battery powered preamp on the cheap

[daav]

Hey all,
I bought my girlfriend, who is a journalist, a minidisk recorder off ebay with a line in so she can record interviews for stories. The signal needs to be somewhere in the range of +40db or something similiar (I am stepping out of my range of expertise even using "db" in a post, so forgive me if i am off in technical stuff).

If i take a signal from my cheap mixer it records fine, but an unpowered mic records nothing. Since i was happy with the deal i got for the recorder itself at <$40, I am reluctant to shell out $60+ more for a powered preamp/phantom power unit as i have been able to track down on the net. The unit has an 1/8 line in jack, and I have a SM58 that I would let her use for this purpose if i found a cheapo battery powered preamp.

So... the questions:

1. Is there such a thing out there that i have not come across yet, the battery powered pre for, say, $20-40? Quality does not need to be excellent, but good enough to be able to transcribe later.

2. I looked into the possibility of building a preamp and found some diagrams and such on the web, but picking out the right components to buy and having no experience with electronics circuitboard work i got intimidated, anyone do any work like that themselves that could give me any advice or encouragement?

3. I have found for something in the range of $80 a battery powered Mic with the 1/8 inch jack all set up for this purpose in the first place. Sould i just suck it up and get her this and also not worry about trackin gdown the sm58 when i need it?


Thanks,
Daav

Follow up question, I see the SM57 get mentioned in this forum all the time as a "standard" part of many setups, how does the sm58 compare?

edit for spelling.

 

[northsiderap]

Hey...

What kind of minidisc recorder is it?

 

[scrubs]

Here's a link to a DIY battery-powered preamp with a 1/4" input. It's only $9, if you screw it up, and may work for what you need. I don't have one, but I know people who've used it and say it doesn't totally suck.

http://www.canakit.com/Default.asp?...tp://www.canakit.com/Contents/Items/CK494.asp

 

[daav]

What kind of minidisc recorder is it?

older sony MD 450 NR or somehting similiar I think.


Daav.

 

[daav]

Here's a link to a DIY battery-powered preamp with a 1/4" input. It's only $9, if you screw it up, and may work for what you need. I don't have one, but I know people who've used it and say it doesn't totally suck.

http://www.canakit.com/Default.asp?...tp://www.canakit.com/Contents/Items/CK494.asp

Thanks! that is exactly the kind of thing i was looking for and did not find on my own. "not totally sucking" is exactly what i am looking for! I think i will check it out.

Daav.

 

[skipwave]

To my understanding, SM57 and 58 are essentially the same with different screens. Neither of these is a great mic for field interviews or location recording. They need to be close to and pointing at the source for optimum pickup, plus they are somewhat low output so your preamp needs more gain to get a decent level.

Just get a battery powered omnidirectional condenser. I swear that Radio Shack used to have these for $30. Not bad sounding either, IMO. Fine for what you want.

 

[skipwave]

http://www.canakit.com/Default.asp?...tp://www.canakit.com/Contents/Items/CK494.asp

That is fantastic.

Along those lines:

http://www.clarkhuckaby.com/MicPre/DMB.html

And this is just incredible:

http://www.clarkhuckaby.com/MicPre/BATTHYB.html

 

[timboZ]

I was thinking of getting this to use with mi minidics.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3278&item=7328765305&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[daav]

great info, thanks all.

Thanks for the info on the sm57 and 58 skipwave, i had surmised as much, but that makes sense. I agree that the sm58 doesn't seem even close to ideal for the application. One of my big issues was paying $60 for a preamp then putting a $20-30 cheap condenser formradio shack through it. Now that i have options for the preamp, that is looking like a good option.

Thanks again,
Daav

 

[nkjanssen]

Follow up question, I see the SM57 get mentioned in this forum all the time as a "standard" part of many setups, how does the sm58 compare?

The SM57 is a standard recording mic, but you might want to look at an EV 635A for interviews. For ENG, it's much more of a standard than the SM57. I bought a used one in mint condition some time ago for, I seem to recall, about $40. I think they're under $100 brand new, but don't quote me on that.

 

[mhelin]

That is fantastic.

Along those lines:

http://www.clarkhuckaby.com/MicPre/DMB.html

And this is just incredible:

http://www.clarkhuckaby.com/MicPre/BATTHYB.html

Somebody actually has used the ESP p#13 with an input transformer! That must be great, and if you need more gain just switch on (or bypass in case you already have enough it) multiple cascade stages, or use a dual gang potentiometer. Also as the last stage use the DoZ headphone amp with a heavy output iron...

 

[skipwave]

Somebody actually has used the ESP p#13 with an input transformer! That must be great, and if you need more gain just switch on (or bypass in case you already have enough it) multiple cascade stages, or use a dual gang potentiometer. Also as the last stage use the DoZ headphone amp with a heavy output iron...

I must not have read that page very thoroughly. What is the ESP p#13?

You must excuse my ignorance, I only stumbled across this site looking for a mod for the Bogen MXM-A that I just bought.