Topic: Marantz PMD 660

[agave]

I understand what u mean some of the bands have had a great/high sound pressure coming off the the pa's . but i did a cletic fest show &' wake the dead' barely got 3 greenies & the Kottors got some what better with the pad on ... the whole time i was wishing i had the pad off till i got home put them on the h/d & listened to them on my PC altec/lansing 5.1 800$ system & they sounded great .. burn to a cd & put them on the home system w/ Klipish Cornwalls  had the house shakin' ... ACM rules ... I M H O ...

[tfs8271]

Sure some shows I asked myself pad/no pad but in general I've always used the pad. The ACM is made to run the pad as Doug has stated. The level dial is made to run close to 100% so if you're running about 30% (7 to 9 o'clock) your not getting it. I've run easily 50 shows with the ACM 660 and would say use the pad for full results. Just my $0.02.

One show where I changed from pad and no pad was Willie Nelson (not what I would call a loud show) front row and I found it was much easier to control the levels with the pad and I had some clipping without the pad.

To each his own I guess.

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... 

This is what I've found!!!

I understand what u mean some of the bands have had a great/high sound pressure coming off the the pa's . but i did a cletic fest show &' wake the dead' barely got 3 greenies & the Kottors got some what better with the pad on ... the whole time i was wishing i had the pad off till i got home put them on the h/d & listened to them on my PC altec/lansing 5.1 800$ system & they sounded great .. burn to a cd & put them on the home system w/ Klipish Cornwalls  had the house shakin' ... ACM rules ... I M H O ...

[Jammin72]

OK I can understand the "easier to control" with the pad but not that you'll get clipping without it, it just means that you'll have to adjust for the recording situation appropriately. I don't see how running through another circuit or doing some type of math on the signal if it's software based is going to help the sound of the unit.  In my conversations with him he seemed confused why folks needed to use it.  On the stock box... yeah you're gonna need the pad.

As always.. it's your recording and your rig YMMV, do what feels right to you.

[agave]

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... 

WHAT"S YOUR serial # on your amc660 ??  you might have the earlier units !! might explain the "D"

[paullySC]

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... 

WHAT"S YOUR serial # on your amc660 ??  you might have the earlier units !! might explain the "D"

What's the D?

[agave]

   the "D" that would be the difference between the newer Modded ACM  units(higher serial #'s) verses the older Modded ACM  units with the lower serial #'s . i ask this to try understand if there is such a marked diffrence bewteen the 2 modded units 

[Bloomer]

OK I now have four Rythem Devils show under my belt with this recorder.  First and third shows tuned out sweet.  The second I did not fare so well cause I forgot a 48v converter and the batteries died and I didn't get the encore during the forth.  These shows were loud enough for me to check the recoder dynamics' out.  Having a recorder with a serial number 2002xxxxxxxxxx and Oade moded, I can say that running with the -20 pad off isnt what this machine is for.  My levels during recording were being pushed in the red over and over again and I did clip.  But, I didn't want to push it to much so the recording was ruined.  The "overhead" of this recorder enables for the loudest of shows to be recorded with confidence.  I have produced some of my best recordings of S.Kimock hitting notes that sent DAT users checking levels.  I have to push this unit to experience clipping.  What ever mics your running into the unit I'm shure will effect performance.   I'd say turn it up when the time is right and see what happens.  You just might be supprised, as I was, when I found of what is possible.  I can only speek for the Oade Mode!  Sounds like the un modes are very sensitive to high preasure sound waves.           

[agave]

OK I now have four Rythem Devils show under my belt with this recorder.  First and third shows tuned out sweet.  The second I did not fare so well cause I forgot a 48v converter and the batteries died and I didn't get the encore during the forth.  These shows were loud enough for me to check the recoder dynamics' out.  Having a recorder with a serial number 2002xxxxxxxxxx and Oade moded, I can say that running with the -20 pad off isnt what this machine is for.  My levels during recording were being pushed in the red over and over again and I did clip.  But, I didn't want to push it to much so the recording was ruined.  The "overhead" of this recorder enables for the loudest of shows to be recorded with confidence.  I have produced some of my best recordings of S.Kimock hitting notes that sent DAT users checking levels.  I have to push this unit to experience clipping.  What ever mics your running into the unit I'm shure will effect performance.   I'd say turn it up when the time is right and see what happens.  You just might be supprised, as I was, when I found of what is possible.  I can only speek for the Oade Mode!  Sounds like the un modes are very sensitive to high preasure sound waves.           

you have a warm ACM !! sooo nice to be a proud Pappa huh !! the pad is yer freind !! ask doug about any thing you need, he's great with support !  it's great that this works for ya As i love my box !!! pm me about a copy & will' trade shows i've done

[dcaley]

so far i have found that out of the 4 shows i have taped with the 463>660 setup, the 2 shows that i used the -10db on the mics and -20db on the unit turned out way better than when i just used the -20db on the unit. all in all though, i like this recorder even more after every show.

the batteries seem to last along time in this thing too. im using 2650 duracell nimh batteries and have recorded around 5 hours of music the past 2 nights, level meter set to normal, and the battery meter still says full. the battery meter is accurate, right?

[tfs8271]

so far i have found that out of the 4 shows i have taped with the 463>660 setup, the 2 shows that i used the -10db on the mics and -20db on the unit turned out way better than when i just used the -20db on the unit. all in all though, i like this recorder even more after every show.

the batteries seem to last along time in this thing too. im using 2650 duracell nimh batteries and have recorded around 5 hours of music the past 2 nights, level meter set to normal, and the battery meter still says full. the battery meter is accurate, right?

I've found the battery meter to be inaccurate (not sure if that is the right word). It will go from full to half to empty in what seems like minutes (~30 min.). But your correct, with fully charged 2500NiMH I've gotten about 6 to 7 hours but I run my meters at peak only to save battery life.

[paullySC]

so far i have found that out of the 4 shows i have taped with the 463>660 setup, the 2 shows that i used the -10db on the mics and -20db on the unit turned out way better than when i just used the -20db on the unit. all in all though, i like this recorder even more after every show.

the batteries seem to last along time in this thing too. im using 2650 duracell nimh batteries and have recorded around 5 hours of music the past 2 nights, level meter set to normal, and the battery meter still says full. the battery meter is accurate, right?

I've found the battery meter to be inaccurate (not sure if that is the right word). It will go from full to half to empty in what seems like minutes (~30 min.). But your correct, with fully charged 2500NiMH I've gotten about 6 to 7 hours but I run my meters at peak only to save battery life.

I had the 30 min. issue with enegizer e2, I changed the batt. format to alkaline and thirty minutes into the show it said I was at half power. When I use my rechargables and set the batt. to nimh I still show full power at the end of a normal 2-3 hour show.

[paullySC]

so far i have found that out of the 4 shows i have taped with the 463>660 setup, the 2 shows that i used the -10db on the mics and -20db on the unit turned out way better than when i just used the -20db on the unit. all in all though, i like this recorder even more after every show.

the batteries seem to last along time in this thing too. im using 2650 duracell nimh batteries and have recorded around 5 hours of music the past 2 nights, level meter set to normal, and the battery meter still says full. the battery meter is accurate, right?

I taped Blueground Undergrass at the Pour House in Charleston,SC in August. The first set I used the -20db pad and the second set I used just the -10db pad on my mics. I'll do a more thorough comparison this week and post what I heard different if anything between them. I know its not scientific and my setup probably has a good bit to do with the outcome but should be interesting none the less. If there is interest I may see about posting part of each set so others can hear it. Would be interested in hearing what other folks think. 

[agave]

so far i have found that out of the 4 shows i have taped with the 463>660 setup, the 2 shows that i used the -10db on the mics and -20db on the unit turned out way better than when i just used the -20db on the unit. all in all though, i like this recorder even more after every show.

the batteries seem to last along time in this thing too. im using 2650 duracell nimh batteries and have recorded around 5 hours of music the past 2 nights, level meter set to normal, and the battery meter still says full. the battery meter is accurate, right?

I taped Blueground Undergrass at the Pour House in Charleston,SC in August. The first set I used the -20db pad and the second set I used just the -10db pad on my mics. I'll do a more thorough comparison this week and post what I heard different if anything between them. I know its not scientific and my setup probably has a good bit to do with the outcome but should be interesting none the less. If there is interest I may see about posting part of each set so others can hear it. Would be interested in hearing what other folks think. 

 Yo sounds good ... .....that's what team effort is all about . were all  here with our 660's to pull sick recordings & any comments & comparisons just helps us all out

[Billy Mumphrey]

gosh I love this little box.

I do know that I wanna run a clipping test with the pad OFF. While recording, I plan to slowly crank up my stereo in intervals, noting where each interval reads on the meter. After transferring I will listen to where distortion becomes audible and use that as my 0 dB mark.

Shouldn't this work?

[agave]

YES go for it  !!   BUT remember that all of us  have different mics  SSOOOO   do a dual test one with pad / one with out  have mics at the same location to yer speakers & note the levels with a track note on the deck for each test  ie '; each time u turn the volume up a notch  make a track note on the deck  till you get brickwalling AND then do the same with the pad on & compair .. use a loud rock source ,the same for each test , even if you have to use the same track over & over agin..    do you have a acm oade mod  & what serial # do u have  thanx Mike