I started a new thread to discuss the shootout, but this little test was based on a previous thread about improving the DVX100A audio by using external mixers and preamps.
Click HERE to listen to the dialog test. The clip contains three takes of the same short dialog recorded with various recording chains. I did not apply any EQ, effects, filters, etc to this clip. I only used a little gain to attempt to match levels between clips to make it easier to compare them. I have not identified the recording chains in the clip, to give folks a chance to listen and form an opinion about what sounds good and what does not. I will identify each clip later. Here are the recording chains in no particular order.
Chain “A”: Neumann KM84i running directly to the DVX100A mic preamp.
Chain “B”: Neumann KM84i running into a Neve 1272 mic preamp, and the line level output of the preamp connected to the DVX100A line in.
Chain “C”: Neumann KM84i running into a Neve 1272 mic preamp (same gain settings as Chain “B”) and the line level output of a Digidesign HD192 .
To keep the variables down, the Protools recording was also performed at 48/16. To give you an idea of the relative cost of the setups, the KM84i is about a $600 mic, and is probably fairly similar to a mid/high end dialogue mic. The Neve 1272 preamp runs aroun 800-1000$ a channel, and is universally considered to be excellent. It is probably not the first choice for field recording, as I would guess the pros normally shoot for something more “accurate”, where the Neve is considered “warm”, or “big”. It is a transformer based preamp, and many modern preamps are essentially clones of this fella. The HD192 interface costs as much as a DVX100A, and it is no good without a Protools system, so you are looking at >10K for that. I think you could replace the HD192 with a high quality DAT and get the same results.
Have fun listening, and please share your thoughts.
Click HERE to listen to the dialog test. The clip contains three takes of the same short dialog recorded with various recording chains. I did not apply any EQ, effects, filters, etc to this clip. I only used a little gain to attempt to match levels between clips to make it easier to compare them. I have not identified the recording chains in the clip, to give folks a chance to listen and form an opinion about what sounds good and what does not. I will identify each clip later. Here are the recording chains in no particular order.
Chain “A”: Neumann KM84i running directly to the DVX100A mic preamp.
Chain “B”: Neumann KM84i running into a Neve 1272 mic preamp, and the line level output of the preamp connected to the DVX100A line in.
Chain “C”: Neumann KM84i running into a Neve 1272 mic preamp (same gain settings as Chain “B”) and the line level output of a Digidesign HD192 .
To keep the variables down, the Protools recording was also performed at 48/16. To give you an idea of the relative cost of the setups, the KM84i is about a $600 mic, and is probably fairly similar to a mid/high end dialogue mic. The Neve 1272 preamp runs aroun 800-1000$ a channel, and is universally considered to be excellent. It is probably not the first choice for field recording, as I would guess the pros normally shoot for something more “accurate”, where the Neve is considered “warm”, or “big”. It is a transformer based preamp, and many modern preamps are essentially clones of this fella. The HD192 interface costs as much as a DVX100A, and it is no good without a Protools system, so you are looking at >10K for that. I think you could replace the HD192 with a high quality DAT and get the same results.
Have fun listening, and please share your thoughts.
