, either Beyerdynamic MC930 or AKG 463 is what I use, but lots of other possibilities as well.  I've noticed that lesser mics don't sound as good when you get farther back in the room.

  Richard

[sunjan]

NOW...using Fostex MR8 HD which is a 4 channel with
line level inputs I guess...

..so my At822 w/o a preamp has been really lame
I post mix 2 channels from Sbd , with 2 from mic,

Johnny, your gear chain doesn't really make sense to me.
AT822 is a battery-only mic, which means it's less-than-ideal for recording loud music.

Church gear is great for stealth, but since you'll be dragging the Fostex around I assume you run open - so why go for stealth gear?

And your Fostex can provice P48, so why not go for mics that can benefit from that?!

Get yourself a pair of phantom powered mics that you can mount on a stand. There are plenty of options, take a look at the ADK blowout sale in the Ebay section right now.

[batchain]

Sunjan is right, the AT822 is self powered. I think the AT825 is the phantom powered version of the same mic.

[johnnybottom]

Thanks for clarifying things.
Use phantom power with new mics, seems to be it.
Trying to keep to a budget...
Might those CAD e70 dual cap mics ($99) be reasonable here?

Thank You

Jc

[sunjan]

Thanks for clarifying things.
Use phantom power with new mics, seems to be it.
Trying to keep to a budget...
Might those CAD e70 dual cap mics ($99) be reasonable here?

Hmm, that's $200 for a pair.
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,122357.0.html

But consider if the ADK a51s aren't still a better deal right now:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,126423.msg1679574.html#msg1679574

[johnnybottom]

Cool. I didnt realize they are still available.
the ebay link is finished I beleive.
Ill try to give him a call.
Thanks,

Jc

[johnnybottom]

Wow Im psyched! Ive got a pair of a51 s on the way
Thanks for the prudent advice!

1 more.... would these require a preamp going into my fostex ?
thanks,

Jc

[sunjan]

1 more.... would these require a preamp going into my fostex ?

Does the Fostex have built-in mic preamps? I guess you'd be the best one to answer this, if you got the manual.
The official website isn't really crystal clear, but it would be weird to design a device supporting mics with P48 and not providing any preamp for at least some of the channels.
These specs seems to indicate it does, at least:
http://www.fostexusa.com/index.php?file=products/digital/mr8hd

INPUTS/OUTPUTS
Analog In (4ch)
Connector

Input Level
Input Impedance   
- XLR-3-31 type (Pin2:hot) and ø 6mm TRS phone
- 48dBV (MIC) - +4dBV (LINE)
- 1.5k ohm or more (MIC/BAL)
- 40k ohm or more (LINE/UNBAL)
- 500k ohm or more (GUITAR/UNBAL)