Topic: Question about SonyMD & Battery Box->Mic-in

[ledpoisoning]

Hi everyone from Italy!

After having browse tons of webpages and posts, I've decided to open a new thread!

I'm new to taping and I have a little question!

I've bought  SP-CMC-2A mics and I've made a couple of tests with my Sony MZ R-70.

I've tried with mic-in first and works very well without battery box, second with line-in w/battery box and the sound was very low 'cause I haven't a pre-amp.
So the question is: it's possible to connect my homemade battery box w/bass roll-off (which provides 9V to mics) to mic-in instead line-in?
There could be any problems for my MD 'cause of 9V provided by BB?

Thank you for help me, great forum and great people!

[Nick Graham]

You're not getting good levels with line in because I can pretty much guarantee the sound you're running into the mics is nowhere near the SPL of a concert. Trust me - line in is the way to go. Mic in on an MD Deck will brickwall (distortion) very easily.

[urobouros]

What are the details of the tests?  I used a Sound Pros box I bought to record my son talking and you could barely hear it unless the mic was in his face.  When I used it at a show it worked much better.  I have to agree with Nick that you'll brickwall pretty fast using mic-in unless it's a rather quiet show.  I ran mic-in at a Taj Mahal show and it work alright for mic-in with no batt box and full f*@#ing compression!!  I was so pissed about that.  Eh, live and learn 

[poorlyconditioned]

Hi everyone from Italy!

After having browse tons of webpages and posts, I've decided to open a new thread!

I'm new to taping and I have a little question!

I've bought  SP-CMC-2A mics and I've made a couple of tests with my Sony MZ R-70.

I've tried with mic-in first and works very well without battery box, second with line-in w/battery box and the sound was very low 'cause I haven't a pre-amp.
So the question is: it's possible to connect my homemade battery box w/bass roll-off (which provides 9V to mics) to mic-in instead line-in?
There could be any problems for my MD 'cause of 9V provided by BB?

Thank you for help me, great forum and great people!

I have had pretty good luck using line in.  For all but the quietest shows, you will get something.  Just make sure to turn it to *manual* record mode and set the record level to maximum.  I made a lot of recordings on my MZ-R37 unit that way.  I think there is some variation in the amount of gain on line in and on output level of the mics.  But give it a try!  About compression, I found the main factor is mic placement (and the quality of the show of course).  IMO, compression is not a big deal until you get into more expensive mics, etc.  The main disadvantage for me was not compression, but digitizing the recording afterwards.  I got a MD deck with digital out to solve this problem.  I still use it too.

  Richard

[willndmb]

this might be a silly question, but did you adjust the levels of the md?
as nick said go line in, concerts  will be louder, but with the md you can adjust levels too
not sure how with your model but mine you held down stop and record for like 5 sec, then used the volume to adjust levels

[poorlyconditioned]

this might be a silly question, but did you adjust the levels of the md?
as nick said go line in, concerts  will be louder, but with the md you can adjust levels too
not sure how with your model but mine you held down stop and record for like 5 sec, then used the volume to adjust levels

Yes, when starting a recording, hit pause-record.  Adjust the levels, then hit pause to start recording.  If you need to adjust levels again, hit pause, adjust, then pause again to start recording.  Don't hit stop though.  You'll have to start all over again.  Newer models of Sony MD (HiMD) and Sharp models of regular MD allowed adjust on the fly.

Some people here discount minidisc, but I really like it.  It is convenient, has nice level meters, is easy to power (runs on single AA batteries), and has reasonable sound quality, both mic and line in.  And you don't have to wait for it to boot up like a computer .  Hopefully the M-audio Tracker will be just as nice to use.

  Richard

[ledpoisoning]

Thank you for replies guys!

Does rec level work also with line-in? I thought no...
I've tried to record from my stereo and I've made the test.
So I've to set rec level for line-in? Max level?
I want to tape Robert Plant & SS in a big theatre, do you know the best set-up for this type of concert?

[lordbelial]

Thank you for replies guys!

Does rec level work also with line-in? I thought no...
I've tried to record from my stereo and I've made the test.
So I've to set rec level for line-in? Max level?
I want to tape Robert Plant & SS in a big theatre, do you know the best set-up for this type of concert?

Yes It Does!

If your MD does not have record level control, put your levels at 13 or 14/30. Those should work