Topic: Pre-amp help

[Danielle]

Hello,

I'm hoping someone here can help me out.  I recently uprgraded my mics from SP-CMC-4 > SP-SPSB-6 to Sonic Stage (DSM-6S/L) > PA-6LC2.  The new mics don't seem to be getting enough power from the batterybox so my recording levels are really low.  It's a little better when the concert is a loud rock concert but for acoustic stuff, I'm not getting enough sound input from my mics.  I assume that I need a pre-amp of some kind to help power the mics but I do not know where to start [I know nothing about pre-amps because I never had to use one].  I should mention that I taped mostly stealth shows and I'm worried about having to use a large pre-amp, is there something that I can use that is still stealthable? Please let me know what you would suggest.  Thanks in advance.

My current set up is:  (DSM-6S/L) > PA-6LC2 > Sony MZ-RH10 HiMD
 

[Ray76]

sp makes a preamp as well, smaller than a deck of cards.i used to have one.

Ray

[Danielle]

Thank you.

Now, I have another question.  I'm looking into buying this pre-amp http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-PREAMP but how does this affect my bass roll off?  Do I still need to use my battery box with the bass roll off? 

[Ray76]

Thank you.

Now, I have another question.  I'm looking into buying this pre-amp http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-PREAMP but how does this affect my bass roll off?  Do I still need to use my battery box with the bass roll off? 

the batt box provides power to the mics, so im sure you still need it.. BTW, i have a sp -preamp with a set of omnis included in them, from sp that i will charge 180 SHIPPED for, and you can use this pre/mic combo for acoustic recordings with just your md., as there is a set of mics included in the preamp. look in yard sale. its new, never been used.
Ray

[Danielle]

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

The mic power problem happens with rock concerts as well so the power problem is universal. I love the sonic stage mics and I've heard some good acoustic and rock recordings using them.  At this time, I'm not really wanting another set of mics, I  just need a pre-amp [but thanks].  Anyhow, I'll look keep looking into it. I wasn't sure how a pre-amp affected the battery box [with bass roll off], but I guess it doesn't really affect it at all. 

[Ray76]

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

The mic power problem happens with rock concerts as well so the power problem is universal. I love the sonic stage mics and I've heard some good acoustic and rock recordings using them.  At this time, I'm not really wanting another set of mics, I  just need a pre-amp [but thanks].  Anyhow, I'll look keep looking into it. I wasn't sure how a pre-amp affected the battery box [with bass roll off], but I guess it doesn't really affect it at all. 

What im selling is basically exactly what you are looking at at sp, there is nothing extra with it, the omni mics are built into the preamp itself. you dont have to use the mics, you can just use the preamp as a normal sp preamp. they are just built in, nothing changes about the size or appearance of the device. it looks just like the normal preamp. im charging exactly what sp is charging (1 dollar more) and thats with shipping. you would be getting that exact preamp plus the bonus of having the omnis built in if your mics should fail on you one day. but you dont HAVE to use the mics. consider it a preamp, but with an extra feature. like i said, it goes for 209 on sp. im chargin 180. never been used, not once. still the same way that sp sent it to me new. if you want to pay for the exact same thing on sp thats alll good, but you would save money with me and get the omnis that are built into it. anyway, its here if you want it. brand new.look at it on sp website,. sp-pasm-2 
ray

[Danielle]

How do you disable that microphone though?


[Sorry, I don't mean to be a pain in the ass, I just don't understand how I would use my mics in with that amp.]

[Massive Dynamic]

Hello,
I'm hoping someone here can help me out.  I recently uprgraded my mics from SP-CMC-4 > SP-SPSB-6 to Sonic Stage (DSM-6S/L) > PA-6LC2. 
My current set up is:  (DSM-6S/L) > PA-6LC2 > Sony MZ-RH10 HiMD

     I think what you have are Sonic Studios mics.  I used to run DSM-6S/M (medium sensitivity) and PA-6LC2 mic in to my M1 DAT, but didn't really have any low level problems.  The L model (low sensitivity) is really intended for loud shows.  I suggest you email Leonard Lombardo, guysonic@aol.com, with your situation.  Whenever I had a question about my mics, he was always very helpful. 
     Sonic Studios sells a small preamp with adjustable gain, but it is pricey at $450.  I'm not familiar with the SP stuff and don't know if it would work.  SP and Sonic Studios are competitors, after all.

[Danielle]

yes, my bad...typo

heh 

they are sonic studios....easy mistake while typing

[dklein]

Are you using the mic input and turning it up?  You should be able to get plenty of gain with your recorder.

[Evil Taper]

Have you tried using software to make your recordings louder after transfering them to your computer?  Your recordings might be fine sonically but just recorded at low volume.

[Ray76]

How do you disable that microphone though?


[Sorry, I don't mean to be a pain in the ass, I just don't understand how I would use my mics in with that amp.]

WHen i tried it with the cssc mics, when i plugged the mics into the preamp, the omnis just disengaged i think.
Ray

[Danielle]

Are you using the mic input and turning it up?  You should be able to get plenty of gain with your recorder.

I plug the PA-6LC2 in the Opt. Line In. Yes, I use the Rec Manual function [and I realize I have to re-set it everytime I stop the recording  ] and I turned my recording volume level all the way up.  The show was relative quiet, a girl on a key board, but I was close to the speakers and had my recording level up as far as it would go.  But even when I recorded Garbage, the levels were pretty low [not flatlined like the other show] but for a LOUD concert the waveform output was surpirsingly low.  I use Adobe Audition and usually run my taped shows through a normalization, but these two cases were extreme [and these are the 2 shows I've taped using the sonic studios setup].

Have you tried using software to make your recordings louder after transfering them to your computer? Your recordings might be fine sonically but just recorded at low volume.

Yeah, in this case the waveform was flatlined.  When I ran it through an amplification, I have this horrible hiss. Even if I zoom in on the waveform line, I barely see a wav there.  It's along the infinitey line.  Out of all of the shows I've taped this has never happened.    The garbage show had a wavform, but it too, needed to be amplified quite a bit.

I emailed the Sonic Studios person and he basically agreed that if I have my HiMD set up properly I still might need extra power to the mics and steered me toward the PA-3SX [which is $450]...ouch.  Then I have to think, why would I spend more money on a pre-amp if a different recorder, [such as a DAT] might be able to gain better levels with this mic set up and cost less?  So, would a DAT be able to read the mic's better without a pre-amp?

Thanks for all your help. 

[firmdragon]

sonic studios mics run mic in.

[Danielle]

I was afraid to go Mic In because of brickwalling?  Does that not tend to happen with the (DSM-6S/L) > PA-6LC2 set up?  If that is the problem, then I'm really glad to know [I've always gone Opt.In with the SP set up].