Topic: my first rig

[jtwrace]

I've been a music lover as far as I can remember.  I see live shows almost every week and really enjoy jazz, blues, folk, rock and maybe a little country.  As an audiophile I've always wanted something to capture my listening experiece from my live shows.  In my quest I'm pretty close to going for an Elirod RH-09, Sonic Studios Preamp (PA-3SX) with Sonic Studio DSM-6S/L mics to start. 

What are your thoughts about this setup?  I've read / searched on this awesome site a lot and like anything there is always mixed reviews.  My end result is to have something for my playback only.  I have 24/96 playback capability which I will use.  Maybe with some post processing with Wave Editor http://www.audiofile-engineering.com/waveeditor/ I can "clean" them up if need be.  I hope not as I have no expeience doing so.

Thanks and look forward to your thoughts.

[rastasean]

enjoy it and don't get caught up with trying to capture 24/96 recordings all the time. you're a lover of music first and an audiophile second. don't forget that.

I have not heard of the Elirod RH-09.

[su6oxone]

Elirod RH-09, Sonic Studios Preamp (PA-3SX) with Sonic Studio DSM-6S/L mics to start.

I assume you mean the Edirol R-09HR... which is a great little recorder.  Dunno about those mics though.  What's you budget?

[jtwrace]

you're a lover of music first and an audiophile second. don't forget that.

Oh, trust me I won't.  I LOVE music.

I have not heard of the Elirod RH-09.

I haven't either until I read it here.  This is what I meant http://www.edirol.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=332&Itemid=390

[jtwrace]

Elirod RH-09, Sonic Studios Preamp (PA-3SX) with Sonic Studio DSM-6S/L mics to start.

I assume you mean the Edirol R-09HR... which is a great little recorder.  Dunno about those mics though.  What's you budget?

Yes I did.  sorry.
$1500 for all  Mic link is: http://www.sonicstudios.com/dsm.htm

[su6oxone]

I haven't either until I read it here.

That's the Edirol R-09HR, not the Elirod RH-09. 

[Brian Skalinder]

Is it safe to assume you want to record discreetly?  If your requirements allow for full size mics, you have many more options.  For the moment, I'll assume discretion (and therefore very small mics) is a requirement.

While I enjoy the DSM-6S/L recordings I've heard, I think the Church-Audio CA-14s or CA-11s* > ST-9100 preamp offer better bang for the buck in addition to greater flexibility.  Save the extra cash to spend on tube rolling in playback, or catching more concerts, or taking the wife/gf out for a nice dinner, etc.  And enjoy the flexibility of using either cardioid or omnis, depending on your recording environment.

* The CA-14s require two complete sets of mics + cables + connector: one pair each for omni and cardioid.  The CA-11s require a single pair of mic bodies + cables + connector with switchable cardioid and omni caps.  More info on Church-Audio gear in the Retail forum.

(I can't believe I beat all the Church-Audio fluffers to the punch!)

[rastasean]

Is it safe to assume you want to record discreetly?  If your requirements allow for full size mics, you have many more options.  For the moment, I'll assume discretion (and therefore very small mics) is a requirement.

While I enjoy the DSM-6S/L recordings I've heard, I think the Church-Audio CA-14s or CA-11s* > ST-9100 preamp offer better bang for the buck in addition to greater flexibility.  Save the extra cash to spend on tube rolling in playback, or catching more concerts, or taking the wife/gf out for a nice dinner, etc.  And enjoy the flexibility of using either cardioid or omnis, depending on your recording environment.

* The CA-14s require two complete sets of mics + cables + connector: one pair each for omni and cardioid.  The CA-11s require a single pair of mic bodies + cables + connector with switchable cardioid and omni caps.  More info on Church-Audio gear in the Retail forum.

(I can't believe I beat all the Church-Audio fluffers to the punch!)

I'm also very impressed! Well done.

And I agree with Brian, get the CA14s cards and/or omnis and his pre-amp and you're set for many great recordings!

[acidjack]

We're all dealing in the world of opinions here, but IMHO, if price is not a defining factor (and based only on the recordings I've heard, etc. etc. etc.) if I were you, and having a decent-size budget of $1500, I would maybe skip the CA-11.  I don't find the cardiods to have the richness, especially in bass response I personally like in a recording.  I stress that *many* other people will beg to differ, and at their price, I agree they are the best mic money can buy.

I've heard some awesome recordings with the only-slightly-more expensive CA-14 and think they're a much better choice in Church gear.  Also, Chris makes some cables that can be used with Audix 1280 capsules (available in omni/cardiod/hyper) that cost somewhat more, but offer really nice performance (I've only used the cards).

If you're really focused only on using an low-profile omni mic, and again, you are willing to spend $1500 or less, I don't think you can do much better than the DPA 4060 (or the less sensitive 4061, though for jazz the 4060 should be fine).  They are much smaller even than the Church mics, and I think they sound pretty amazing.  A new set can be had for $1000; a used set for several hundred less. 

[su6oxone]

I would check out this thread if you have a budget over $1000:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=129218.0

[Belexes]

For a first rig, I agree with most above:

CA-14 (omni or card) > 9100 > R-09HR

I run this rig and you'll be really pleased with the results.

[jtwrace]

thanks for all the info.  reading....

What about post process software? 

[acidjack]

thanks for all the info.  reading....

What about post process software?

Until you want to do things that are really sophisticated, stick with Audacity (for mac or windows). It's free and it works just fine and is easy to use.  Still use it myself.

[guysonic]

While I tend to agree with most points posted by those fluffing Chris's product, and they are very good value for the asking price, the Church product may not consistently satisfy audiophile expectations for accurate recording in virtual reality stereo-surround of the live experience.

So if I may fluff my own Sonic Studios DSM mics that cost a bit more, but offer the most consistently natural recording ability of any HRTF mic available at any price.

Been in production longer than any HRTF mic and the only mic with thousands of freely available sample recordings of every type of sound on two pages of my site at:
www.sonicstudios.com/mp3.htm and www.sonicstudios.com/mp3_2slp

The reason you will not find such a multitude and variety of sample recordings using any other type or make of microphone is the DSM mic is the ONLY one that consistently records ALL the bandwidth (5-+40,000 cycles) of audio without coloration present in other makes/types of microphones. 

DSM mics use a proprietary process to eliminate cord noise/coloration no other mics have, and the sample recordings of all types of sounds/ambient conditions produced over the 23 years of their production fully prove these claims.

My favorite editing software remains Cool Edit Pro only compatible with Windows OS that's now sold as Adobe Audition for about $300 on the Adobe site.

[fmaderjr]

While I enjoy the DSM-6S/L recordings I've heard, I think the Church-Audio CA-14s or CA-11s* > ST-9100 preamp offer better bang for the buck in addition to greater flexibility.  Save the extra cash to spend on tube rolling in playback, or catching more concerts, or taking the wife/gf out for a nice dinner, etc.  And enjoy the flexibility of using either cardioid or omnis, depending on your recording environment.

I agree 100%. Sonic Studios mics sound great, but even the samples that are posted by guysonic himself to promote his mics generally have too much audience noise to suit me (that's of course a matter of personal taste). In many situations I prefer cardiod mics to reduce the audience chatter. I would rather have a set of CA-11 with both caps (or CA-14 cards & omnis) plus a ST-9100. Sounds as good to me plus it's more flexible and costs a ton less.

Don't get caught up in specs. I'd be surprised if you could hear a difference between a 24/44.1 recording and a 24/96 recording and the 24/96 takes up a whole lot more space (and more time to upload to the computer).