MixPre-D with PMD661?

D

Drcoffee

Well-known member
I've been recording dialogue for a film with the Marantz pmd661, using a me66 shotgun, and a mke2 lapel. I've not been pleased with the amount of noise produced by both mics. If I used a MixPre-D as the preamp, would the noise be noticeably less?

Thanks
 
While the mixpre is a bit quieter, my impression is that the 661 is a good recorder at it's price range, and it's preamps have decent specs. The MKE2 are a bit noisy but the ME66 is pretty quiet, so before you go buy something (although a mixer is very good to have and highly recommended) I would look at the basics. Are you holding the mic too far away? Are your recording levels low? Are you recording at 24 bit och 16 bit?

Have you listened to the tracks through speakers, and is it still noisy? It could be that it's the headphone output in the 661 that produces some noise, especially if you are using headphones with low sensitivity.
 
Hi Jema, Thanks for getting back to me. I've been listening back to the audio with HD25 headphones, on both PMD661 and the files on a macbook.

So basically the MKE2 was hidden under his shirt collar just out of view, this sounded slightly muffled. Me66 with boomed out about 2-3 foot from his mouth. Noise isn't bad as such just not sure what's normal?!

PMD661 was 24bit, 48k, 48v phantom for both mics, mic atten 0db, no high or low filters, letting the voice peak at about -6db.

I've uploaded a short clip, 2 channels, if you could have a quick listen to see if this is a normal amount on noise that would be great: http://www.jononeill.co.uk/1035.aiff

Thanks a lot, Jon
 
Ok, so your settings should be fine. Every piece of equipment you describe is familiar to me, except the 661 which I have not used personally.

Thanks for the sound file.

The lav is as you say a bit muffled (hiding it beneath something does that) and a little noisy which really comes out if you try to eq it a bit to remedy the muffled sound. Which wireless system did you use, and what was the settings?

The boom sounded a bit distant to my ears (and a tad bit low). Either it was too far away, or you may have slightly "missed" the speaker (he seems to be moving around in this example). Also, you say that no filters were used, does that include the low cut on the ME66?
The noise on the other hand seemed fine to me. That is, depending on what each person call "noise". As you started to talk about preamps and mics that is the noise floor of the equipment, which is not very noticable for the boom in your short example. The location has a lot of reflections though, and as such you may still describe your track as a bit "noisy".
 
Great thanks.

Lav was hardwired: MKE2 > MZA 900p > 8 metre Neutrik XLR cable > PMD661 mic input 48v phantom power.

Yes the guy did walk around a bit, and possibly I did miss him slightly. the small red switch on the me66 was over to the left, above the flat line icon. and there was no battery in the mic.

So do you think using a mixpre-d in this particular situation would have given a better sound? or is it more my mic placements etc?

Thanks a lot
 
I think in your case it's more about mic placement. A mixpre might help, but I don't think that would be primarily because of the better preamps, but because of better metering, limiters, filters etc. You might consider investing in a hypercardioid instead for internal locations like this? Also, some people don't really respond to the sound of the ME66, so you might try to borrow/rent something like an NTG-3 or MKH416 and se what you think.
 
Thanks a lot for this Jema, So something like a me-67 to go with my k6 module?

Is it better to have the shotgun mic closer but coming in at a steeper angle (top down) or further away but at a flatter angle to the mouth?

Cheers for all this, I'm more of a Camera/lighting person, so just getting to grips with the sound side.
 
Drcoffee said:
Thanks a lot for this Jema, So something like a me-67 to go with my k6 module?

Is it better to have the shotgun mic closer but coming in at a steeper angle (top down) or further away but at a flatter angle to the mouth?

Cheers for all this, I'm more of a Camera/lighting person, so just getting to grips with the sound side.
Click to expand...
The mic "sees" anything in line with it. If it's flat, noise sources behind the subject are in view. If it's pointed down at an angle, the only thing behind the subject in the mic's most sensitive dorection is the floor.
 
hey Jon, I'm in Nottingham too - you're more than welcome to test your set up and compare with my Rode ntg3, Rode lav going into Panasonic Af101 - this works well for me and maybe we can work out if its an equipment issue or not. Let me know if that would help
 
Drcoffee said:
I've been recording dialogue for a film with the Marantz pmd661, using a me66 shotgun, and a mke2 lapel. I've not been pleased with the amount of noise produced by both mics. If I used a MixPre-D as the preamp, would the noise be noticeably less?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Using a MixPre-D (or, better, an AETA MIXY and using the PMD661 as a "bit bucket" would get you better quality as you are not using any of the analogue circuitry in the Marantz.

The noise would improve, but the mics you are using are still electrets - but it would be better.
 
Hi John, I've not heard of the Aeta Mixy, are you a dealer? What price are they?

p.s. Do XLR cables vary dramatically in quality / make a difference? Is a Neutrik any good?
 
Thanks a lot for this Jema, So something like a me-67 to go with my k6 module?

Is it better to have the shotgun mic closer but coming in at a steeper angle (top down) or further away but at a flatter angle to the mouth?
Click to expand...
The ME67 is also a shotgun. What I refer to as a hypercardioid is something like an Oktava MK012 with a hypercardioid capsule, or an AT4053b (two popular low-budget alternatives).

Regarding the angle, the flatter you go, the farther away you get. Different people have different preferences here, but I like a close to vertical (top down) angle. It's a bit harder to boom if the target is moving, but you get close and the background noise doesn't vary much within a take.

I would take up that generous offer about trying out the NTG3 and maybe some other stuff :)
 
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