Mixpre Settings - Help

[landshark]

I would agree that I run mine right in the 9-11 o'clock range most of the time as well. 0dB on the mixpre matches up very closely with my MR-1's 0dB via the XLR outs.

I read many posts about this 9-11 o'clock gain range people use.  I will use a mix pre for the first time next week to tape a quiet Jazz show (Melody Gardot) and a blues & rock show (the derek trucks & doobie brothers) a few weeks later from that.  So would I be safe in setting a 12 o'clock for a quite Jazz and a 10-11 o'clock for a blues and rock show?  I will tape them both in stealth taping situation and won't be able to check the meter during the show.  I would appreciate any input from Mix Pre users.

My set-up would be Audix M1280>Mix Pre>Korg Mr-1
Koichi

Hi Koichi -

I sometimes run almost the same setup (MixPre > MR1) and you'll definitely want to run the MixPre as low as possible.  In fact, I'd second TaperJ's advice - use pads.  When I'm using my MR1, I actually put pads between the mics and the MixPre, and then again between the MixPre and the MR1.  The pads between the MixPre and the MR1 are most important.  The MR1, even with line-in, has a very wimpy preamp and can't handle much signal at all.  If at all possible, try to put yourself in a situation with similar sound levels (crank your stereo or something) and experiment to get the levels right.  Be conservative and you should be OK.

I don't know why the MixPre has such huge gain, it must have been designed to record mosquitoes humping from across the room or something.

Good luck!

Mike

[su6oxone]

Is this because of Neumann and Schoeps? Or generally you can not go higher than 9 o'clock for the loud rock show with no matter what mic you use?

Koichi

I don't think it's mic specific, since people have had this 'issue' with the MixPre using all sorts of mics.  I generally didn't go higher than 8 o'clock when taping average rock shows, I just adjusted the input settings on my recorder to get the levels I wanted.  It really does have a lot of gain at higher settings, and the thing with the MixPre is that it has a very low noise floor so raising levels in post is the way to go IMO.

[su6oxone]

I don't know why the MixPre has such huge gain, it must have been designed to record mosquitoes humping from across the room or something.

lol...

[datbrad]

I don't know why the MixPre has such huge gain, it must have been designed to record mosquitoes humping from across the room or something.

lol...

The strong gain I understand is primarily for long cable runs (hundreds of feet) in film sound applications.

[MJ]

Hi moon-pix, Mike, su6oxone

Thank you very much for the info.  I really appreciate all of your comments.  It really help me find where to start working on the gain range .  So I will be conservatine in setting the gain and see how it will turn out .

Sincerely,
Koichi

[MJ]

 just cranked up the volume of the stereo in my car and checked how it worked.  It seems to be fine with the following set-up

MixPre Gain:9 'oclock for Pop songs and 8:30 for rock tunes
Korg Mr-1: Rec Level -5

It seems to be higher than what people suggested here but the next show I will use this set-up to tape is a quiter Jazz show.  So it must be Ok to give this set-up a try .

[MJ]

After I learned about Mix Pre setup here, I taped Melody Gardot last week with the following setup.

Audix M1280 CARD> Sound Devices MixPre (Gain 9'oclock) > Korg Mr-1 (-5 Gain)
DPA4061 > SP Power Module (22db Gain) > TDC-D100 DAT (Rec Level 7)

I am pretty happy with the result.  I really really want to thank everyone for giving me the info.
Here is the sample if you want to hear.

M1280
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhjR3NtNEpFQlE9PQ
DPA4061
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhjR3NiV3hjR0E9PQ

M1280
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhYTWNwaFR2Wmc9PQ
DPA4061
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhYTWNsMHcwTVE9PQ

M1280
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhhUENrUmxFQlE9PQ
DPA4061
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhhUENlaFN4dnc9PQ


M1280
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhhUENvQUpFQlE9PQ
DPA4061
https://www.yousendit.com/download/ZW9BUGhVNkc4NVUwTVE9PQ

[su6oxone]

After I learned about Mix Pre setup here, I taped Melody Gardot last week with the following setup.

Audix M1280 CARD> Sound Devices MixPre (Gain 9'oclock) > Korg Mr-1 (-5 Gain)
DPA4061 > SP Power Module (22db Gain) > TDC-D100 DAT (Rec Level 7)

I am pretty happy with the result.  I really really want to thank everyone for giving me the info.
Here is the sample if you want to hear.

I listened to the 1280 version and it sounds fantastic!

[fmaderjr]

just cranked up the volume of the stereo in my car and checked how it worked.  It seems to be fine with the following set-up
MixPre Gain:9 'oclock for Pop songs and 8:30 for rock tunes
Korg Mr-1: Rec Level -5

The MixPre works great with the Korg. I have never once come close to overloading the Korg even with fairly sensitive mics like AT853's. I keep my Korg at -6, much like you did, and never have to turn the MixPre above 9:00 for amplified rock. I do use the MixPre limiter as a safety valve (with the adjustment screws set at the 12:00 position), but try to set my levels so that it rarely, if ever, kicks in. When it does kick in, I don't find it's effects audible and it has saved me from a probable horrible sounding clip.