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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: SCTony on Tue, 08 December 2009, 19:55:04

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: SCTony on Tue, 08 December 2009, 19:55:04

I bought a microphone on eBay and now I find I need a pre-amp. The mic is a Sony electret cond. stereo model ECM-MS907 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=11035340). I found a Visivox (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330384886264&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123) pre-amp on ebay for about $30. Mostly I record nature/ambient outdoors (like rain/thunder/boats/birds/planes) and maybe a keyboard or two in the future. :happy:  I have been using my camera, which records very well (to me). I will be recording onto a Cowon iAudio 7 (http://www.cowonglobal.com/product_wide/product_i7_feature.php) pmp for now. I am also considering building a pre-amp from a kit, but that will take some time to complete. Any suggestions/advice for a reasonably decent/low-cost solution or any comments on the Visivox? Thank you so much.

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: ricercar on Tue, 08 December 2009, 21:02:34

I'd suggest you don't get the Visivox. You need two mono preamps like that one to record in stereo.

Sony mics tend to be made for Sony recorders. I've had a few of each. Your Sony mic has a 1/8" stereo plug, which may limit your choices, unless you're comfortable recording in the wilds with seven inches of adapters hanging off a two inch MP3 recorder. To avoid adapters, I've tended to solder my own plugs on cords when I have a portable recording rig.

I've never seen a semi-pro mic preamp with a 1/8" stereo mic input. They tend to have 1/4" (unbalanced) plugs or 3-pin amphenol (balanced) connectors. I can't tell what kind of input jack is on the Cowon, or if it has the ability to control input level.

If the Cowon doesn't have recording or input level adjustment, then somewhere between mic and recorder you need a control that lets you change the volume of each input signal. Instead of buying a pair of preamps, You may wish to buy a mixer with built-in preamps. When my kids aren't climbing all over me I'll look up a few examples.

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: SCTony on Tue, 08 December 2009, 21:24:13

Thanks Ricercar. The Cowon uses a 1/8 inch jack and has some line-in volume control (a choice of 1,2,3,or 4). I was thinking the Visivox was stereo but maybe that's a different model. I appreciate your time.

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: SCTony on Tue, 08 December 2009, 22:05:45

Thanks Ripster. Are you satisfied with the Visivox? Are the noise levels low? I haven't gotten to use the mic yet as I barely get a signal without a pre-amp.

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: ricercar on Tue, 08 December 2009, 22:14:15

I stand corrected.

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: cb951303 on Wed, 09 December 2009, 02:17:04

If you're looking for a a cheap mic preamp take a look at art tube preamps: http://www.artproaudio.com/default.asp?p_id=4

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: keyb_gr on Wed, 09 December 2009, 02:56:03

Quote from: cb951303;140371

If you're looking for a a cheap mic preamp take a look at art tube preamps: http://www.artproaudio.com/default.asp?p_id=4

He was looking for a microphone preamp, not a microphonic one... :p

OK, seriously now, but would you buy from a company whose website looks like this (scaled down to 50% - that's a 20" UXGA screen here)?
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6244&stc=1&d=1260348640)
Anyway I think solid state is the way to go here... impedances are rather on the low side.

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: cb951303 on Wed, 09 December 2009, 05:21:35

Quote from: keyb_gr;140373

He was looking for a microphone preamp, not a microphonic one... :p

OK, seriously now, but would you buy from a company whose website looks like this (scaled down to 50% - that's a 20" UXGA screen here)?

Show Image

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6244&stc=1&d=1260348640)

Anyway I think solid state is the way to go here... impedances are rather on the low side.

huh?
art sells "microphone" preamps (damn good ones) and the website looks good on firefox and chrome. no one cares about how internet explorer views sites. it has its own crippled understanding of standards.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-Tube-MP-Studio-Mic-Preamp?sku=180581

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 09 December 2009, 07:54:54

The site looks fine in IE, too.  I had no problems with it.

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: SCTony on Wed, 09 December 2009, 15:20:48

Thanks everyone- yes I got the Visivox. They don't appear very often on eBay (i had a saved search running for a while) so I went ahead and bought it before someone else snagged it. I think it will do what I am looking for. [These MX-SPOS Cherry Browns are nice! :) ]

Title: Mic Pre-Amp
Post by: SCTony on Wed, 09 December 2009, 16:57:35

Thanks. I wish it was phono level :)