Thank you, David, for pushing back on me here. And also to Rob for his
revealing analysis of my comparison audio clip.
So why does it fall to others to point out my blind spots? I dunno...
I guess that's why they're called "blind spots." (I have some new
stuff to ponder, that's for sure! And it's not just which recorders to
use.)
Anyway, to help the process along, as soon as time permits I'll try to
put together a new set of comparison tests -- this time comparing: 1)
FR-2LE by itself; 2) MixPre (line out) > FR-2LE (line in); 3) MixPre
(tape out) > Zoom H2 (line in); 4) MixPre (tape out) > Hi-MD (line
in); 5) ART Phantom II > Hi-MD (mic in). Last I heard, the SD722 I
used for the previous comparison is tied up on a long-term assignment,
so I probably won't be able to include it in this batch of tests.
Later,
Curt Olson
David Michael wrote:
> I suppose the main improvement for me was the gain. It may be true,
> that given enough gain, the FR2LE and the MixPre have comparable
> responses, but the FR2LE has very low gain on its own, at least when
> using my MKH30/40 combo (others with similar experiences?).
>
> The other serious problem I had with the FR2LE was that if I cranked
> up the gain high enough to get a sufficiently hot signal in quiet
> situations, the unit induced a high-pitched, broad-banded hiss
> (especially from the trims turned most of the way up). I have
> eliminated this hiss by keeping the FR2LE at low gain on the trims
> and input gain knob and having the MixPre heat up the signal coming
> in.
>
> So a MixPre giving nice gain to an FR2LE that is set to a low to
> moderate gain has really improved the overall recording quality. To
> be really fair about this discussion, I should do some controlled
> experiments, perhaps in the backyard one morning. Do you perhaps
> have a schedule of recordings or experiments I should try... maybe
> specifically concerning gain.
>
> Hassle: yes. Worth it so far: yes.
>
> :)
> David
>
>
> --- In Curt Olson <> wrote:
>>
>> David,
>>
>> Do you really feel that the MixPre is sufficiently better than the
>> FR-2LE's built-in mic preamps to warrant the hassle? A couple years
>> ago I did a side-by-side comparison between a SD722 and my FR-2LE,
>> and could barely discern any difference. The FR-2LE's mic preamp
>> are so darn good that I suspect you might not be gaining anything
>> worthwhile for your troubles. At least that's what my experience
>> leads me to think.
>>
>> I'd be curious to hear some kind of comparison recording between
>> your MixPre > FR-2LE combination and the FR-2LE by itself, if
>> you're willing.
>>
>> Curt Olson
>
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