Rob:
Thank you for all your observation. As far as preamp adjustments go, I just
figure that if I'm spending many thousands of dollars for a 4-track
recorder, I deserve to get preamps on all channels plus the ganging
capability. I have no idea why Sound Devices has decided to only include
preamps on two channels of their forthcoming 744T four channel recorder.
Seems like many buyers would gladly pay a little extra for preamps on all
the channels. I guess they just didn't think they had room for the XLR plugs
plus the preamps themselves. And I guess they wanted to use the same housing
as used by their forthcoming two channel 722.
Lang
Lang-
I agree about the mp2 pots, as smooth as they are, I'm always moving
them by mistake. Level matching in the field is not as big a deal as
you might suspect. I ran the four mics through the preamps set close
to the level I expected in the field (3/4 for active daytime, full
gain for night). Outside, I directed all four mics towards a speaker
and increased the playback level of a 240-400Hz tone to obtain -10dB
peaks on my recording app meters. I found that I that the preamp
adjustments to get the levels to match at the recorder meters were
minor and of the order easily accounted for in mixing. When I record
in low level stetting, the "air" rumble coming from all directions is
consistent enough to vually match the levels. But I don't fuss about
it-- for example, I don;t sacrifice saturation if a pair of mics is
hotter and produces more signal without over-modulation. Matching
levels is critical when setting speaker level playback and for this
you may have to invest in a high quality SPL meter. I've been doing
this by ear, leaving them set but I can see I'll need to buy one
pretty soon. The Radio Shack unit isn't good enough; the Triplett
unit I borrowed for an installation worked okay. A unit that goes
below 40dB or even 30dB would be great, but might be too pricey. Can
anybody recommend a good brand model to be on the outlook for? Rob D.
= = =
At 5:04 PM -0400 6/18/04, Lang Elliott wrote:
>Walt:
>
>But how then do I get the levels on all channels exactly the same? This is
>very important in surround work. I really would like to gang all the volume
>controls so that it's easy to make adjustments in the field. Otherwise I
>guess I could get a clicker and hold it directly over the mikes and then
>adjust volumes in the studio, but this still might not be accurate enough.
>
>One thing I dislike about the MP-2 is that the volume controls are
>continuous, so it is difficult to get them adjusted to the same gain,
>especially at night. I would have preferred click stop pots.
>
>Lang
>
>From: Lang Elliott <>
>
>>
>> I was hoping the new Sound Devices 744T recorder would do the trick, but
>> only two inputs will have preamps and phantom power, so I'd be stuck with
>> the preamp problem there as well. No obvious solution right now, I guess.
>
>What about your MP2 for providing pre's for two more channels? Or is the
>744T lacking enough channels? Can't remember right off.
>
>Walt
>
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
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>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
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