Paul--
Sony has made recorders with low noise mic pre performance in the
<$500USD price range, so try to be sure you are not overlooking
something. I've not used a D50; I can't gauge how much noise you're
encountering. What external mics are you planning to use with the
D50? If you have mics with 14dB(A) or lower self-noise, I'd
definitely try a portable phantom power unit like a Rolls PB224. If
you try low-noise mics and determine that getting acceptable noise
performance with the D50 is only possible with a $300 addition, a
FR2-LE is only a couple of hundred more. External pres aren't really
crucial items these days now that we have recorders like the FR2-LE.
As a ball bark guess, if your mics have greater than 16dB(A)
self-noise, likely you are hearing their noise, not the D50's. Rob D.
At 7:25 PM -0800 2/15/08, Paul Slabaugh wrote:
>Thank you Rob, that's good info about gain requirements. I do not
>trust the specs ...they're just too good and 50db gain is probably
>into it's distortion levels... nice specs are likely measured at
>lower gain settings. Incomplete info on this item is the deal
>killer. Manufacturer doesn't even list the product on their site
>anymore. Too fishy.
>
>You ask, do I need pre-amps. Yes, I want line level to avoid the mic
>pre's in my Sony PCM D50 ...though their circuit noise has a smooth
>far off ocean quality, it is very much there at high recording
>settings. Clean line levels would bump up that S/N ratio. That is
>why I am returning a $300 (overpriced!) BeachTek dual phantom xlr
>box because it is passive ...no amplification. I just want clean
>amplification ...seems that paying extra mostly gets you extra non
>essential fluff on these devices. Until you pay enough for marketing
>fluff AND good circuit (Shure's or Sound Designs) the important
>specs just aren't that great. I'd be happy with a clean circuit in a
>rusty can ...hobbyists build such circuits fairly cheap. This new
>recorder I have takes care of the extras like limiting tremendously
>well as it simultaneously records lower level tracks and instantly
>uses them if things get loud.
>
>I just want a hole in...clean amp... hole out ! ...will keep looking.
>
>----- Original Message ----
>From: Rob Danielson <<type%40uwm.edu>>
>To:
><naturerecordists%40yahoogroups.com>=
m
>Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 7:58:30 PM
>Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Nady DMP-2 phantom mic preamp
>
>At 2:47 PM -0800 2/15/08, Paul Slabaugh wrote:
>>After blowing alot on good recorders and mics, I am reduced to
>>finding cheap mic preamps ... after MUCH research, here is the most
>>capable, yet cheap, dual preamp, phantom powered, limited...yada
>>yada ...at 1/12 the price of the tremendously fine Sound Design
>>models
>><<http://www.audio->http://www.audio- discounters. com/dmp-2.
>>html><http://www.audio->http://www.audio- discounters. com/dmp-2.
>>html
>>
>>Just how BAD can this Nady item be ? ... opinions anyone?
>>
>>-paul
>
>Neat find Paul. As you are probably aware, there are very few
>battery-powered mics pres with phantom at this price point. 50 dB
>gain is on the low side for nature recording-- 60dB is closer to the
>desired minimum in my experience. Based on the spec sheet I found,
>there are no noise specs supplied and no phantom voltage specified.
>Your mics may or may not require higher voltage, even 48 volts. None
>of this means you shouldn't give it test. If you order it from
>Sweetwater, they'll usually let you return if it it doesn't meet your
>needs. Are you sure you need a preamp and not just a portable
>phantom power supply? These are available at high (no risk) quality
>for $50. Rob D.
>
>Nady DMP-2 spec sheet:
><http://img3.>http://img3. musiciansfriend. com/dbase/ pdf/man/m_ 180156.p=
df
>--
>
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