Topic: Marantz PMD 660

[tfs8271]

THE PAD 20db on the 660 ACM ... when to use & when not to use ............some of that depends on yer mics & how far back from the PA you are & on the sound pressure that's being put out by the PA  ... weather to use the pad or not  . i do 2 presets on the 660 # one with the pad on , # two without the pad on , soo i can quickly switch between the two . IE ; during sound check or the warm up band

Ditto...I've even done between songs. Movin fast.

I'm going to tape Rythem Devils tonight in Harrisburg, PA.  I will use the the -20 pad cause of the loud drumz and Kimocks high pitch guitar licks.  I'll let everyone know what happends tomarro.  So during accustic events I should turn the pad off?  How much editing are you folks doing to the recording after you get it to you computer?   Is the sound quality good enough to burn to CD?  All questions will be answered within the next two shows!

Planet Drum Tour 06

Acoustic sets, pad/no pad still depends. I've run a pad at a few shows that were low volume and bumped them up with SoundForge with no issues. Running no pad has been the most inconsistent for me. The times I have run no pad I've had more issues with clipping then running pad and having low levels.

The sound quality diffentally is CD worthy...that why you bought a ACM 660.  

[agave]

THE PAD 20db on the 660 ACM ... when to use & when not to use ............some of that depends on yer mics & how far back from the PA you are & on the sound pressure that's being put out by the PA  ... weather to use the pad or not  . i do 2 presets on the 660 # one with the pad on , # two without the pad on , soo i can quickly switch between the two . IE ; during sound check or the warm up band

Ditto...I've even done between songs. Movin fast.

I'm going to tape Rythem Devils tonight in Harrisburg, PA.  I will use the the -20 pad cause of the loud drumz and Kimocks high pitch guitar licks.  I'll let everyone know what happends tomarro.  So during accustic events I should turn the pad off?  How much editing are you folks doing to the recording after you get it to you computer?   Is the sound quality good enough to burn to CD?  All questions will be answered within the next two shows!

Planet Drum Tour 06

Acoustic sets, pad/no pad still depends. I've run a pad at a few shows that were low volume and bumped them up with SoundForge with no issues. Running no pad has been the most inconsistent for me. The times I have run no pad I've had more issues with clipping then running pad and having low levels.

The sound quality diffentally is CD worthy...that why you bought a ACM 660.  

A Big +T for that spilt 7 burn that's what the 660 ACM is for I love that Box ..

[Billy Mumphrey]

I remember reading that the levels are all screwy when the -20 dB pad is OFF. Does that mean that the -20dB spot on the meter becomes 0 dB when the pad is off?

[tfs8271]

I remember reading that the levels are all screwy when the -20 dB pad is OFF. Does that mean that the -20dB spot on the meter becomes 0 dB when the pad is off?

I remember reading that also. I just find that with no pad I have to really watch my levels closely. If the house sound goes up it really affects the levels. When I hit over it willsometimes clip when I get home. With the pad on I can let it run and even when I think I'm clipping I listen to it and nothing. The more time I get on it the better it gets.

[agave]

I remember reading that the levels are all screwy when the -20 dB pad is OFF. Does that mean that the -20dB spot on the meter becomes 0 dB when the pad is off?

I remember reading that also. I just find that with no pad I have to really watch my levels closely. If the house sound goes up it really affects the levels. When I hit over it willsometimes clip when I get home. With the pad on I can let it run and even when I think I'm clipping I listen to it and nothing. The more time I get on it the better it gets.

Doag has said the levels on the acm mods run true with the pad on .. off yer on yer own ... remember that the preamps Doug put in are HOT  unless yer doing acustic with no pa then run with the pad off ... OR if yer in the back of the hall with a shitty sound system

[dcaley]

i seemed to have faired better using the -10db pad on my mics and the -20db pad on the 660 than i did lastnight with just the -20db pad. the level meter lastnight would go up to approx -12db or -9db (4 green lights i think) but the recordings brickwalled abit and the wavform is almost flat when i look at it in audition.

i was wondering if that is typical for an unmodded pmd660 or did i just not adjust the levels properly?

[tfs8271]

i seemed to have faired better using the -10db pad on my mics and the -20db pad on the 660 than i did lastnight with just the -20db pad. the level meter lastnight would go up to approx -12db or -9db (4 green lights i think) but the recordings brickwalled abit and the wavform is almost flat when i look at it in audition.

i was wondering if that is typical for an unmodded pmd660 or did i just not adjust the levels properly?

Can't comment on the unmodded. I have no idea, but if I'm not seeing orange and some red, I'm cranking that dial with no brickwalling.

[agave]

i seemed to have faired better using the -10db pad on my mics and the -20db pad on the 660 than i did lastnight with just the -20db pad. the level meter lastnight would go up to approx -12db or -9db (4 green lights i think) but the recordings brickwalled abit and the wavform is almost flat when i look at it in audition.

i was wondering if that is typical for an unmodded pmd660 or did i just not adjust the levels properly?

Can't comment on the unmodded. I have no idea, but if I'm not seeing orange and some red, I'm cranking that dial with no brickwalling.

same here !!  with a ACM i like to see some orange & brief flash of red when open taping but when stealthing just some orange as i can't watch the levels constantly .... Doug has said brief red spikes will not clip it takes a full 2 seconds of full red then a clip will happen  in the 660 acm

[Bloomer]

The Planet Crum show last night tested the full range of this recorder.  I'd like to say first that it is best to leave the pad on!  Copied show to CDWave than saved it to hard drive after tracking.  The sound is everything I could have asked for....  Reminded me of the p mod with the ua5 that Doug did.  The sound is crip and clear with no cliping.  The lights ran in the orange and hit red only when Micky became Thor the Thunder God.  Oh maybe that was Billy.... 

[pmonk66]

I have an non-oade pmd660 and recording with the -20db pad if you see orange or red on the levels you will no doubt get some clippings and brickwalling.

I taped Rose Hill Drive at CBGB and even with my levels way low and the levels always remained green the recording was distorted due to the sheer volume of the band.

With CA-9100 running even if the levels reach orange I get no clippings on the recording.

[Corbin]

I remember hearing about an Oade WCM (warm) mod for the 660 a couple weeks ago.  I know the ACM mod is the preferred mod here but has anyone else heard about the WCM (or was it just an earlier name for the ACM mod)?  I'm about to buy one and I just wanted to clarify my options..

[kgreener]

I remember hearing about an Oade WCM (warm) mod for the 660 a couple weeks ago.  I know the ACM mod is the preferred mod here but has anyone else heard about the WCM (or was it just an earlier name for the ACM mod)?  I'm about to buy one and I just wanted to clarify my options..

don't know what others think about it, but here's an example of a WCM, fwiw:

http://www.archive.org/details/breakfast2006-07-28.flac16

[bobbygeeWOW]

I jumped on a WCM the moment Doug presented the opportunity - not having used ACM I don't have the frame of reference to compare, but I can say that I seriously love the sound of this box. Sounds better than real life! 

[agave]

this how i felt that this came about of the warm acm\wcm   VS  the acm units by watching this forum & talking to Doug >>> the acm is named for the 1st units that were modded for 660 with the full concert mod>> Doug then came out & said that the newer units with a serial # 200106xxxxxxxx  were different from marantz than the 1st ones he had 1st modded  & had a warmer feel/sound & hotter signal  >> he called them a warm acm  ,the forum started calling them wcm ; which is a acm with the higher serial #>> I think i was one of 1st to get a warm ACM as i had seen that others were not getting the higher serial #'s way after i got mine ( mine was sold as a package deal with a pair of matched ccm41lg Schoeps mics which Doug felt were the  best suited match)  in any case buy one !! acm is the only way to go with the PCM660 from Marantz & Doug Oade is the only person doing these mods     by the way the Oade web site is saying they are closed till Doug is feeling better but he will be taking emails agin next week  &  i get the same message when i called his phone number ..   I'm  doing david grisman Q  next week

[Jammin72]

If you have a modded unit I can't figure out why anyone needs to run the pad...  You guys must be going to some insanely loud shows.  I run 480's which are extremely hot mics and not once have I needed the pad.  Whatever you feel is necessary I guess 

The increased voltage allowed for the use of some different chips and hence the flavors became available.

The Breakfast Recording sounds very warm but a lot of that had to do with the band and the PA, they had that kind of sound there.  I'll try to post some other things same rig so you can "hear" the difference.  Now if I can just keep from working 7 days a week I'll have time to do that...