> --- On Fri, 8/13/10, Dan Dugan <> wrote:
>
> From: Dan Dugan <>
> Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Another neophyte flailing around on
> this subject...
> To:
> Date: Friday, August 13, 2010, 5:28 PM
>
>
> >> Lower-impedance mic inputs are easier to make quieter, but
> >> otherwise low input impedance is a bad thing, so there's a
> >> trade-off. You'd like a mic to be feeding an input that's
> >> many times its source impedance, so there's no loading
> >> effect and you get all the signal you can out of it.
> >> Unfortunately the actual source impedance of mics is often
> >> left out of the specifications so it's hard to gauge the
> >> relationship of a particular mic to a particular preamp's
> >> input.
> >
> >
> >
> > so my fav MKH416 with nominal impedance @ 25 should be a
> > good choice from this point, right ? ;-}
> >
>
>
> Yes, unless you're in telephony (miles of cable), the lower
> the source impedance the better.
>
>
>
> -Dan
The AEA TRP has really high impedance and according to the propaganda that =
is to facilitate long cable runs. Not really field gear as it's A/C powere=
d. And lacks phantom power since it's The Ribbon Pre.
The Art Tube MPA has variable impedance. And many say that it helps to dia=
l a mic in. With some pretty major differences in the frequency response o=
f certain mics with the various impedance settings. As demonstrated by a f=
ew samples of it in use. Also A/C powered so not a nature biased piece of =
gear. And tube base, so a bit colored in it's output by default.
I tend to keep my recorder at the base of the mic stand so I'm not dealing =
with long cable runs. At least not until I get a taller mic stand. Plus l=
ong cables are heavy when you're dealing with stereo pairs or decca tree (4=
+ mic) configurations. I like having a little elevation as it dims the cri=
ckets and other sounds in favor of a big picture sound image. Plus down lo=
w you get the curious critters sniffing the mics. Maybe even attacking, or=
attempting to eat them.
As far as the benefit to me, I guess it opens up a few mic options that mig=
ht not do as well with the higher impedance. It might also extend battery =
life. But I doubt that it would be anything significant. And maybe not ev=
en by a measurable amount. It could also open up the potential for interfe=
rence. Although 2K is still pretty high impedance.
Big picture wise it's not really that important IMO. But it can affect the=
sound of what you record. Even when the sound and the mics are for all in=
tents exactly the same. But they're still mics, that pick up sounds and th=
e recorder records it. So we're not talking huge differences. Although ge=
tting the sound you want or NOT is a pretty huge difference.
- James
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