Topic: SP-BMC-2 +iRiver H120 Distortion

[pontiacb]

Hi,

First post after many months of reading and learning and I'm hoping someone may be able to help

I used some new Sound Professionals SP-BMC-2 mics on Wednesday with my iRiver H120 (Rockboxed) and a SP-SPSB-2 Battery Box to record the Polyphonic Spree in Birmingham.  Prior to the show I had tried the set up at home with my Hi-Fi cranked up and noticed a lot of bass distortion, so I decided to add an attenuator (A maplins headphone volume control lead) between the Battery Box and the iRiver.  This seemed to solve the distortion problem in my trial at home, so I decided to use this setup at the Polyphonic Spree Show.  It was a small club show, very loud and I was about 5 rows back from the stage level with the PA.

Unfortunately, the results are very poor, a badly distorted recording (sample on sendspace at link). 

http://download.yousendit.com/C3200F7C1D078251

My questions are:

1. Is the distortion because the mics are just not up to the job?

2. Would a battery box with bass roll off have improved things?

3. Is there any way of making this distorted recording sound a bit better?  I think I know the answer is no, but if anyone has any suggestions regarding how to make it a bit more listenable it would be appreciated.

4.  If the answer to 1 is no, what would be a better mic for my application for under say $150-$200?

I only started taping again last year after a 20 year lay off and have got OK results with a Sony mic before, but want to try to go to the next level, but as the above questions show I've got a lot to learn.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.

Paul

[Humbug]

Afraid so, they just can't handle the volume. Hopefully someone will tell you if the 4.7k resistor mod will work.

There's lots of threads on alternatives, AT831, AT853, Church Audio, Sonic Studios (thought I'd better get in there before he did), Sennheisers..

[Humbug]

See:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,77345.0.html

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,90682.0.html

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,90152.0.html

Edit: Bass roll off does nothing with the recorders I use, apart from the highest setting (888hz). I have it switched off. There's a thread on that too someplace!

[pontiacb]

Humbug,

Many thanks for your prompt replies - wish I had spotted that first link before I bought the mics as it suggests that the SP-BMC-2 mics aren't great for loud shows.  I got sold on them when I saw someone raving about them on minidisc.org 

Time to do more reading and get the credit card out again before the autumn concert tours start in the UK and choose an alternative - shame because the SP-BMC-2s are nice and small and fit in my wallet and clip on to lapels nicely, i.e. they fulfil all my requirements apart from giving me a decent result at a loud show.

[Humbug]

Humbug,

Many thanks for your prompt replies - wish I had spotted that first link before I bought the mics as it suggests that the SP-BMC-2 mics aren't great for loud shows.  I got sold on them when I saw someone raving about them on minidisc.org 

Raving seems apt maybe..but hang on till a few people have read the thread..the mod might work.

Time to do more reading and get the credit card out again before the autumn concert tours start in the UK and choose an alternative - shame because the SP-BMC-2s are nice and small and fit in my wallet and clip on to lapels nicely, i.e. they fulfil all my requirements apart from giving me a decent result at a loud show.

Have you had a listen to shows on the archive? A few of them were taped with mini mics, and they'll give you an idea how they sound.

Here's some of mine:

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/humbug66

(can't access it at the mo, but the Rose Hill Drive 11/01/06 Mean Fiddler is particularly good..note these mics need 3-wire powering).

[Arni99]

Are you sure you set "source" in settings/recording settings of your rockboxed iriver to "LINE-IN/External mic" AND your levels on the display did NOT clip?

[pontiacb]

Are you sure you set "source" in settings/recording settings of your rockboxed iriver to "LINE-IN/External mic" AND your levels on the display did NOT clip?

Fair point to raise.  However, I'm absolutely certain it was recording line-in/external mic - I've been using the iRiver for about a year and pretty much know it inside out and I always tap mics when I set it up to check this.  There was definitely no clipping - I boosted levels by about 8dB in Audacity throughout in post-processing based on peak values, so I had plenty of headroom - hence why I point the finger at the mics.

[Arni99]

oh, now i see you used the omnis .
well for 49$ you cant expect too much when really loud bass is being recorded and results in distortion.
omnis generally pick up lots of bass(flat frequency response) and I had the same problem when using sp-bmc-6 omnis 1 year ago....it really was a pain in the a.. , I sold them. they are good for acoustic to moderately loud shows but avoid using them for louder shows with heavy bass(drum) involved.

[pontiacb]

Chris from Sound Professionals has contacted me following an e-mail to him (very quick response) and has suggested that the mics should only distort at a very, very loud show when used with a battery box.   It was very loud (my ears took a day to recover fully), but I wouldn't say that my HiFi was as loud and I still got distortion with that at full blast in my initial tests.   

Chris has suggested that it could be that my battery in the battery box was run down - hadn't thought of that, so I'll get a replacement (they are these little A23 size and I've ordered a couple off ebay) and do another test at home next week to see if a fresh battery makes a difference - I'll report back. 

[vanark]

I ran the SP-BMC-2's straight mic-in into my R-09 (no batt box) last night at Gov't Mule and can't hear distortion on the recording.  Pretty loud.  Quite surprised actually.  I've posted an mp3 sample (also in my thread on the subject), here it is in case you want to compare.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/g6kl34

[pontiacb]

I ran the SP-BMC-2's straight mic-in into my R-09 (no batt box) last night at Gov't Mule and can't hear distortion on the recording.  Pretty loud.  Quite surprised actually.  I've posted an mp3 sample (also in my thread on the subject), here it is in case you want to compare.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/g6kl34

Many thanks for posting the sample - a million times better than my effort and without a battery box!  I'm really confused now, but I'll wait to test the duff battery theory next week to at least rule that out.

Anyone else with experience of using these mics please chip in - perhaps I've got a duff set.