Topic: CSB's > PCM-M1...Will it work?

[HaloAenima]

Hi I'm new here

Anyway, I want to start taping shows and I plan on purchasing a used Sony PCM-M1 DAT, but I had a question.

I did some research on what mics to use and I am interested in the Core Sound low cost binaural mics and according to the site, they said I don't need a battery box because of the "plug in power" thing. But is this true? Or should I go ahead and get a bass-roll off box? Or should I save up some more money and go for something better? Core Sound products are what I want to use.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[neutrino]

It is true that the M1 will power the mics but you will most likely wish you had the ability to roll off the excessive bass and had the extended frequency response and spl handling of the standard set. If your dead set on Core Sounds, I would highly suggest waiting until you can afford a set of the standard binaurals with a roll off battery box rather then going with the low-cost version. Mics are something people get the bug to upgrade rather quickly and with the standard set you'll be much better off...

Good luck.

[Sean Gallemore]

the mic-in on the M1 will provide power (i think) but it is not recommended

[neutrino]

the mic-in on the M1 will provide power (i think) but it is not recommended

Schwizzilly, please elaborate...

[firmdragon]

yeah i'm gonna second neutrinos thought on saving up for the standard CSBs.  avoid their low cost model.  you'll be way more happy w/ the standard csbs.

[zhianosatch]

do yourselves a favor and avoid CSBs altogether. get those sound pro AT831s for about $200 even and your ears will thank you.

[Sean Gallemore]

the mic-in on the M1 will provide power (i think) but it is not recommended

Schwizzilly, please elaborate...

it's a shitty preamp.   That better?

[Sean Gallemore]

do yourselves a favor and avoid CSBs altogether. get those sound pro AT831s for about $200 even and your ears will thank you.

I agree.

If you need links, just ask

[neutrino]

the mic-in on the M1 will provide power (i think) but it is not recommended

Schwizzilly, please elaborate...

it's a shitty preamp.   That better?

M1 = "Shitty preamp"

The M1 has the same preamp circuitry as an SBM-1 which is considered a very respectable preamp.

Again, please elaborate...

[Sean Gallemore]

the mic-in on the M1 will provide power (i think) but it is not recommended

Schwizzilly, please elaborate...

it's a shitty preamp.   That better?

M1 = "Shitty preamp"

The M1 has the same preamp circuitry as an SBM-1 which is considered a very respectable preamp.

Again, please elaborate...

oh yeah, I forgot that everyone uses the SBM-1 as a preamp, my bad  

[zhianosatch]

the mic-in on the M1 will provide power (i think) but it is not recommended

Schwizzilly, please elaborate...

it's a shitty preamp.   That better?

M1 = "Shitty preamp"

The M1 has the same preamp circuitry as an SBM-1 which is considered a very respectable preamp.

Again, please elaborate...

not quite

[neutrino]

oh? okay

[dklein]

I've seen used CSBs kicking around for $150 in the last few days - maybe on DATheads.  They sound pretty good.  They're just Linkwitz modified Panasonic capsules, but much different than the standard capsules (the LCBs).  You could make them yourself for $20 and make or buy a battery box, but a used set is a good way to go.  I'm not a big fan of the sound of the little AT caps on the recordings that I've heard.  There's something sort of tunnel like about them to my ears.  But lots of people like them.

[zhianosatch]

i like 'em a lot better than csbs, that's for sure

[Brian Skalinder]

M1 = "Shitty preamp"

The M1 has the same preamp circuitry as an SBM-1 which is considered a very respectable preamp.

Again, please elaborate...

All the Sony portables - D7/D8/D100/M1/SBM-1 - have a relatively poor quality mic-in stage.  When designing a pro-sumer device of such small size in an affordable package, the manufacturer has to skimp somewhere to keep the cost down.  In the Sony portables, they skimped in the mic-in preamp stage.

The D100/M1/SBM-1 mic-in sounds better than the D7/D8 mic-in because they're later generations.  Same goes for the line-in and ADC on the D100/M1/SBM-1 v. the D7/D8.  But they *all* sound better line-in than mic-in because you're bypassing the relatively poor quality mic-in preamp.

There's nothing wrong with running mic-in, you'll just achieve higher quality recordings if you can run line-in with strong enough levels.  But by all means run mics > mic-in if you're on a budget and it's all you can afford, or don't hear the difference between running mic-in and line-in, or are perfectly happy with your mic-in recordings!