Hi Walter--
See Inserts
Rob D.
=3D =3D =3D
>Rob Danielson wrote:
>>
>> Hello Walter--
>> See Inserts
>> Rob D.
>>
>> >Rob Danielson wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hello!
>> >> I use an MP-2 only almost daily with phantom power mics, the noise =
is
>> >> very, very low. Sounddevices.com is a small company here in
>> >> Wisconsin. I'm sure they'd be happy to explain their specs and
>> >> discuss design and performance needs. Very nice folks.
>> >> Rob D.
>>
>> Walter replied:
>>
>> >The usual quick and dirty test is to monitor it's output at full gain
>> >while switching the phantom power on and off.
>>
>> Tested this. I can detect no increase in system noise or introduced
>> hum when the phantom power is switched on and off.
>
>Sounds good. Was this running with your battery pac or the internals?
battery pack
> > Walter replied:
>> > Not foolproof, but a good
>> >indicator, better if a way can be figured to apply full load to the po=
wer.
>> >
>> >Have you used it with rechargables? They seem to be giving 6 hours wit=
h
>> >alkalines and that without phantom power.
>>
>> 2 hours with two AA alkalines w/phantom power on is typical. I made
>> a 5X1.2 D size battery sled with the Energizer Nickle Metal Hydride
>> rechargables (D size 2200 mAh) which powers my Sony D7 DAT and the
>> MP-2/mics for ~6 hours. The MP-2 accepts a wide range of DC voltages
>> and the power plug locks on with threads.
>
>Ouch on the internal Alkalines, but about what I expected. Question is
>would it run at all with two internal 1800 mAh AA's?
probably.
> Short times are
>less painful if it's rechargables.
>
>I noticed last night that Sound Devices makes a holder for the NP series
>video camera battery pacs. I use these pacs with my digital camera, so
>that may be attractive. Those are 7.2 volts and something like 1500mAh
>for the current ones. I've only got a old one here right now, and it's
>marked 1200mAh. They are also Li-ion technology. They are common enough
>that they are a fairly standard item at Radio Shack. They would be far
>less bulky than your D pac.
Good tip. those D's are ~1/3 weight of normal bats
>
>> >Walter replied:
>> >I've managed without a pre so far, but since I've now got the MKH
>> >shotgun mics, I'll probably want one sooner or later. And the M/S
>> >decoder is attractive so that I could monitor in stereo. It's one I've
>> >been eyeing.
>>
>> I found that a good pre made a huge difference. I used mine with
>> quite a few mics including MKH-20's/30's and they seemed like a good
>> match. The Sonic Devices MP-2's sound and features may be hard to
>> beat for less than $1400. Steven Feld and others love their Aerco
>> MP-2 made by Jerry Chamkis (especially with AKG460's) but I don't
>> think Jerry makes them anymore Jerry says the
>> input transformers are the key components and those prices have gone
>> way up. I think both MP-2's may use the same Swiss
>> transformers,..barnd name starts with and "L," Klas?
>
>Lundahl transformers is what you are trying to remember. Yes, the MP-2
>uses them anyway.
>
>Up until this year I primarily have used the Telinga and was making
>scientific recordings. I'm now heading more into "listening" recordings
>and have obtained several new mics. The two MKH-816 shotguns could
>definitely use the help of a pre for the sort of distances I often work.
>And the MKH-80 and MKH-30 are a obvious M/S combo. So I've been getting
>used to the idea of spending a big sum on a pre, and the Sound Devices
>MP-2 has been more or less top of that list. Lang uses one and I got to
>listen to it's output and even record a bit when he was down here. So, I
>know it will work happily with the portadisc.
>
>I have noted one missing feature on the MP-2. If running M/S, it's
>decoded stereo width is made by adjusting the gain on the two channels.
>If you are running using the decoder just for headphone monitoring, then
>you could not adjust the width for the headphones without changing
>what's going to the recorder. Don't know if that's a problem or not.
>Have you played with M/S?
Yes, just starting tho. I'm under the impression that since there's
no encoding-- using m-s monitoring is just to get an approximate
idea. I just saturate both channels and have been able to adjust the
image with the Hyperpism plug in Peak. The WAVES m-s plug I have is
non adjustable so maybe avoid this one? But,.. m-s is a pain in this
regard because all the files need adjustments before they can be
played.
>
>I agree, a pre is pretty much essential with shotguns and such like if
>you want to record at any significant distance. The parabolic you can
>get by without it as there is a bunch of gain before the mic.
>
>> The only portable pre that I've heard folks consistently speak higher
>> of is the ~$1,400 Lunatec V2 by Grace Design. Apogee's Mini Me is
>> about the same price and I believe it has USB out too. I've read a
>> few positive comments about the MiniMe but I haven't read of anyone
>> comparing it's sound to the other units.
>
>Note that Sound Design has a USB pre as well. I'm not too interested as
>carting a laptop in the field is a problem. I did wonder if it would
>feed the Portadisc, which will take USB input.
maybe,.. if the HHB has the appropriate driver,..SD folks could tell
you. When I used google to look for comments about SD USB pre, I came
across some driver issues. It's supposed to sound comparable.
> My bet is that a computer
>might be needed there as a intermediate. In any case that does not have M/=
S.
>
>Have you used the limiter on the MP-2? How much does it muck things up?
I love the limiter. You can set it to get maximum headroom and
activate only when distortion is unavoidable without it. I set my
line iput level on my DAT (with full mp-2 output falling just below
clipping on the DAT The factory limiter now eliminates everything
above -.1dB. Like magic. The limiter has made many tough luck
recordings much more usable-- especially when the overmod period is
short. There's also a headphone overmod light and I've been
surprised how many times the headphone amp is actually doing the
distorting when I thot it was in the record path. But I usually
monitor the recorder.
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