Topic: Running the mighty AKG 480?

[Roving Sign]

How do most of you guys run these mics? Do you use the pads?

This past weekend, I borrowed my friends 480s - ran them on my Yamaha mixer. As soon as the band got going, it became clear that no matter how low I set my trimmers, the peak light was flashing like crazy.

I cant really hear any true distortion - but I like to keep the peak light off...maintain some headroom and get more gain downstream.

I was running a matrix - so I pulled the mics down after the first song and put the -10 switch on...NOW I seem to have total control of the signal...I was then able to set my trimmers about 2/3rds of the way up.

My buddy runs a MP2>SBM1 and almost always has the MP2 gain at minimum.

Does anybody else use the -10 switch on these beasts...?

[leehookem]

nope

[china_rider]

Never have.

[willndmb]

i talked to about 10 people recently that use 480 and only one of them used the -10

[Roving Sign]

Hmmmph...what should I make of this then?

Am I being too concerned about my peak lights? They come on at -3db below clipping..If I were mixing live sound - I wouldn't want one of my channels to look like that...

Or is it just the limitations of my cheapie mixer's mic pres...?

http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/products/mixers/mg10_2/specifications.html

[grider]

they are very sensitive mics; I used to run my old 390s much hotter and even without windscreens outside; when I switched to 480s I found myself constantly reducing my recordings levels from where they would be for the 390s, and even when taping in closed rooms I would pick up wind when taping without screens; you will just have to adjust to the more sensitive 480s to record well with them

[terrapinj]

Justin, thepassionofyonder, runs 480 > DAP1 and always has to run the -10 pad. i borrowed his 480s and ran them in front of V2 > 722 without the pad and had no issues. so I think they do run hot with some pres.

i would run the pad and give yourself some headroom, better to be safe than sorry IMO

[sygdwm]

i ran the pad on mine often, depends on the situation. don't be afraid to use it if needed.

[grider]

yea as for the bass roll off -10 pad, it mostly depends on the preamp used; I never had to use it, ever, with the line in to the DAP1, or with the V3, or with the UA5; conversely, I always had to use it with the MiniMe or my recordings were unlistenable because they were so bass heavy

[OFOTD]

Are you not able to make corrections in post?  Is the only alternative for you to run the pads?   Personally rule #1 for me is to run my mics wide open and if I have to cut back somewhere it is always for me further down the chain of gear.  That may not be possible for you in this situation?

[Roving Sign]

Are you not able to make corrections in post?  Is the only alternative for you to run the pads?   Personally rule #1 for me is to run my mics wide open and if I have to cut back somewhere it is always for me further down the chain of gear.  That may not be possible for you in this situation?

More about hot output...not really bass heavy at all.

I didnt use any of the bass switches...just the level pads...

[grider]

Are you not able to make corrections in post?  Is the only alternative for you to run the pads?   Personally rule #1 for me is to run my mics wide open and if I have to cut back somewhere it is always for me further down the chain of gear.  That may not be possible for you in this situation?

More about hot output...not really bass heavy at all.

I didnt use any of the bass switches...just the level pads...

for clarification, on the 480 bodies there are two separate and unrelated switches, one for anti-attenuation and another for bass-roll-off; as I understand it you would want to use the anti-attenuation switch if you are super close to the music source or monitors to minimize volume blast to the mic caps (what is referred to as spl's); the other switch is of course the bass roll off; while the anti-attenuation switch would dampen levels the bass roll off switch would not

[Josh]

never have run the rolloff with my v3.

[thepassionofyonder]

i leave my mics set to -10 all the time with my P1.  i also run the -20pad on my P1 as well.  ive only had one recording ruined by not setting the 481's to -10. but one show is all it takes.

i ran the 483s line in while using TJ's V2 for the cheesedog show last month, without any problems.
i forgot to change to -10 for the first set/first night of panic and it turned out fine,but these events were my using the hypers. 

i'll continue running my -10 until i get a pre-amp or a new recorder.
i just feel "safer" with the extra head room.

my 2 cents
~justin

btw, i love my 480s

[willndmb]

now i am thinking run -10 and line to be safe
i was going to run 0 and line

i always ran -10 with my 39x and usually had the UA5 set at around 1 oclock for the gain