Best way to do Schoeps actives?

[it-goes-to-eleven]

I have recently been tempted by Trey's KM140 deal.. But the high cap cost and lack of great hypers has me thinking active Schoeps would be a better choice for maybe not too much more money.  So I've been digging through past threads trying to learn about my options for different active setups, especially Schoeps.  To further push things along, an nbox just popped up in the yard...

So.. What are the negatives with going the nbox + scheops caps route?  What other approaches should I be considering?  Are bodies worth the expense and hassle?  What about the kcy 250 + lemosax?  Can you plug the kcy into a LEMO>XLR adapter and use any pre?

Thanks!

[Brian Skalinder]

So.. What are the negatives with going the nbox + scheops caps route?

Replacing the 9v batteries is a con, IMO, but that applies to the SX-M2/LS2 as well.  If you like the sound, for the price the NBox + custom actives + Schoeps box can't be beat.  I'll have that NBox / Lemosax comp up for you soon...hang on...

What other approaches should I be considering?

The only Schoeps actives solutions of which I'm aware are the NBox and SX-M2/LS2.

Are bodies worth the expense and hassle?

If you're open taping and want the ability to plug into a variety of gear, the bodies are worthwhile.  Though it is possible to run MKx > actives > SX-M2/LS2 (at 0db) > other pre > ADC.  Not sure if it's possible to do the same with the NBox.

What about the kcy 250 + lemosax?

This is my favorite Schoeps low profile setup, but it's a bit more $$$ than the NBox.

Can you plug the kcy into a LEMO>XLR adapter and use any pre?

No.  But you can run MKx > KCY > Lemosax at 0dB XLR out > other pre.  The Lemosax isn't as quiet as the CMC6 bodies, so if you're running gobs of gain (~65dB like I did at Del McCoury earlier this year), you'll incur some noise from the Lemosax.  But for most loud shows it's probably not an issue.

[-sam]

What other approaches should I be considering?

The only Schoeps actives solutions of which I'm aware are the NBox and SX-M2/LS2.

I'm pretty sure the Schoeps VMS 5u also works with actives.

-sam

[-Q-]

i still use my trusty Aerco pre when i stealth with the ccm4's.

[Brian Skalinder]

i still use my trusty Aerco pre when i stealth with the ccm4's.

Q brings up a good point that I always forget - all the MKx switchable caps are also available in the CCMx style, i.e. fixed cap with  XLR connectors so one may use any standard mic preamp.  The downside:  they're fixed caps, so if you want to buy CCM41s to add to your CCM4s, the CCM41s are about the price of the MK41 cap + active cables.  But if you're only interested in a single cap, CCMs are a good way to go.

[Josephine]

I couldn't be happier with my NBox & MK41s. 

[plucks]

you will find that the Nbox will give a slightly different sound than if you were to use actives.  The 4 times i have heard the Schoeps > NBox i find they have a more hollow sound, and slightly "tinny".
Other than the battery factor, i dont understand the advantage of running bodyless > pre/ad for your everyday taping situation.  Hell, if you run NBox>AD, you're still going to have an ecocharge type battery....Schoeps>V3 work very very well and its still super small. 
just my thoughts on your question....

[todd e]

two other active solutions:

the schoeps active cable (kcy)
into either the vms02ib
or the vms5u. 

both of these are made by schoeps and have real quality.  i like the vms02ib as it is a little smaller, but the vms5u is newer and the only one still sold from schoeps.

a lot of folks like the sounds of the body as the pre, but i like the vms02ib just as much, and it is fixed gain (though still adjustable) so any moron can use it (including me!)

[JasonR]

A couple points to clarify...
1 - the Sonosax SX-M2/LS has only a pair of LEMO connectors, not a 5-pin Binder connector for Schoeps KCY250 cables.  The SX-M2/LS2 adds the Binder connector for use with that Schoeps setup.  The /LS approach would generally use a pair of KC5 cables modified with the appropriate connectors.

2 - The CCM certainly can easily accomodate long cable runs.  With either the CCM-L or CCM-U series, the end of the supplied cable is a standard 3-pin XLR cable expecting 12-48V phantom power and can be extended (within reason) with any reliable XLR cable.  The CCM-L cable is not integrated into the microphone, so you can also get various lengths and types of cable setups directly from the manufacturer.

3 - While the NBox setup might not be that versitile since the cables are (if I remember correctly) attached without connectors at both ends, I don't see why you couldn't have the cables modified with in-line connectors to give more flexibility if you need it.

- Jason