Topic: Sound Professionals Audio Technica premium cards?

[drumminj]

So, you tried the SP mics with a UA5 and they still overloaded?

I ran the SP mics into an SP analog preamp, a Sony D8, and a Denecke AD-20.  I bought the UA-5 when I upgraded to the AT version of the 853 b/c I needed something to provide phantom power, and I thought the AD-20 was a bit thin-sounding for the 853s.  

The preamp isn't going to affect whether the mics overload.  There are definitely several different places you can have problems - mic can overload, preamp can brickwall, A/D can clip.  The 853's definitely overloaded with the AD-20 and the DAT. I don't think i taped anything other than acoustic singer-songwriter stuff with the SP-PREAMP.

Again, i'm not trying to diss the SP version of the 853's. I think they're decent mics.  I'm just relating my experience, and why I upgraded.  If you're looking for small mics with interchangable caps(or at least some kind of directional pickup pattern), I don't think the AT version of the 853's can really be beat for the price.  The same will probably be true of the SP version with the phantom power module.  Legeddy's (was that who did the mod? I remember the thread, but not who did it) mod to the SP vers of the 853's looked pretty cool. But the cost was right up there with the AT version.  Remember, you'll need some kind of batt box if you're not running them hooked up to phantom.    That's another $80 or so.

J

[Sean Gallemore]

I think you'll be alright with the power adapter kit, gruven.  It's similar to the  AT853a setup but just a different brand of power modules.

[blu666z]

SP AT943s -> MD
http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=4335

w/ UA-5 -> DAT
http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=6417

[drumminj]

If only archive.org had mp3s available so I didn't have to download an entire SHN just to hear a sample of the mic+pre combo.....

oh, wait =)

[Sean Gallemore]

them's be fightin' words  

[drumminj]

Yeah, I know.  my first thought was "ooh, I'll go listen to those", and was disappointed the mp3's weren't up there yet.  But then I thought, "how hard is it to d/l one FLAC or SHN file?!"  I'm still kind of torn. I don't want mp3s of my shows up there, but in this case, I want them to be there. I have no clue who this "moe." fellow is, but I'm kind of curious to hear the music since it's talked about all the time.  There's no FLAC or SHN plugin for iTunes, and MacAMP is a shitty piece of software(IMNSHO), so I can't even listen to them easily on my Powerbook.

I'm not advocating either policy. Just bitchin, and trying to start an all-out royal rumble.

[Sean Gallemore]

rofl
moe is stomachable, as far as jam bands go for me.  I'm pretty sure Scott Brown developed software for MACs called X-ACT or something like that to handle flac, shn, ape etc.  Check the coputer recording forum

[timP]

I have a set of the 831s and love them...
have made some really nice sounding tapes with them... not enough high end for actually, but I use them for stealth and whenever I don't want to lug my other stuff around.  Those, the battery pack w/levels  &bass rolloff and my archos fit in a small bag, and I have fun using them beacuse they are easy to set up

[George]

It all depends on what you are taping.  The SP 853 models worked well for me with outside shows, where the loud bass was not overpowering.  However, for shows where I was either (1)  inside an arena for a loud, bassy show, or (2)outside close to a bass cabinet (which was head level), I would get distortion....I think the 9V powering method that SP uses does not allow the 853 mics to take advantage of the full range available to them, and thus the SPL overloading I experienced.

But that being said, keep in mind what you are recording....they perform pretty well for the shows that were not bassy, so to speak.

Hmmm, i taped a boc show and was not more 20 feet away and it came out just fine.  I had my bass rolloff to 160Hz, iirc and there's very little distortion (due to the meter jumping into the red).  I used hyper's this time around and actually really enjoy the recording.  I think i'll get more experience out of my at853's when i hit the Opeth show  

[nickgregory]

Hmmm, i taped a boc show and was not more 20 feet away and it came out just fine.  I had my bass rolloff to 160Hz, iirc and there's very little distortion (due to the meter jumping into the red).  I used hyper's this time around and actually really enjoy the recording.  I think i'll get more experience out of my at853's when i hit the Opeth show  

the key is where the bass cabinet is.  For the Chili Peppers I was ~10 ft from it outdoors, and for Kid Rock, I was ~40 ft from it indoors.  The rolloff was set for both of them at 195 Hz as well....yet they distorted.  Had I been able to move more center for either of those shows I think I would have been fine....but with ticketed seating, what are you going to do....

[gruven42]

Well, bottom line: If any of the AT compact mics overload while being 48V Phantom powered, then it is false advertising. The mic's MISL is rated at 138dB, exactly the same as km184s.

[nickgregory]

Well, bottom line: If any of the AT compact mics overload while being 48V Phantom powered, then it is false advertising. The mic's MISL is rated at 138dB, exactly the same as km184s.

agreed.  I have not heard of any cases yet where the AT mics have overloaded....just the SP ones that employ a different powering scheme

[gruven42]

Should be the same deal with the SPs.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?category=120&item=SP-CMC-4&type=store

Specifications:

Signal To Noise Ratio: 67 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module, 111dB with Phantom power kit
Frequency Response: Omni-Directional 20-20,000 Hz all others 30 - 20,000 Hz
Open Circuit Sensitivity: -43 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module, 138dB with Phantom power kit)

[Sean Gallemore]

SHOULD, you can be the first to test it!

[nickgregory]

I can only speak for their mics powered with the 9V powering box, which did have SPL issues at bassy shows.