Topic: Need Advice on Recording with TCD-D100 and CSSC

[IKONFCL]

First time poster so here goes.  After a 19-year hiatus from taping live music (last gig: New Order - DAR Constitution Hall 12/8/86), I am coming out of retirement to tape a few gigs next week.  I just bought a new DAT and a set of stealthy cardioids.  My question is this...for a loud show in a venue of say 1,500, I would want to use the line-in option and not worry with the 0/20dB switch--correct?  I mean the 0/20dB switch is inactive if you're line in, correct?  How about that limiter switch?  Manual setting correct?

Many thanks to all who answer the call.  Please help as I don't want to f this up.

Cheers,
Ross

[The Kilted Taper]

Any chance you're doing Interpol at the 9:30? Or QOTSA?

[Brian Skalinder]

for a loud show in a venue of say 1,500, I would want to use the line-in option and not worry with the 0/20dB switch--correct?

Sorry, can't help with this one as I haven't used the CSSCs and I don't know if they're sensitive enough to produce a line-level signal at a loud show.  I suspect that would work fine, but I'm not positive.  I'm sure someone will chime in with first hand experience...

I mean the 0/20dB switch is inactive if you're line in, correct?

Correct.

How about that limiter switch? Manual setting correct?

Yes, set your Rec Level switch to Manual and adjust levels with the, well...Rec Level knob.

[neutrino]

The CSSC work fine going line-in, but you will find you will be dialing in your manual rec knob somewhere above 6 or 7. If your battery box has a roll-off, I would highly suggest you not use it. The Core Sound omni set often sounded better to my ears with the roll-off engage but the cardioid set never needed it.

Good luck.

[IKONFCL]

Thanks all for your responses.  I fired this thing up this morning for a test run.  I turned my stereo up and tried to record the ambient sound with the mics using line-in.  They wouldn't come alive.  However, they seemingly work fine on the mic setting.  Any further thoughts?

Thanks all.
Ross

[Brian Skalinder]

I turned my stereo up and tried to record the ambient sound with the mics using line-in. They wouldn't come alive. However, they seemingly work fine on the mic setting. Any further thoughts?

Highly unlikely your playback system is capable of pushing the SPLs of a concert environment.  But just in case, try a test-run for the opener if you're able, and/or be prepared to switch to mic-in if you're not getting decent enough levels line-in.

[shaggy]

IKONFCL,

-20dB pad is what you select if you go mic-in and you gotta keep that rec level dial ABOVE 4 but the rec levels need to stay well below the -4dB mark!  Do not freak out if you don't hit -6dB.  Err on the side of caution.  You can always normalize later.  The reason being that the mic-in pre is really prone to overloading on the M1/D100.  If you run line-in, the signal will be cleaner but you will not get the max amount of signal on the tape effectively reducing the definition of the recording (like you were recording at 10 or 12 bit!).  It is a toss up.  I say try the warm up band with mic-in, listen for mic-pre overload at the break: you are listening for a static-like noise during the vocals or louder passages.  If you hear it and your levels were set at 4 or above, go line-in.  If you can't do the 'look/see' first...then go line-in.  Sounds like you want to get the show but also have something listenable later regardless of the resolution....mic-pre overload is annoying and can make the recording unlistenable.

+T for good luck,
ANDY

[IKONFCL]

Many thanks all.  The project is going good.