I'm Looking for a battery powered portable mic preamp.

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Yurdle

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I'd like to run an ME66 or 835b through a small battery powered pre into either my DV camera or a MD recorder. I've searched but haven't found the solution other than some DIY project. I would like to bypass the noisy preamps in the DV camera and have some external gain control/boost.

Does such an item exist for $100 or less? So far the only things I've found that would fit the bill, other than DIY or a kit, seems to be something like the ART pres or the Audio Buddy rigged to some kind of battery source. Other than that, there are things like Sound Devices MP-1, but its MSRP is over $400!

Thanks
 
I remember this one site that sold battery packs for stuff like the APPOGEE MINI-ME and EDIROL UA-5. I think they would do custom jobs to if i'm not mistaken.

Around the same time I saw another site that gave instructions for making rechargeable battery packs for some equipment. All the parts came from RADIO SHACK and dude even had all the part #'s listed. He even had it setup where you could change batteries and never even lose power to the unit. Sorry I don't remember the site. I think I found it while researching the UA-5. I'm sure that RADIO SHACK will have everything you'd need to turn something like a AUDIO BUDDY into a rechargable mic pre.

Oops I just read your whole post... I guess you already know about the battery packs. Seems like the best option to me.
 
LAZI said:
Oops I just read your whole post... I guess you already know about the battery packs. Seems like the best option to me.
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Actually I wasn't aware of the battery packs, I was going to rig something together for myself. I'm glad you mentioned them.

I remember this one site that sold battery packs for stuff like the APPOGEE MINI-ME and EDIROL UA-5. I think they would do custom jobs to if i'm not mistaken.

Around the same time I saw another site that gave instructions for making rechargeable battery packs for some equipment. All the parts came from RADIO SHACK and dude even had all the part #'s listed.
Click to expand...

Cool, I think I might have found it. This place here: http://www.jordanshapiro.net/ua5.htm has a DIY guide for the UA5 and Core Sound: http://www.core-sound.com/ua-5.html sells a portable case and battery packs

Thanks
 
Once you couple quality with portablity you are talking $$$.
Why do professional battery powered mixers the size of a Mackie 1202 cost 5 to ten times as much or more? Because they tend to be used in the film and TV industry and must be robust and reliable and often have features missing from consumer type gear.

A gear breakdown in the field could cost literally tens of thousands of dollars. My neighbour used to do OB sound recording for TV. He showed me two radio mics with belt pack receivers that cost $15,000 AUS!!

That aside I picked up a two channel battery powered micpre with built in 20bit AD convertors and optical and coaxial S/PDIF out. It was marketed under the name 'Zefiro Inbox' though it appears to be manufactured by a company that specializes in pro location audio gear called 'Denecke'. It's designed to plug in to the optical SP/DIF input of a mini disc or dat recorder. It has no analog outputs or metering (you monitor the levels on your recorder). It has two level controls onboard. It is balanced with XLR's and has a belt clip. It sounds very good and is great for doing location recordings with a minimum of inconspicous gear.

Denecke AD-20

You may be able to pick up one s/h for around $150 if you're lucky.

A friend modded a s/h Mackie 1202 to run off some rechargeable batteries. While it worked, it tended to chew through batteries and it was difficult to accress the controls and check levels whilst in a shoulder bag.

The catch is you have to add another $100 for good quality NiMh batteries and a charger and bag.

UPDATE: Looks like the Edirol could be the way to go!
 
Those are the exact sites I was talking about... That battery pack will probably work with anything that is nine volt dc (like a AUDIO BUDDY ) and RADIO SHACK sells those adapters for damn near everthing.

Glad you found em... I do video to and was recording something the other day and the audio was crap. Wished i could stick a mic in the peoples face or have a mic that would pick up the whole room... I might give that a shot myself when my funds get up.

Let us know how it goes. I'm sure it's a few other who'd be interested.
 
pundit said:
Once you couple quality with portablity you are talking $$$.
Why do professional battery powered mixers the size of a Mackie 1202 cost 5 to ten times as much or more? Because they tend to be used in the film and TV industry and must be robust and reliable and often have features missing from consumer type gear.
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Yeah, I hear you, but I'm just looking for something basic. And when the ART micromix preamp can be had for around $50, I just dont' want to pay an additional $350 just for battery power of the Sound Devices MP-1. Especially when alot of these things are rigged for DC anyway, you know?

That aside I picked up a two channel battery powered micpre with built in 20bit AD convertors and optical and coaxial S/PDIF out. It was marketed under the name 'Zefiro Inbox'

You may be able to pick up one s/h for around $150 if you're lucky.
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Yeah, I had seen that in my searching. But once again it's about $300USD, which is way more than I want to spend, have you seen them for around $150 somewhere? At least with the Zefiro, you get the digital aspects for your money so I wouldn't feel like I was getting ripped off buying that. It looks like a really nice item. Update: does it have anaolg out at all or is it all digital? I'd need the option of analog out.

UPDATE: Looks like the Edirol could be the way to go!
Click to expand...

It's still a little big for my tastes and does way more than I need for this setup. The MP-1 really has all I need. A single channel pre with the extras I would use like a limiter, phantom and bass roll-off, all in a small battery powered unit. Unfortunately, it's too darn expensive for me.

So I'm leaning towards the ART Micromix for it's size and price. There's somebody in the mic forum who ordered one and is hopefully going to report back that it's worth while.

LAZI said:
Those are the exact sites I was talking about... That battery pack will probably work with anything that is nine volt dc (like a AUDIO BUDDY )
Click to expand...

I forgot that I had written off the Audio Buddy because the specs actually say that it takes 9v AC. I haven't seen one in person, but everything I read says AC instead of DC, including the unit itself, so I'm afraid I can't rig it to battery power.

Glad you found em... I do video to and was recording something the other day and the audio was crap. Wished i could stick a mic in the peoples face or have a mic that would pick up the whole room... I might give that a shot myself when my funds get up.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you really have to get up in it for decent sound. Even $30 on a cheap lav will go a long way, giving you much better sound than most on camera microphones in most situations.

Let us know how it goes. I'm sure it's a few other who'd be interested.
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I'll do that. I've found the ART MicroMix for about $50, and the AudioBuddy for about $80. The downside of the micromix is that I've yet to hear any hands on reviews. Also, it takes 12v DC so my battery rig would be a little larger/heavier than for 9vDC. I've heard good things about the AudioBuddy, but if it's really running off of 9v AC then it's not an option. Plus it's 60% more expensive/ 1.6x the cost of the ART.

Also, I could go with the ART Tube MP Studio (with the VU meter) but it also claims to need 9vAC versus the ART MicroMix 12vDC

Oh so many decisions :)

Thanks
 
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