Topic: UPDATE: 2nd test run with edirol r09 (still distorted?) sample included

[DisturbedPyro]

hi gang. i finally got an edirol r09 and i went out to a local bar that had some random band playing for a test run. i brought along my iriver h320 also and taped for a bit with one recorder and then switched to the other one so i could compare. i was kinda disappointed with the results. ive heard such great things about the r09, i was expecting a somewhat significant improvement from the iriver. but there didnt seem to be much difference. i sent a sample of each to a friend of mine (also a taper) and he said the iriver actually sounds better because the r09 has some distortion. i guess i dont have as delicate of an ear as some people do for this stuff because i cant really hear any distortion, but...who knows. so i thought id get the experts' thoughts

heres a sample of each (needless to say, the file that starts with 'R09' is the edirol r09, the other is the iriver):
http://www.sendspace.com/file/73gfpg

so id like to know 3 things:
1. which sounds better?
2. does the r09 sample sound distorted?
3. if so, what do i need to do to fix it (adjust the settings? something else?)

heres the technical info:
Church-Audio STC-11 Cardioid Mics -> BAT-2B -> iRiver H320
Church-Audio STC-11 Cardioid Mics -> BAT-2B -> Edirol R09

settings for r09:
line in
AGC: off
low cut: off
mic gain: high
input level around: 17 or 18
levels between 12 and 6 (so not too hot)

thanks for the help

[anr]

taken in a slightly different order;


3. if so, what do i need to do to fix it (adjust the settings? something else?)

Both samples have high left channels, the RO-9 far worse than the other.  Once "fixed" (reduce sample by 3.46dB) it sounds better. 

Both exhibit, to my ears, too much bass, with a sharp dip from 200-700 Hz.

Once "corrected";

1. which sounds better?


RO-9


2. does the R0-9 sample sound distorted?

No



Just my opinion. 

[fandelive]

mic gain: high

I'd set the mic gain to "low" (but does mic gain really matters when you use line-in ??).

[DisturbedPyro]

taken in a slightly different order;


3. if so, what do i need to do to fix it (adjust the settings? something else?)

Both samples have high left channels, the RO-9 far worse than the other.  Once "fixed" (reduce sample by 3.46dB) it sounds better. 

Both exhibit, to my ears, too much bass, with a sharp dip from 200-700 Hz.

Once "corrected";

1. which sounds better?


RO-9


2. does the R0-9 sample sound distorted?

No



Just my opinion.

ok thanks. my main concern was the distortion issue. i can fiddle around with it in post to get it to sound better, like reducing bass and whatnot. i was just worried that my settings were off somehow and thats what created the distortion my friend said he heard, so thats what i was trying to figure out what i needed to fix. but if you dont think it sounds distorted, then youre in the same boat i am. thanks for your take on it. id like to hear from others too

[rhinowing]

mic gain: high

I'd set the mic gain to "low" (but does mic gain really matters when you use line-in ??).

it adds a good 10-15 db of really nasty, noisy gain on the original r-09 units.

run at unity (gain level and in 24-bit, any gain you add in post production will be cleaner than the r-09 onboard processing

[vanark]

I've never run mic gain = high.  I agree you might try mic gain = low.

[DisturbedPyro]

mic gain: high

I'd set the mic gain to "low" (but does mic gain really matters when you use line-in ??).

it adds a good 10-15 db of really nasty, noisy gain on the original r-09 units.

run at unity (gain level and in 24-bit, any gain you add in post production will be cleaner than the r-09 onboard processing

ah! that could be my problem then. so just to make sure im picking up what youre throwin down...i should try mic gain: low at input level 8. that correct?

[DisturbedPyro]

i took your advice and ran at mic gain: low with input at 8 (everything else the same). it was an acoustic set. my friend says he still hears a crackling over the singer's voice. lemme know what ya think, thanks:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/w8rx2c

[hi and lo]

mic gain: high

I'd set the mic gain to "low" (but does mic gain really matters when you use line-in ??).

it adds a good 10-15 db of really nasty, noisy gain on the original r-09 units.

huh?!!! Mic hi/low gain should not have any effect when running line-in... unless there's something I don't know about.

[hi and lo]

i took your advice and ran at mic gain: low with input at 8 (everything else the same). it was an acoustic set. my friend says he still hears a crackling over the singer's voice. lemme know what ya think, thanks:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/w8rx2c

Well... I do hear something, but it sounds more like snare drum than mic input clipping or an overdriven microphone. I hear it at all volume levels which makes me think it's not your gear. Could have been the PA. Not really sure on this one.

[EnglishSkylarking]

It's very obvious over the singer's voice.  This is the same problem as in the original samples.  It's a kind of thing that reminds me of electric guitar distortion.  It's there with the R-09's recordings and not present with the iRiver's.

[DisturbedPyro]

JonG is the friend i have been referring to throughout my posts regarding this matter
hi and lo, it was an acoustic set so there were no drums. just two acoustic guitars, the lead vocalist and then backup singer

is it possible my edirol is just messed up?

[F.O.Bean]

JonG is the friend i have been referring to throughout my posts regarding this matter
hi and lo, it was an acoustic set so there were no drums. just two acoustic guitars, the lead vocalist and then backup singer

is it possible my edirol is just messed up?

\
Are you running LINE-IN or MIC-IN

[doodee]

Possibly consult Roland tech support.

http://www.rolandus.com/support/

[DisturbedPyro]

JonG is the friend i have been referring to throughout my posts regarding this matter
hi and lo, it was an acoustic set so there were no drums. just two acoustic guitars, the lead vocalist and then backup singer

is it possible my edirol is just messed up?

\
Are you running LINE-IN or MIC-IN

line-in every time