Topic: Deity PR-2 Pocket Recorder

[rumbleseat]

I made a couple of recordings with Church CA-11 mics directly into the PR-2 recorder with 5 volts PIP on an outing to Chicago this summer.  I think the Church mics are OK with 5 volts, but I can't convince myself that they're as clean sounding as with Chris Church's preamp and 9 volts.  But the peaks in these shows were 9-12 dB below clipping and maybe the PR-2 preamp noise crept in when boosted in post.
The Church CA-11 mics are spec'ed to have "distortion less than 0.6% THD @ 114 dB @ 1 kHz".  I'm wondering how they'd do with only 5V?  Is there an easy way to make that measurement?

Anyway, here are the shows if you're interested.  Each has been heavily EQ'ed (for better or worse...)

The National 2024-09-24 United Center, Chicago, IL
Live Music Archive: https://archive.org/details/TheNational2024-09-24

The War On Drugs 2024-09-24 United Center, Chicago, IL
Live Music Archive: https://archive.org/details/twod2024-09-24

Jack Broadbent 2024-09-22 FitzGerald’s, Berwyn, IL
DIME: http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=783672
MP3 (127 MB): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qsg8Z24dTmT0OGlG4NPmAXX0epsdsXNF/view?usp=drive_link
FLAC (942 MB): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BldRSd66q8uED2f8RZlZ83_5tOttfRyW/view?usp=drive_link

[Sebastian]

The Church CA-11 mics are spec'ed to have "distortion less than 0.6% THD @ 114 dB @ 1 kHz".  I'm wondering how they'd do with only 5V?  Is there an easy way to make that measurement?

That depends on your definition of "easy".

Theoretically you'll need a signal generator as well as a spectrum analyzer or an oscilloscope with FFT capability. But you'll only be able to measure rather high THD values (> 0.5 %) on the latter.
https://youtu.be/s_cVP5gu4SY

Another way is using your computer and software:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/how-to-distortion-measurements-with-rew.338511/

There's also specialized measuring equipment, but it's very expensive.
https://www.tek.com/en/products/keithley/digital-multimeter/2015-series

[rumbleseat]

Thanks for the info.  I've got REW and a calibrated mic, so that's part of the equation.  I also can get my hands on a pro EV horn and power amp to get safely and cleanly above 110 dB at 1 kHz.  I just need to do some research on how to get the signal from the Church mics into REW through my sound card if that's possible.  And then figure out what REW is saying about the signal...

[Sebastian]

Thanks for the info.  I've got REW and a calibrated mic, so that's part of the equation.  I also can get my hands on a pro EV horn and power amp to get safely and cleanly above 110 dB at 1 kHz.  I just need to do some research on how to get the signal from the Church mics into REW through my sound card if that's possible.  And then figure out what REW is saying about the signal...

Just be careful. Pure sine waves are not really pleasant to listen to at room volume, let alone at 110 dB SPL.

[shadowfax1007]

Hi, can someone who owns this device clarify for me please.

If I have a standard set of mics, such as AT831 terminating in a single 3.5mm plug, does the device record in 32 bit stereo, or will it just record one channel mono?

The online specs seem to indicate the later but wanted to be sure.

[grawk]

Hi, can someone who owns this device clarify for me please.

If I have a standard set of mics, such as AT831 terminating in a single 3.5mm plug, does the device record in 32 bit stereo, or will it just record one channel mono?

The online specs seem to indicate the later but wanted to be sure.

32 bit float is mono
24 bit is stereo

[shadowfax1007]

Hi, can someone who owns this device clarify for me please.

If I have a standard set of mics, such as AT831 terminating in a single 3.5mm plug, does the device record in 32 bit stereo, or will it just record one channel mono?

The online specs seem to indicate the later but wanted to be sure.

32 bit float is mono
24 bit is stereo

Right

So it is taking input from both channels/microphones and mixing down to a mono source? or is it only recording from one microphone and not the other?

[Rairun]

Hi, can someone who owns this device clarify for me please.

If I have a standard set of mics, such as AT831 terminating in a single 3.5mm plug, does the device record in 32 bit stereo, or will it just record one channel mono?

The online specs seem to indicate the later but wanted to be sure.

32 bit float is mono
24 bit is stereo

Right

So it is taking input from both channels/microphones and mixing down to a mono source? or is it only recording from one microphone and not the other?

It records from one microphone. This setting is intended to be used with a single lavalier, but it works with the left mic out of a stereo pair because the signal comes from the tip of the minijack pin.

[tapeheadtoo]

Finally unboxed my PR-2 and planning to try out tonight at a rock show.  Have been doing some testing at home and have some questions.

DPA 4061 pair terminating in 3.5mm stereo > PR-2

Set on mic in for the 5V PIP

Looking through many pages of posts I see Gutbucket with 4060/4061 has been setting gain at 0, however others (possibly with other mics, I don't remember) note +15 or even +18.  I'm finding with my home computer speakers (granted, much quieter than PA at show) I need at least +18 gain.   I know Gut is an expert on these matters so I'm a little confused as to how one could get reasonable levels at 0 gain.  Am I missing something?

I like the triple-press locking mechanism.  I don't like the unlinked R/L gains... strange.

[grawk]

The reason to run gain 0 is the gain is all digital so there’s no benefit to running higher than that.

[tapeheadtoo]

The reason to run gain 0 is the gain is all digital so there’s no benefit to running higher than that.

I'm not sure how to phrase this without sounding stupid, but if I set the gain to zero, then I don't see any levels on the screen for right and left channels i.e. they must be below -40.  It seems I'm missing something big here.

[one8ung]

I have only used the recorder once and kept the gain at zero. After processing the gain in Adobe Audition I noticed some noise.

[tapeheadtoo]

I have only used the recorder once and kept the gain at zero. After processing the gain in Adobe Audition I noticed some noise.

Were you able to see levels on the screen?  What mics were you using?

[TheJez]

The reason to run gain 0 is the gain is all digital so there’s no benefit to running higher than that.

Is this also true for 24bit or only for 32bfp?

[one8ung]

I have only used the recorder once and kept the gain at zero. After processing the gain in Adobe Audition I noticed some noise.

Were you able to see levels on the screen?  What mics were you using?

Didn’t check the levels in the screen and used DPA 4061 mics with the 5 volts PIP