AEA R84 mic - preamp gain 46db enough ?

[jlsgear]

Hi all,

I am considering the new AEA r84 ribbon mic ...

So would my mic pre (its an A Designs MP2) gain of 46db enough for this ribbon mic?

Thanks a ton,
John.

[PlugHead]

Originally posted by jlsgear
Hi all,

I am considering the new AEA r84 ribbon mic ...

So would my mic pre (its an A Designs MP2) gain of 46db enough for this ribbon mic?

Thanks a ton,
John.

46 dB is barely enough for close micing drums/trumpet/blaring horns/etc., so if you want to have many uses for that ribbon mic, better get a couple of pre's with LOTS of "good, usable" gain (75 + dB would be great)...

YMMV,

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by PlugHead
46 dB is barely enough for close micing drums/trumpet/blaring horns/etc., so if you want to have many uses for that ribbon mic, better get a couple of pre's with LOTS of "good, usable" gain (75 + dB would be great)...

YMMV,

I dunno - I've recorded acoustic bass with an RCA 74B (not known as a high output ribbon mic) with a Manley 40dB pre. It worked just fine.

[PlugHead]

Well,

I agree Dave - it can be done, but with extremely modest levels to tape/HD - esp. if you are planning on using the ribbon as a room mic, and less as a spot mic.

I needed 58-66 dB of gain on dbl bass yesterday - granted, the mic (SF-1) was 4 feet in front of the bass/player, but still needs lots o' gain for adequate levels going in...

Like I said, YMMV,

[Marshall Simmons]

i think for typical close mic'd acoustic, you'll be fine with 45db

marsh

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by PlugHead
Well,

I agree Dave - it can be done, but with extremely modest levels to tape/HD - esp. if you are planning on using the ribbon as a room mic, and less as a spot mic.

Like I said, YMMV,

Yeah, of course it also helped me to have a limiter with 2 6V6's on the output stage...

[atticus]

Which limiter is that?

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by atticus
Which limiter is that?

General Electric BA-9B

[adamcal]

Originally posted by Dave Martin
General Electric BA-9B

sounds like a toaster

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by adamcal
sounds like a toaster

Does, don't it? And it puts out enough heat to almost be one...

[Lynn Fuston]

I've used 65 dB for cutting lead and background vocals, and more than that cutting strings. I would say that 45 dB is barely adequate. And you likely won't want to work the R84 as close as will other mics because of the proximity effect.

[Bernd G]

I agree with Lynn,
not enough gain - unless you stick it in front of a Kick drum (NOT recommended !). I have used 70 dB of gain on our ribbons (M 160s) with an acoustic guitar. You need a very powerful preamp - and quiet too. You could try to make up some gain with your line amp - depending on your console.

cheers

[jlsgear]

Hi all,

Wouldn't this gain problem vary somewhat from models and makes ? I believe the sensitivity of the R84 is -52db ... isn't this in the ball park of something like an sm57 ?

I suppose I could make up some more gain by using my console pre inputs ... but would rather not .

Anther thing I thought of was that my line level analog i/o card on my Yamaha desk has switchable sensitivity dip switches for the indvidual channels ... I could set one of these channels to the -10db setting which could raise the level coming into the desk 10db or more - don't know til I try it ... but has anyone else done this kind of thing ?

Thanks,
Jls.

[ozraves]

I've got an A Designs but not an AEA R84. The A Designs MP-2 usually takes less gain on the knob than any I've used by units with 60, 65 or 66 or even 70 dB of gain. I got no idea why this would be when it's rated so much lower. I've talked to a couple of pre designers with no good answer yet. I just know that an RE20 which seems to be gain hungry really loves the MP-2.

The MP-2 is listed at Royer Labs site as a pre that'll power up their mics without problem. Royer also worked with A Designs on the MP-2r.

Steve
www.mojopie.com

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally posted by jlsgear
Hi all,

Wouldn't this gain problem vary somewhat from models and makes ? I believe the sensitivity of the R84 is -52db ... isn't this in the ball park of something like an sm57 ?

I think a closer comparison would be the SM7 which has a very low output. I think the R84 puts out even less than that.

Ultimately, I think you should count on needing at least 60 dB of gain to use the R84. With 46 dB of gain, the R122 would likely be a better choice, though it sounds nothing like the R84.

[ozraves]

I do have my A Designs MP-2. And, I know someone here in town with some AEA R84s. I guess I could see if I could borrow one or if I could take my MP-2 over to his place.

[Tim Farrant]

Originally posted by ozraves
I've got an A Designs but not an AEA R84. The A Designs MP-2 usually takes less gain on the knob than any I've used by units with 60, 65 or 66 or even 70 dB of gain. I got no idea why this would be when it's rated so much lower. I've talked to a couple of pre designers with no good answer yet. I just know that an RE20 which seems to be gain hungry really loves the MP-2.

Maybe the calibration around the knob is incorrect? Just a thought.

Tim.

[jlsgear]

Hello again, thanks for the input so far y'all !!

I would seem to agree with ozraves so far ... in that my MP-2 by "A Designs" seems to provide me with a bunch more gain than its 46db rating would suggest.

ie. I rarely run it more than 9:00 (25%) with my LD condensers - so that encourages me that the R84 will cut it on this pre (-;

ps - I would be eternally grateful if ozraves does get around to trying an R84 with HIS MP-2 !!!

Cheers,
jls.

[sdelsolray]

Originally posted by jlsgear
Hi all,

I am considering the new AEA r84 ribbon mic ...

So would my mic pre (its an A Designs MP2) gain of 46db enough for this ribbon mic?

Thanks a ton,
John.

Not enough. I use 60dB just to record a center channel for solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar. Needs to be a clean (i.e., not noisy) pre too.

--
Stephen Boyke