Mic pres for DPA surround kit

[matthewd]

Hi there

I am in the market for a DPA surround kit and want to marry it up with an 8 channel mic pre probably with digital board tracking AES to my Sadie LRX / H64 recorders. The most cost effective would probably be the RME Micstacy and I like the idea of the remote with a possibility of multiplying them up and going in MADI in the future. I have also heard the Grace and Millenia products, the later with Merging A to D but I gather there might be a digital board coming for that product. I would be interested to hear also whether the 130V version of the mics would be worth considering.

Matt
:: complete take ::

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by matthewd

Hi there

I am in the market for a DPA surround kit and want to marry it up with an 8 channel mic pre probably with digital board tracking AES to my Sadie LRX / H64 recorders. The most cost effective would probably be the RME Micstacy and I like the idea of the remote with a possibility of multiplying them up and going in MADI in the future. I have also heard the Grace and Millenia products, the later with Merging A to D but I gather there might be a digital board coming for that product. I would be interested to hear also whether the 130V version of the mics would be worth considering.

Matt
:: complete take ::

For 8 channels of pres and A/D conversion the Cranesong Spider is just the thing. AES, Lightpipe, and analog outs. I use it with all manner of DPA mic's with great results. The HV versions (4003, 4041, 4012, 4016) have more headroom and can handle more SPL. Right now, only DPA, Grace and Millenia make HV pre's. I have a Forssell one-off that's astounding, but it's not a production item.

[GKennedy]

Hi Matt - we are using Audient pre amps digitally into an RME MADI converter and to either SADiE 64/128 or a dm2000. We can take out a little 8ch rig for chamber music or the whole lot for a big multitrack job. The choice was partly cost driven - we ceratianly couldnt afford 64chs of top of the line.

Not many SADiE users around here...

GK

[dbssound1]

Matt,

I can tell you that the Grace Designs gear is spectacular. I also know for a fact that guys over at DPA use there preamps (they even use their headphone preamps in their trade show booths). After shooting out all of the preamps you mentioned (and a few others) we chose the Grace hands down.

Just my opinion.

All the best!

[summer_room]

Originally Posted by tenor39

Right now, only DPA, Grace and Millenia make HV pre's. I have a Forssell one-off that's astounding, but it's not a production item.

EAR 824, Avalon M5 and Crookwood iPre/Paintpot also comes with optional 130v.

best - Jon.

[David Rick]

See that array in my picture? The squid runs to a Millennia HV-3D.

For years, most folks considered the Millennia 130V option to be the best thing to do with DPA 4003's. But since the release of the -TL versions of their phantom-powered mics, I just don't think that it's worth the risk of using (unbalanced) 4003's in the field. The 4006-TL's are now very nearly as good and they will certainly be a lot less trouble. That new DPA surround rig really wants to be flown, and that means you'll be running a snake down somebody's lighting catwalk. You don't want unbalanced cables up there, and with all the GSM phones and Blackberries in the audience, you don't want unbalanced cables down on the floor, either.

David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording

[matthewd]

Hi everyone

This was my first post and I am very impressed with the fast and helpful response from you all. David - you mention interference from Blackberries which is something I have particularly noticed recently. I have always been away of the GSM phone signals but have only ever heard it on monitoring and not on recordings but the Blackberry GPRS seems to make it onto the record - I would love to understand why this is. I did ask my reseller Canford Audio if there was anything on the market that blocked this signal but they didn't come up with anything.

Matt

[Legacy]

Hi All,

I'm also a big DPA fan. I've found the +130 4003s to be indispensible. As has been said the 4006TLs are remarkably close in every way - perhaps just missing that extra tiny bit of detail / sensitivity. I've had no regrets substituting the 06TLs in the case or two that the 03s were susceptible to RF (Empire State Building nearby at one location...).

I've been wanting to try the DPA HMA5000 so that I can try the 03s with a number of preamps just to get a sense of the differences - but haven't found the time / $ to do so yet.

I don't know why Blackberries do what they do and look forward to finding out. Anyone know?

-Silas

[ESL]

I second the recommendation for the Spider. In addition to the 8 digital outs, you can simultaneously mix down to stereo (also digital out) for a reference.

A few years ago, Dave Hill told me he'd consider building a unit with 130v input modules but I didn't pursue this because I just use HMA4000s right next to the mics that need them (and go line in to the Spider).

I rarely use 130v mics in large halls. The exception is when an organ is involved but I don't think they're an absolute necessity for the application.

I also agree that flying an S5 with 130v mics would be a potential rat's nest of problems. For flying in general, 130v cabling is definitely a pain in the neck.

Haven't tried the 5000 yet...

good luck.