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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: AndyLGR on October 20, 2011, 07:29:10 PM
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I currently use my mics through an Sp-sb-11 battery box into an editol r-09, and I record rock shows stealthy, they could be in arenas, theatres, basically all kinds if venues. I asked SP if i bought cmc-8 mics would they need the low sensitivity mod applying to them, their answer was yes if it will be ear bleeding loud, but no if they won't be that loud. As a guide they said that approx 1 in 50 have the mod done.
My question to those with experience of these mics is this, is the low sensitivity mod necessary?
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You mean my mod lol Most of the 900 series mics will not benefit from my mod since SP has no way of measuring distortion that I know of. They sell it to people anyway. The 900 series mics has a problem with High spl and no mods will fix it. Its something to do with the diaphragm bottoming out on that mic. The 853 series needs the mod and does not have the same issue with the diaphragm.
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Thanks Chris, I didnt know the history of the mod.
So basically it doesn't do much for the AT900 series mics, which makes me wonder why offer it in the first place.
Does this potential issue cause problems with recordings? Does anyone with these mics have any issues?
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Thanks Chris, I didnt know the history of the mod.
So basically it doesn't do much for the AT900 series mics, which makes me wonder why offer it in the first place.
Does this potential issue cause problems with recordings? Does anyone with these mics have any issues?
I have the means to test a mic for acoustic distortion, something very few companies my size have. It was an expensive investment of software and hardware.
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i wouldn't say it NEEDS it, but it def is a benefit
there are plenty of good recordings made without the mod
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I have the CMC-8s and the only mod that was advised for me to get (to increase the SPL tolerance) was to convert them from a single stereo mini-plug into individual mini-XLR connectors and to use some AT phantom power supplies instead of a standard battery box. I used the mics for probably 5 or 6 years without this mod before I ever found myself in a situation where I had some low-end distortion in a very bass-heavy venue. The phantom power mod was advertised as the way to prevent that. However, about 3 years ago, and not more than a few months after I had the mod done, I bought some Neumann KM140s, so I haven't used the CMC-8s more than a few times with the mod and can't testify to how beneficial the mod was. SP is right, though, in advising you that it takes a pretty loud environment to overload the stock CMC-8s. I wasn't recording heavy metal, but it was always loud rock in small bars/clubs and it took years before I encountered that one venue that gave me problems.
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Even if distortion occurs rarely with CMC-8's, I would still recommend getting modded CMC-4's if you are going to use the cardioid pattern (or get CA cards if you don't need changeable caps). Even Sound Pro's will tell you that CMC-4 cards sound better that CMC-8 cards (perhaps as a result of the CMC-8's smaller size).
Despite the CMC-4's larger size, they are still not hard to stealth with and cost less.
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I have the CMC-8s and the only mod that was advised for me to get (to increase the SPL tolerance) was to convert them from a single stereo mini-plug into individual mini-XLR connectors and to use some AT phantom power supplies instead of a standard battery box. I used the mics for probably 5 or 6 years without this mod before I ever found myself in a situation where I had some low-end distortion in a very bass-heavy venue. The phantom power mod was advertised as the way to prevent that. However, about 3 years ago, and not more than a few months after I had the mod done, I bought some Neumann KM140s, so I haven't used the CMC-8s more than a few times with the mod and can't testify to how beneficial the mod was. SP is right, though, in advising you that it takes a pretty loud environment to overload the stock CMC-8s. I wasn't recording heavy metal, but it was always loud rock in small bars/clubs and it took years before I encountered that one venue that gave me problems.
The stock 900 mics I have measured at 114 db at 1 k were over 5% thd. That were wired 2 wire. Three wire would be better for these mics you are correct. Its not advised to run 2 wire with 900 series mics.
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My CMC-4's with the omni caps distorted on me. It's a good idea to get Chris' mod no matter what capsule is used on the 4's.
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+1 to what everyone's saying... go with the 853 (CMC-4) model if you insist on staying with the SP mics. I had the CMC-8's (AT-933/c) back in the day and managed to overload them on more than one occasion. Personally, I'm not a fan of SP's mics, period.
If you're looking for an inexpensive mic solution, go with Chris Church's CA-14 cards. They've *NEVER* overloaded on me at any point. I also loved his CA-14 omnis until I recently upgraded to something more expensive but they served me well also.
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If you're looking for an inexpensive mic solution, go with Chris Church's CA-14 cards. They've *NEVER* overloaded on me at any point. I also loved his CA-14 omnis until I recently upgraded to something more expensive but they served me well also.
Even if not looking for an inexpensive solution, that's the way to go if you don't need interchangeable caps. Sound way better than CM-8 cards and at least as good as CM-4 cards (many think better). Being much cheaper is an extra bonus.
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If you're looking for an inexpensive mic solution, go with Chris Church's CA-14 cards. They've *NEVER* overloaded on me at any point. I also loved his CA-14 omnis until I recently upgraded to something more expensive but they served me well also.
Even if not looking for an inexpensive solution, that's the way to go if you don't need interchangeable caps. Sound way better than CM-8 cards and at least as good as CM-4 cards (many think better). Being much cheaper is an extra bonus.
That's the reason I sold my CMC-8 cards and bought the CA-14s with preamp. The CA-14 cards are better sounding, as you say, than the CMC-8's... and are on par with the 4's (matter of personal taste as you also said). The only reason I sold my CA-14 omnis was because I recently picked up a pair of 4061's otherwise I'd still be using the CA-14's as well. Chris' mics are not expensive and do perform as well as many mics costing five times as much.