Fostex MR-8 w/Condensor...

[VODude]

Hi All...New Here...

For the past six months, I've been using a Fostex MR-8 board for voiceover work. Until now, my microphone has been a cheapy dynamic jobbie...from which I've gotten pretty empty results.

I just bought an Audio-Technica AT3035, with an outboard phantom power adapter...and my results are almost worse.

The high and low frequencies square off very quickly, with a boomy low end and extremely dull high frequencies.

Anyone know what the probelem might be? Defective mic? Rotten preamps on the MR-8? Is the mic better than the board?

If so...what should I do to fix?

Thanks muchly...

 

[diogo]

i used to have a MR8..not to bust your balls or anything but its beyond crap.. :/ u could do a lot better for the price..but now its done so (thats what happened to me), my advice would be an external preamp...if u can still take the phantom power source back to the store do it (or else keep it, it might come in handy) and add money to that, and get a M-audio DMP3...among the cheap, its the best preamp out there...once i got the DMP3, the MR8 actually sounded halfway decent...my only advice would be get the external pre, or else sell the damn thing, u will never take usable results out of it...almost everyone that owns the MR8 here, has some sort of external pre.

 

[treymonfauntre]

the gain knobs on the mr8 are pretty bad from what i remember. it probably has a narrow frequency response to go along with it. i know i've never gotten a "hifi" recording with it

 

[ch2os7]

mr8 & condenser mic

The MR8 can produce decent sound but you need a small mixer for some EQ and phantom power. Some choices would be the Yamaha MG10/2, or Behringer UB802. Mackie also makes a small but more expensive mixer as does Sound Craft.
I don't doubt that the DMP3 is a better preamp but you still have no EQ unless you take the files to the computer for editing and EQ. In that case I'd say go with the DMP3.
Anyhow, most everyone I've seen here or on the Fostex bbs, uses a mixer along with the MR8.
I do and it is a big improvement.

 

[VODude]

Thanks, All...

I think I'm nearly ready to sell the thing off...and go with a Firebox directly to my system...any thoughts? Will I still need a preamp?

 

[diogo]

the firebox has two pres, but you'll likely feel the need to still get something like a DMP3 - its really cheap and really really good - when u start breaking into the firebox and really listening...i bet those pres cant touch the DMP3 for clarity and dimension...but the firebox is a cool choice, u can use the pres in it, and hook up more on the back..i considered it myself...if you're willing to spend 450 bucks or whatever in a firebox, give edirol's new line a glance...there's this little unit, 10 ins and outs i think, or is it 8...not sure...usb 2! ...and two pres as well...its the UA-101...something like 600 bucks, maybe less..but well worth it!