Sm81 and my 002 don't like each other?

[villagechurch]

Hello,
I shelled out money on a Shure sm81 for my acoustic recordings.
When I plug this in to my 002 pre amp I have to drive the gain over
3/4 of the way to get a good level.

What gives?
Anyone else have this issue on this mic, or an other?

[flommer]

Are you talking about acoustic guitar? If so, how close is the mic? How exactly are you mic'ing the guitar?

Do you have the pad on on the mic? On the 002?

[villagechurch]

Hello.
Guess I should have stated the settings.

On the mic itself I am using the 6 db roll off (makes no difference flat or rolled)
Pad is off.
002 pad is off.

I am mic'ing the guitar at a 45 degree angle pointed at the 12-14 fret about 5-6 inches away.

[mcgwd]

Is your phantom power on?

[villagechurch]

Yes.
I also tested my Blue Blue Bird at the same gain setting...blew my cans right off my head...way to hot with the gain that high.

I think it might just be how this mic is.

[mcgwd]

Ok, was just checking, was the mic new or purchased used? Do you have another system to test it on?

Sounds like your 002r is working fine, I haven't used an 81 in awhile its a solid mic.Hopefully someone with this combo will stop on by.

[Top Jimmy]

Originally Posted by villagechurch

I shelled out money on a Shure sm81 for my acoustic recordings. When I plug this in to my 002 pre amp I have to drive the gain over 3/4 of the way to get a good level.

What gives?

Well, the Bluebird has a sensitivity of 27 mV/Pa while the SM81 has a sensitivity of 5.6 mV/PA.

[villagechurch]

This would make sense, and explain everything.
Sensitivity describes what I am trying to say.

IMO the sm81 is not very sensitive at all, very tight.
With these standard preamps it doesn't work well.
The amount of gain I am having to use is not fairing
well with the noise created.

[BradLyons]

Honestly, you should be looking at a better micpre to partner with any of these microphones. The pres on the 002 really aren't that good, in fact they are pretty harsh. The SM81 is actually a good mic, but you're not going to hear what it's really doing without upgrading your pre.

[Woodrow]

I have had good luck with an 81 on acoustic guitar into my 002, but like was said before, a better pre might work, simply because more gain can be dialed up. If you've gotta crank the 002's gain, then you're going to get some silly noise. Someone else can give you reasons for why this happens.

I use a Solo 610 with the 81 and get good results.