When is the W-Mod actually in use?

[pfife]

thanks man.  +t 
I even have a Rode NT-4 too!  Just don't know what to do with it - I didn't love it for p.a. taping but it sounds good and is a damn cool mic.  So, should I tell you what you'll be buying next? 

Let's hear it- I am in the market... you gotta know!

(You could easily find out by looking in the yard sale...!!!  )


peace

[Karl]

I get the same problem when I go with my mics->battery box-> AD-20:  turning the gain all the way down on the AD-20, it peaks constantly on the JB3.  I put the attenuator in the chain after the bb, and it works fine.

Gotcha - the reason you need the attenuator with the AD-20 is because even at the lowest setting, it provides 17 or 20 dB of gain (can't remember which).  It seems this is too much for your mics and recording situations.  You won't have the same problem with the UA-5 analog inputs which you can dial down.

Hmmm... I'll have to see whether the attenuator is needed with the UA-5.  I would love to get rid of it- the less cables, the better, but I am almost sure that I tried this setup:

SP mics -> SP battery box -> W-Mod UA-5

and got the same issue.  I have read the thing about the +17 to +20db gain from the AD-20, but I didn't know if the UA-5 had the same gain issue...

I wish I could just mod these crappy mics that I have to accept phantom power, but I have emailed SP about it a couple times, and asked around here a bit, and haven't gotten anywhere... and I am too big of a wuss to cut things apart if I don't know that it can be done for sure!

Thanks again for your response- I always dig reading your responses, cause they are very detailed and knowledgable about the same gear that I have (AD-20, UA-5, NJB3)!

+t

Which SP mics are you using?  Most of their mics can be modded to accept Phantom.  Don't be scared, do it!  The SPL handling goes up, sound quality goes up.  Look for the thread (in the archives I think) about the "unmod".

[pfife]

I get the same problem when I go with my mics->battery box-> AD-20:  turning the gain all the way down on the AD-20, it peaks constantly on the JB3.  I put the attenuator in the chain after the bb, and it works fine.

Gotcha - the reason you need the attenuator with the AD-20 is because even at the lowest setting, it provides 17 or 20 dB of gain (can't remember which).  It seems this is too much for your mics and recording situations.  You won't have the same problem with the UA-5 analog inputs which you can dial down.

Hmmm... I'll have to see whether the attenuator is needed with the UA-5.  I would love to get rid of it- the less cables, the better, but I am almost sure that I tried this setup:

SP mics -> SP battery box -> W-Mod UA-5

and got the same issue.  I have read the thing about the +17 to +20db gain from the AD-20, but I didn't know if the UA-5 had the same gain issue...

I wish I could just mod these crappy mics that I have to accept phantom power, but I have emailed SP about it a couple times, and asked around here a bit, and haven't gotten anywhere... and I am too big of a wuss to cut things apart if I don't know that it can be done for sure!

Thanks again for your response- I always dig reading your responses, cause they are very detailed and knowledgable about the same gear that I have (AD-20, UA-5, NJB3)!

+t

Which SP mics are you using?  Most of their mics can be modded to accept Phantom.  Don't be scared, do it!  The SPL handling goes up, sound quality goes up.  Look for the thread (in the archives I think) about the "unmod".

They are a brand of "innovative specialist" mics they sell on their site- I have looked all around, and didn't find anything about unmodding these kind, and I sent an email to sp to find out if I could, and no response (of course...)

I was a total noob when I bought them.

Edit:  actually the model is in my sig:  ISI-HMAB-1

[Karl]

Sorry, can't help with those.