Question troubleshooting low levels with AT4053b to SD MM-1 to DR-100MKii

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greg999

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I am having trouble figuring out why I'm getting low levels with the following setup: an AT4053b mic about 12" from the subject to a sounddevices MM-1 to a DR-100MKii. The DR-100MKii allows XLR line input and that's what I've set the device to (plugging in the XLR cable for the line out from the MM-1 to the input on the DR-100MKii) When I increase the preamp gain on the MM-1 to the max (66) about the highest levels I'm getting is -18 (monitored on the DR-100MKii) so I suspect that I'm doing something wrong. My understanding is that I should target peaks of -6 to -12. I have the limiter switch set to on on the MM-1 and the high-pass filter switch set to 80 Hz as from reading this forum that seems to be the recommended setup. I'm new to audio so hopefully it's something easy that I'm doing wrong. Thanks.
 
Have you tried taking the mm1 out of the signal path? The 4053b into the dr100, at mic level, works pretty well. In any event, star isolating the sources.

Grant
 
As ggrantly said, use elimination to isolate where the problem is. Are you getting good readouts on the MM-1? (does the signal almost, or sometimes, engage the limiter?)
The limiter on the MM-1 is adjustable, so it could be set very low. What happens if you disable it? Run straight into the recorder - can you get the levels up? Do you have a different mic to try? Even if the recorder is set to line, it could still amplify or deminish the signal digitally, so look through the menus, and maybe do a factory reset.
 
Is the MM-1 set to supply full 48volt phantom to the mic? It has a 12 volt setting as well and insufficient power on the mic could account for your situation.
 
Thanks for the tips. When the AT4053b is plugged directly into the DR-100mkii I have no problems getting peaks at -12 to -6. The MM-1 is set to supply the full 48 volt phantom. When I turn off the limitor switch on the MM-1 the levels into the DR-100mkII will get high to -12 to -6 but the limitor / peak LED light on the MM-1 with then frequently illuminate, cutting off bits of the sound while listening in the headphones and listening to the recorded files there appears to be some distortion on the loud areas. I can't tell from the manual how to adjust the level of the limitor as mentioned by Jema.
In answer to ggrantly I did get the MM-1 because I heard the pre-amps were higher quality than using the DR-100mkii but perhaps could have tried the DR-100mkii alone first.
 
On the back of the DR-100 there's a MIC GAIN switch. Where do you have this set? If it's on L for (low), this could be causing the problem.
 
Yes, if I increase the mic gain switch on the DR-100 (I have set it to low) that increases the signal but then I'm using the pre-amps in the DR-100 and I understand that the sound devices ones are better quality which is why I bought the separate sound devices pre-amp.
 
greg999 said:
I am having trouble figuring out why I'm getting low levels... I suspect that I'm doing something wrong.
Click to expand...

If you have the MIC GAIN switch set on L with the DR100, then you won't achieve the level you want on the meter. I say this because I recently helped a video person out with their audio equipment for solo run-n-gun work, and they had a Sound Devices MixPre-D and a DR100. I tried a bunch of stuff out, and the thing that needed to happen was the MIC GAIN switch needed to be on H.


I know you bought this equipment perhaps expected more, but this is what it does. The MM1 has a better preamp, a better headphone amp, and a nice limiter. You bought a nice piece of equipment.
 
I would not think the mic gain setting switch on the DR-100 has any effect in line mode.
- Have you tried another (known to be good) XLR cable between the pre amp and recorder.
- Have you tried the MM-1 feeding another line-level device to confirm that is working properly?
- Can you plug in another balanced line-level input source into the Tascam to confirm it's Ext. 1 (XLR) line-level input circuit is working correctly?
 
I can't tell from the manual how to adjust the level of the limitor as mentioned by Jema.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I just checked the manual myself, and it's not adjustable - set to +17dB. I assumed it was since it can be changed on both the mixpre and 302.
 
I didn't have another line level device to try out. It appears that I can get acceptable levels with the limiter on the MM-1 into the tascam, leaving the gain on low on the tascam, and increasing the input level knob on the tascam to around 3-4. So far I haven't figured out how to use the tascam entirely as a bit bucket but this approach seems to limit the use of the preamps on the tascam and hopefully makes the MM-1 worthwhile. As it doesn't seem like there's any other ideas out there I'll likely just to this for now. To Rick R adjusting the gain levels while in line mode definitely effects the signal on the MM-1.
 
"adjusting the gain levels while in line mode definitely effects the signal on the MM-1"
As it should.
I was referring to the mic gain switch on the recorder.
You 'should' be able to get adequate levels (and then some) with that set-up... limiters or not. You may or may not be doing something wrong. But how you gonna know without some basic troubleshooting... substituting known working gear for 'questionable' gear.
 
I double checked the mic and I didn't have the -10dB switch set up so that wasn't the issue. I appreciate the help with this and have a setup now with a small amount of gain in the DR100 that seems to work okay.
 
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