Topic: Proposed Newbie Rig

[dirtybird357]

Hey Now!  Thanks for having me.  I'd like to set up a basic rig for taper-friendly festivals, home acoustic music, and the occasional stealth job.  If I dig it, I'll sell some guns (my other pathetically expensive hobby) and go laptop since I have a fast one with two batteries/bays and 100G.  Unless a new HD recorder comes out soon.  So...

I would really appreciate some of your vast knowledge and insights on my proposed newbie rig since I have no audio experience, am not much of a tekkie, and can barely figuring out noo-style trading..bit torrent, yada yada yada.  Here goes...

Ebay JB3 (anyone got one for sale?) > Sound Professionals A/D ($99) w/ battery adapter ($10) > Sound Professionals Pre-Amp ($189) > Sound Professionals Precision Cardioid Mics ($129) w/ SP 9v Battery Module w/ bass roll-off and in line level control ($90)

Obviously a mic stand, gear bag, cables (which)  I'll probably need a few, eh?  Am I forgetting anything? Would this rig suffice for the newb?  I just realize it clocks in at about $750...maybe I should stick with guns.

I've enjoyed lurking at this great site...you guys know your stuff!!!

[Sanjay]

Sound Professionals A/D ($99) w/ battery adapter ($10) > Sound Professionals Pre-Amp ($189) > SP 9v Battery Module w/ bass roll-off and in line level control  ($90)
Total Cost = $390

Denecke AD-20 ($200 used) > Denecke PS-2 ($100)
Total Cost = $300

then mod your SP mics (sp-cmc-4's?) for phantom
results will be a million times better.

If you didn't pick the SP-CMC-4's upgrade to them using the money you saved and make sure to get them phantom modded.  No battery box needed and they'll be able to handle nice spl's

The Sound Pro's A/D is just a rebadged radio shack $14 A/d and generally worthless.

[dirtybird357]

Thanks!  That Denecke set-up makes way more sense.  Switched to sp-cmc-4's and threw them in the cart.  And what are nice spl's?

What else will I need? Is that dual power supply worthwhile (SP-9vdc-2)? I sound like a four-year-old...what are attenuators? Why does that drunk girl insist on pole-dancing my mic stand?

Hope to have it set up and practice a little in time for Allmans on 7/13.  I didn't feel like dealing with Bonnaroo this year, so I'm seeing about every band that was on the line-up individually, some twice.


Again, thanks.

[Sanjay]

Thanks!  That Denecke set-up makes way more sense.  Switched to sp-cmc-4's and threw them in the cart.  And what are nice spl's?

What else will I need? Is that dual power supply worthwhile (SP-9vdc-2)? I sound like a four-year-old...what are attenuators? Why does that drunk girl insist on pole-dancing my mic stand?

Hope to have it set up and practice a little in time for Allmans on 7/13.  I didn't feel like dealing with Bonnaroo this year, so I'm seeing about every band that was on the line-up individually, some twice.


Again, thanks.

SPL's are the levels your mics can handle without being overloaded, the SP mics with the CMC-4's in particular tend to overload quite easily with the battery box.  Adding phantom power all but eliminates this. 

You don't need the dual power supply.  If you select the option to modify the mics to phantom your rig would look like this:

SP-CMC-4's (Phantom) > Denecke PS-2 >AD-20 (optical or coax out)> JB3/Minidisc/Dat

The PS-2 will provide power to your mics, so no battery box is needed. 

Attenuators trim the levels down.  The AD-20 automatically gives you 16db of gain, whether you want it or not.  The attenuators placed in line before your ad-20 would cut this down by whatever the attenuators are, they usually come in 5db, 10db, 15db, 20db and so on.  However you can custom make your own to whichever value you desire.  16db's will cancel out the automatic gain.   Many people do not use them, I would advise trying without because they are an added cost ext, but if you find yourself overloading then i would invest in them.

Your next step should be to post an ISO in the yard sale for an AD-20 and PS-2  Bought new they would be about $500, but they commonly come up used.  Two have sold in the past week (mine included)

This is a compact and very portable stealth rig.  Spyder9 on here uses this with amazing results. 

Good Luck!