Topic: LSD2 slight brickwall issue

[DeepCreatures]

Hello all,

I recently went to a Big Business show in Atlanta at the Drunken Unicorn and went prepared to do a LSD2>T+ UA-5>DA-P1 and an AKG ck/63>Bmp2+ UA-5>M1, but forgot my digital cable between the T+ and DA-P1 so just went straight into my DA-P1 with the LSD2 using phantom power from the DAT deck.  I had the -20db pad on the DA-P1, but didn't put the -10db on the LSD2 and it came out on the edge of too hot (with some minor, sporadic brickwalling).  I was running X/Y using the cardioid pattern and was about 25ft back from the stage, FOB.  The bass was punishing during the show and it actually made the card pattern sound like I was running omnis.  The AKG source came out nice - I switched and used the T+ box with it to see what the results would be.  I suspect the pre-amp would have really helped out the sound instead of going straight LSD2>DA-P1 but would not have gotten rid of the entire problem.  Any info on what I may have done wrong or, better yet, what I need to do to ensure this doesn't happen again?  Thanks you all and best wishes.

peace,
ts

[Roving Sign]

I think the DA-P1 mic input is known to overload/brickwall easily...using the -10 on the mic couldn't hurt...

[Craig T]

It's the DAP1 mic inputs.  Use the pad on the DAP1 and mic... even then, it might overload.

[DeepCreatures]

thanks a ton guys, +Ts.  this was what i was thinking - should have brought that dang cable for the UA-5 and i would have had no worries!!!

again, thanks!

peace,
ts

[DSatz]

First choice is always to pad the input to the recorder/preamp/mixer. If a microphone's own electronics aren't overloading, using its built-in pad will reduce the mike's output but will also lower the signal-to-noise ratio of your recording by 10 dB or whatever else the amount of the pad is. This is because the circuit noise of the microphone is nearly the same whether the pad is engaged or not, but engaging the pad reduces the useful signal by 10 dB or whatever. Ergo, noise-o.

If you have any alternative, the microphone's built-in pad should be used only if you know that the sound pressure levels are so high that the microphone's normal limit is likely to be exceeded. And you almost always do have an alternative (or you easily could) even if your mixer/recorder/preamp input doesn't have a switchable pad built in. Balanced, in-line resistive pads which you could plug in at the input of your preamp/mixer/recorder are quite cheap--Shure makes a nice one, for example, and I believe Audio-Technica does as well. A pair of 10 dB and/or 20 dB pads belongs in almost everybody's gig bag in my stern and frumious opinion.

--best regards

[DeepCreatures]

many thanks for the notes on this - +T.  i am going to record on friday and hope to test w/the preamp and see how it goes.  i may record one of the opening acts w/the -10db on and the other w/them off, check them out, and then roll w/what sounds best.

peace,
ts