Topic: Newbie--1st show--Church cards & Edirol R-09 help

[drewropa]

I can't get through to Chris for some reason so I am posting here in the forum hoping a kind soul(s) can help me out...

I purchased the Church cardoids and 9000 preamp this summer.  I am just now
preparing to tape my first show this coming weekend and have some
questions.  I have searched taperssection.com for the past two hours
and just cannot find the answers I need--probably because they are
noob questions.  I will be using an Edirol R-09 for the recording and
the show is The Police and the venue is Philips Arena.

1.   Which cable do you recommend to go from the "output" on the
preamp into the "line in" on the Edirol?  Just a basic 3.5mm one?

2.  How long will a fresh 9-volt battery last in the preamp?  This
powers the mics, correct?  So, if I use the preamp, I should set
"input setup>plug-in power" on the Edirol to "off", correct?

3.  Should I even use the preamp or just plug the mics directly into the Edirol?

4.  The audio level should be set to 11 o'clock, correct?  The gain
range--I have no idea what it should be set to since it's a loud rock
show.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Drew
Sparta, TN USA
http://www.geocities.com/drewropa

[Belexes]

1. I use a 3.5 mini to 3.5 mini:

http://tinyurl.com/2qog5g

Works perfectly and right-angle, which is what you want on the R-09 given the input jack failure issue.

2. 40 hours, plug in power off

3. Heck yes use the pre! That's why you bought it. Some plug directly in, but I don't drink that Kool-aid.

4. 11 O' Clock is unity, move up from there.  Don't run it +20 gain at a loud Police concert.  You'll risk overloading the pre.

5. Have fun and good luck!

See also Team Church Audio:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,80892.msg1076086.html#msg1076086

[drewropa]

thanks belexes...I really appreciate it

[vanark]

The smallest of corrections.  I think Belexes reference to +20 dB relates to the ST-9100 preamp.  The ST-9000 has three gain settings for amp - up is +10 dB, down is +30 dB and middle is 0 dB.  I ran +10 dB with the gain on full on the ST-9000 at the Rose Hill Drive show the other night and didn't have any issues overloading the preamp.  Chris has emphasized that the +30 dB setting should only be used for acoustic settings.

So, you can use the +10dB setting.  11 oclock means you have 0 dB and as you turn it clockwise, you add a portion of the 10 dB gain which would be full at about 5:30.

With +10 dB, I find i need the R-09 gain to be about 18-20 to peak at -6 dB on the meter.

Enjoy.

[Belexes]

Appreciate the correction... I was speaking of the 9100.

Geez, I'd hate to accidently bump the 9000 and end up with +30 at a rock concert. Dangerous setting!

[dimm0k]

Cool, I'm getting prepared for my first show with the Church-Audio package too except I'm running it through an MD player.  I agree with everything Belexes mentioned so I just have two small things to add.  From the research I've done here's what I've gathered on using the preamp.  On the preamp itself it should have a light that shows when you're in danger of clipping so you'd want to monitor that and adjust the knob accordingly.  As mentioned 11 o'clock is unity gain on the amp so you'd want to start from there.  The second thing is DOUBLE CHECK your equipment before the show.  I thought I was good to go until today when I realized that my 3.5 mini cable was defective so my test recordings came out very faint even with the preamp knob cranked all the way!

[vanark]

On the ST-9000, there is not a clip light, only a power light.

[Belexes]

Yep, clip light on the 9100 only and I use/check it.  How do you know if you are overloading on the 9000? Just pray?

[3-Fan]

The 9000 knob is not a gain control, it is only an output control.  So even if you have the switch to the +10db setting an the knob at something other than full, the recorder is still going to see the internal gain structUre of the full +10db. 

For instance, if you wanted say +15db, you could set the preamp to +30 and use the knob to attenuate back to +15db but your internal gain structure would still be +30.  You aren't changing the gain of the preamp so the input could very easily overload.


I learned this the hard way!!

[drewropa]

I really appreciate the input from everyone...

So, if the gain is set to +10 and the audio output is "off" at the 7 o'clock position, what would you suggest the best position for it to be?  I'm just a confused newb in this respect...

[vanark]

My experience it to use +10 dB and turn it on full (all the way clockwise).  Then set the level on the R-09. But, I don't think there is a single way to run it.  You could go 0 dB and get good results as well.