Necessary to have a separate pre-amp with a AT4053b and a tascam dr100 mkii

G

greg999

New member
I am new to audio and am purchasing a setup to use with a DSLR. I have ordered an AT4053b for indoor use based on recommendations of this forum along with a tascam dr100 mkii. I ordered the AT4053b kit from BH photo that includes a K-tek KE-89CC boompole and rycote INV-6 invision mic suspension.


I have read that the mkii is supposed to have better pre-amps than the original tascam dr100. Is it necessary to use a separate pre-amp with this setup? The mkii is relatively new so the quality of the internal pre-amps may not be very well known and if so how would I test to see if a separate pre-amp would make a difference? The situation I'll be using this for is making narratives shorts mainly for learning with likely a max of 2 actors and hopefully with enough quality sound to submit to film festivals. Thanks for any opinions.
 
The short answer is that an external pre-amp (assuming you get a good one) will generally be better than the internal in almost any hand-held recorder. The more complicated answer: play with the mic and recorder by making recordings and listening back to them (don't trust the headphone pre-amp... listen on a reliable speaker system). If you aren't happy with the pre-amps, consider buying an external.
 
This is the exact setup I'm considering, Greg, so I'd be keen to hear your results. I already have an AT4053b and I am considering getting a DR100 mkii as a field recorder and hopefully avoiding a preamp if I can.

Here's a useful site from some birdwatchers which has measured input noise for popular portable recorders:
http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm
 
After further reading I decided to buy a sound devices MM-1 preamp as it seemed that a separate pre-amp was highly recommended. The MM-1 added ~ 25% extra cost to my audio kit but I didn't want to cheap out at the end. Once I get the equipment and have a chance to play around with it I'll try to post a test of with and without the MM-1 preamp. It appears that the tascam dr100 mkii recorder, unlike the dr100, allows you to use an XLR input in the line mode so it seems pretty easy to work with the MM-1 preamp.
 
A lot depends on the front end of the recorder. It's easier and cheaper to put a simple pad in front of the recorder's preamp and call it a line level input. Unfortunately, that means the audio still goes through the recorder preamp. Better recorders design a full bypass of the preamp to accept line level sources. I don't know where the DR100 falls on that, but you might want to check it out before buying.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
I know it's a bit more but I would have went with a used mix pre. That way you get a more of a mixer and it has great limiters along with great pre amps.
 
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