Topic: pre-amp blues...

[discopanic1]

I know now that my Sound Device Mixpre doesn't put out a digi signal.  This meaning my tapes are coming analog into the M1 and the M1's ad converter is then sending to a digital signal.  I'm not sure if this is good but I do know that isn't putting my out the tapes I want.  I'm seriously thinking about selling the MP and upgrading to a ua5 modified by the Doug.  What does anyone else think? 

[hhf32]

What mics are you running into it?? What don't you like about your tapes?
  I have a digi-mod UA-5 and it works great. I'd definitely like to try out one of the mods sometime too.

[discopanic1]

I run

Mk 4 -> CMC6 -> MP -> M1

I made a better sounding tape last night.  I really believe now that my tapes have been the result of the situations recording in.  Now that I've done some research, I know that the tapes sound comes from the atmosphere recorded in.  I know that I have some mics that are not the best in small bar-room areas.  The mk41 hypercardoids would have been a better option for me.  Peace.... Jesse

[Brian Skalinder]

I think we covered some of this in PMs, but want to put it out here for others to see if someone experiences trouble down the road:

[1]  Make sure you're not overloading the M1's analog inputs.  Basically, run the MixPre levels low and set the M1 Rec Level on the high side.  You also may consider running stereo-mini out of the MixPre instead of XLRs, I believe the stereo-mini provides a signal that isn't as hot as the XLRs.

[2]  In what configuration are you running the MK4s?  Consider closing the included angle, it should help minimize crowd noise and bad room acoustics.  For example, if you're running ORTF (17cm, 110º), try switching to DIN (20cm, 90º) or even a non-standard stereo config (20cm, 70º).  If you're using the Schoeps ORTF bar, you'll need to pick up some different mic mounting options.  FWIW, I like the DIN Kwonbars available at Cascade Media.

[3] Location, location, location!  Once you have your gear, the single best thing you can do to get better recordings in crappy venues is to set up relatively close to the sound source.  If I'm unfamiliar with the venue, I usually try to set up so my location creates an equilateral triangle with the stacks.  While it may not always be the best spot, it's a good starting point.

[discopanic1]

I usually run the Mk4's set up in the ORTF method, however, last night I set the mics to 100 deg. at 8 in.  I have the Shure A27M on the top of the mic stand.  I can set to however needed. 

[Brian Skalinder]

I usually run the Mk4's set up in the ORTF method, however, last night I set the mics to 100 deg. at 8 in.  I have the Shure A27M on the top of the mic stand.  I can set to however needed.

Ah, cool.  Closing the included angle should help significantly.  Try running 90º next time.  And if still too much crowd chatter and poor room acoustics, try 70º.  If you go below ~70º, though, it'll turn out pretty mono sounding, so if you want to keep a stereo image keep  the angle at 70º or above.  And get thee closer to the sound source!

[jesse]

I know now that my Sound Device Mixpre doesn't put out a digi signal.  This meaning my tapes are coming analog into the M1 and the M1's ad converter is then sending to a digital signal.  I'm not sure if this is good but I do know that isn't putting my out the tapes I want.  I'm seriously thinking about selling the MP and upgrading to a ua5 modified by the Doug.  What does anyone else think? 

sure would be easier to record digital in on the M1.   All you have to mess with is the sensitivity on the UA-5 and I believe that the UA-5 has the same ADC as the mini me.  Also the UA-5 has lots of neat upgrades for the gear slut in all of us.

[Brian Skalinder]

sure would be easier to record digital in on the M1.   All you have to mess with is the sensitivity on the UA-5 and I believe that the UA-5 has the same ADC as the mini me.  Also the UA-5 has lots of neat upgrades for the gear slut in all of us.

MP2 > M1 is no harder than UA5 > M1, IMO.  You still have L/R gain knobs to adjust levels, and still have to use the M1 meters for eyeballing levels.  And while the UA5 may share the same ADC chip as the MMe (does it?), there's a lot more that goes into the ADC than the chip alone.  That said, I think the w/p/t-mod UA5s from the Oade Bros are fantastic units.

[jesse]

sure would be easier to record digital in on the M1.   All you have to mess with is the sensitivity on the UA-5 and I believe that the UA-5 has the same ADC as the mini me.  Also the UA-5 has lots of neat upgrades for the gear slut in all of us.

MP2 > M1 is no harder than UA5 > M1, IMO.  You still have L/R gain knobs to adjust levels, and still have to use the M1 meters for eyeballing levels.  And while the UA5 may share the same ADC chip as the MMe (does it?), there's a lot more that goes into the ADC than the chip alone.  That said, I think the w/p/t-mod UA5s from the Oade Bros are fantastic units.

Running analog in to the M1 don't you still have to mess with all the line in switches on the back of the M1 as well as adjust gain on booth the M1 and Mixpre?  Not fimilar with the Mixpre but wouldn't it be like running analog out of UA-5?

[Brian Skalinder]

Running analog in to the M1 don't you still have to mess with all the line in switches on the back of the M1

Well, yes, but once you set 'em the first time, just tape 'em down and you don't have to mess with them again.  No different than having to mess with similar switches on the UA5, really.

as well as adjust gain on booth the M1 and Mixpre?

Nah, no point, really.  Just set the M1 to 10 and adjust using the MixPre.

Not fimilar with the Mixpre but wouldn't it be like running analog out of UA-5?

It'd be even more complicated.  Since the UA5 doesn't have analog pass-through (all analog-sourced signals output by the UA5 go through a A/D and then D/A conversion), running UA5 analog-out > M1 you'd have to set the switches / knobs on the UA5 (bit-depth, sample rate, etc.), and then also set the switches and such on the M1.