Topic: Sony m-10 + ca9100 + ca14 - do i use plug in mic power

[aaronji]

Drgiggles1:  If you re-read Chris' response to you, you'll note that he doesn't say anything about plug-in power.  The gain he is referring to comes from the increased sensitivity of the mic input compared to the line input (I think it is ~ 20 dB or so different on the M10).  Plug-in power itself doesn't provide any gain*.  The additional sources of gain when you run the 9100 into the mic-in are the hi/low mic sens switch, the gain knob on the recorder, and (as ScoobieKW described) the gain from the 9100...Taken together, it's probably more gain than you would ever need recording shows.  I think most people would say to run it line-in, taking gain first from the pre and then the recorder.  If that's not enough, go mic-in, sens low.   From there, you have 20 dB on the 9100 plus the recorder gain...

*Although it may be that some mics have decreased output if they aren't getting enough power.

[Drgiggles1]

Thank you for making me more knowledgeable on the relation with the PIP. I didn't know you can go mic in with PIP off and get 20 dB additionally.  I also did not know that the power of the pre and the sony was not cumulative.  Much appreciated.

[aaronji]

^^^  Actually, I think it is more than 20 dB.  I remember reading that number somewhere, but I couldn't find it again searching...

At any rate, a 1 kHz tone, with the M10 gain knob on 4, yielded a ~27.5 dB difference between mic (set to "low" sens) and line.  I guess that could potentially vary at different gain knob settings or frequencies, but is probably a decent estimate...