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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: THE NIZ BIAAAAACH! on January 22, 2007, 08:12:12 PM

Title: how to run a portico?
Post by: THE NIZ BIAAAAACH! on January 22, 2007, 08:12:12 PM
So, I'll be running a 5012 portico for the first time on thurs at the Moe. fox show in boulder, I have some questions for those of you who have run them.
1.  What is the best way to run it, hot in the middle or cold, also what light is peak without overload?
2.  How much power does this puppy eat?  How many amp hours of 12v do I need?
3. Any other tips?
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: MattH on January 23, 2007, 08:50:35 AM
So, I'll be running a 5012 portico for the first time on thurs at the Moe. fox show in boulder, I have some questions for those of you who have run them.
1.  What is the best way to run it, hot in the middle or cold, also what light is peak without overload?
2.  How much power does this puppy eat?  How many amp hours of 12v do I need?
3. Any other tips?

I run my R4 at minimum gain and add all gain with the portico but the output is not anywhere near the +28 overload point. More around +4. The last red peak light is +25. I wonder if the mod R4 takes a hotter signal line in?

The power draw is about 1Ah at 12V.

Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: Lil Kim Jong-Il on January 23, 2007, 08:58:00 AM

1) I don't know what is best but I tend to run it in the middle, with no HPF and with Silk mode enabled.  Whatever I run in front of the 722 I try to run it where the 722 is running close to 0db.  When you hit overload on the portico you will know it.  It has a delayed self clearing peak indicator.

2) plenty.  At 12V, it draws around 1 amp.   As the voltage drops it will take more current so your drain will accellerate.  I'm using a borrowed 12Ah SLA but for a 4 hour show I'd feel safe with 7Ah.  I haven't tried that yet so err to the safe side.

3) enjoy it.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: Shawn on January 23, 2007, 09:03:36 AM
I wonder if the mod R4 takes a hotter signal line in?
I think it should to be able to take a hotter signal in because the overall gain of the unit is lowered. sorry for the thread jack.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: Lil Kim Jong-Il on January 23, 2007, 09:05:09 AM
sorry for the thread jack.

not a thread jack.  The OP is running an R4.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: Nick's Picks on January 23, 2007, 09:07:51 AM
fwiw, the line in is a -20db pad on the R4, and that is definitely how you want to run it w/a preamp in front.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: gratefulphish on January 23, 2007, 11:45:06 AM
I wonder if the mod R4 takes a hotter signal line in?
I think it should to be able to take a hotter signal in because the overall gain of the unit is lowered. sorry for the thread jack.

AFAIK, I don't think that the mod makes any difference at all on line-in, as that bypasses the preamps, which is where the mods are really done.  Ask the Busman to be sure.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: Shawn on January 23, 2007, 12:48:06 PM
I wonder if the mod R4 takes a hotter signal line in?
I think it should to be able to take a hotter signal in because the overall gain of the unit is lowered. sorry for the thread jack.

AFAIK, I don't think that the mod makes any difference at all on line-in, as that bypasses the preamps, which is where the mods are really done.  Ask the Busman to be sure.
line-in does not bypass the preamps.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: Nick's Picks on January 23, 2007, 06:02:44 PM
right.
line in is just a -20db pad, still going through the front end analog section.  the less gain  you can use on the R4, the better.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: MattH on January 23, 2007, 09:01:14 PM
right.
line in is just a -20db pad, still going through the front end analog section.  the less gain  you can use on the R4, the better.


I'm not sure where minimum gain is with the 722 line in but with the R4 it appears to be gain pots turned all the way down (mod or no mod). I just apply all gain with the preamp to run near 0 dB on the digital scale. Likewise, I don't like to attenuate a signal either. I would rather turn the preamp down. Most field recorders these days only add gain or attenuate gain. My R4 only adds and my M1 only attenuates.

I know some people would say always run a transformer pre hot as you can and attenuate elsewhere but I can't do that with an R4, MT, R-09, Zoom, etc.
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: Lil Kim Jong-Il on January 28, 2007, 05:53:09 PM
So, I'll be running a 5012 portico for the first time on thurs at the Moe. fox show in boulder

how did you like the portico?
Title: Re: how to run a portico?
Post by: THE NIZ BIAAAAACH! on January 29, 2007, 05:17:50 AM
Really liked it, although not so sure how much I like the silk.  I takes a little away from the crispness and transparency ands fatens up the low end as far as I can tell.  Not sure either how hot to run it yet.