Portable Mic Preams for DV Camera's...???

[Pako]

(Sorry, my original post got confused with someone elses post..., very odd...)

Greetings all you ProTools mixing nuts who have a fancy for Video Making. I'm getting into some DV type of ameture production and have found that the SPL's of a live gig are too much for my DV Camera's mic to handle, even with the Attenuator activated. So now I'm on the search for a battery powered, two ch. mic pre that also has 48v phantom power as well. I would like to record bands (namely my own band) and try to capture the "Room" the best I can. In order to do this, I need to bypass my camera's mic and hookup a mic-pre into the line-level, mic input on the camera.

Has anyone had experience with such preamps that might be able to shed some light on this topic? If I had to go 110-120v then I might consider a presonus blue-tube, but I would like to stay away from having to plug anything into the wall...

This is what I've found so far on the net in the lines of battery operated mic preamps:

http://www.preciseaudio.com/brochure.html - this one seems just what I'm looking for but would like some personal feedback from anyone who might have used it. I hate making blind purchases.. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MiniMe/
Now this looks to have all the quality that you'd expect from apogee, but look at that price... [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

So...any thoughts?

[Mr_Seven]

I purchased a sony stereo mic for around $100.00 that I use on my camera for recording. Works way better than the one on the camera.

Another option is a box I saw in one of the video magazines. It was in the classifieds so I'm sure one can locate it. It was a box that allowed xlr or 1/4 inch in and converted the signal level. It was designed to do just what your asking although it didn't have phamtom but you could always pick up a couple of ART pres or something. But the box was around $100.

[jjhuntfox]

I've been casually looking for the same thing for over a year now. I filmed a friends band, pictures great, sound blown away into overloaded distortion. To bad the camera makers don't include a way to attenuate the mic level. There are so many other tricks loaded on a camera, but not that one.

I'd like to have phantom power but that may not be possible. The two boxes you had links too look great, but to much money.

Please post back if you find something that is reasonable in price.

John

[Pako]

Here's an interesting post from www.dv.com:

Shure and Sound Devices make portable preamps that also provide phantom power, but they're pricey.

Radio Design Labs make slightly cheaper units with XLRs, and much cheaper units with screw terminals. They're designed to run with a 24v wall wart, but you could probably power them for a couple of hours on 3 9v batteries.

A lot of people use miniature mixers for this purpose, either beltpack field mixers or tiny tabletops like the Samson or Soundcraft.

If you just need phantom, Rolls and AudioTechnica make adapters.

Most battery mixers and phantom supplies put out 'battery' voltages: usually 9v, 18v, or 24v depending on the design. While this is fine for most modern condenser mics and won't compromise the sound, some older units require 48v.

------------------
Jay Rose
DV Audio Columnist
www.dplay.com

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Tell you what Jon, if either of us finds something, perhaps we could post our findings here.. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Pako]

I think I answered my own question here, but this looks like a promising product:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Mixpad4/

[jjhuntfox]

http://www.denecke.com/prod04.htm
Scroll down to:
PS-2 Dual Channel Microphone Power Supply $150
I just realized this is only a power supply, OOPS.

http://www.glensound.co.uk/GSTN1.htm
I cant find a price for this one?????

This has a bunch of links:
http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/accessories.html#48v

Here are three links that look good.
[img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[Pako]

Here's one with a smaller foot print:

http://www.studio1productions.com/xlr-bp_pro.htm

[jjhuntfox]

Originally posted by Pako:
Here's one with a smaller foot print:

http://www.studio1productions.com/xlr-bp_pro.h tm

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Looks good but it is passive... No power for a condenser mic... Good price.

[WorldOfWiz]

Why not record the sound seprate from the video? Just load and sync them up. I have done this in Final Cut Pro before. It didn't seem like a big deal.

Wiz

[seandaly]

I have a great little unit, the IM2 from www.cevl.com

It's a breakout box for a stereo minijack mic or line input, clips right on your belt, pair of XLR inputs with phantom (pair of 9v batteries onboard), pots and switchable -12 and -6 dB pads on each channel, one channel switchable mic/line

It was pricey but I love it, use it on both my DV camcorder and my old Sony consumer DAT

hope this is helpful

- Sean