Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: heath on September 02, 2005, 01:07:12 PM

Title: Actives
Post by: heath on September 02, 2005, 01:07:12 PM

Since I've never owned an active setup, I figured I'd pick the brains of some Schoeps guys here.

Question:

Does running an active cable between the cap and mic provide a noticable sonic difference than just screwing the cap into the body?  Andbody ever do an A/B test? 

Cable, by nature, will affect/color the sound of the signal, but I am wondering if it is a noticeable difference when running the actives between the body and cap.  Just trying to gauge if the active cable produces a desireable effect other than a slimmer profile.

Thanks,

h

Title: Re: Actives
Post by: dmonterisi on September 02, 2005, 01:18:04 PM

i never did an A-B test, but when i had 140's i ran them both as the active setup and as the full body setup and never noticed a difference in sound, but that's hardly scientific.  i work from the assumption that if the active setup is not necessary (ie you have the ability to get the mics with bodies into the configuration you want and there is no need to be low-profile), then run the bodies.  but i also have some faith that manufacturers of $3000 microphones test the product to make sure that the active setup performs within acceptable bounds of the specs of the microphone system when run in an active setup.  maybe i'm foolish in that regard, but given how much these mics are spec'ed and tested and how those specifications are relied upon by professionals, i feel pretty comfortable in running them.

Title: Re: Actives
Post by: heath on September 02, 2005, 02:16:42 PM

that's what I'm figuring, Damon.  Just wondering if anyone has tests that prove otherwise.

anyone?

Title: Re: Actives
Post by: JAH on September 02, 2005, 02:29:45 PM

Now Damon, he asked for schoep brains to pick   >:D j/k  ;)
 I mirror what Damon said, I've run my w/ and w/o active cables and didn't notice any difference...but that's just me and my ears/playback system... also agree on the manufactures quality of acceptance.

Heath, thought you pick up the 140s?

Title: Re: Actives
Post by: tim in jersey on September 02, 2005, 09:41:26 PM

I don't notice a difference. But I don't have 'golden ears' and I have a fairly moderate playback system.  Doug Oade, on the other hand, claims he can hear added self-noise of the actives. Maybe if I had a playback system like his I might start hearing the actives.

Hope that helps.

Title: Re: Actives
Post by: Kyle on September 02, 2005, 11:39:53 PM

I read (or heard?) somewhere that the active cable cause the signal to become unbalanced.

Title: Re: Actives
Post by: creekfreak on September 03, 2005, 12:10:46 PM

I never noticed a difference...