MR-8 Disappointment

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ivan1

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Athough the MR-8 is the type of machine I was looking for, after picking mine up from the store on Monday, I may be taking it back for a refund, unless a solution presents itself soon.
From everything I can gather on this forum, and people at the store where I bought it, I will have to buy a preamp for my microphones before the levels will be high enough for decent recording. This make no sense to me since the MR-8 comes with two xlr mic inputs, and pre-amps. I feel shouldn't have to add another piece of equipment to record acoustic guitar using a mic, or am I being naive?. I know I'm doing everything right, as I took everything into the store to check it out. The added cost of a pre-amp makes other recording solutions which I had decided against look more attractive.

Too bad because the simplicity of operation of the MR-8 is what I was looking for.
 
ive recorded acoustic with the mic that came wiht the package, and it records fine, adn I mic the amps with it too, and it sounds great, whats your exact problem? level not being high enough? just set the back to MIC and adjust your level, should be fine.....
 
Have you tried a different mic, or maybe an instrument plugged in, perhaps, just to see what the range is?
 
The MR-8 is a bit deceiving, in that the XLR inputs give the impression that it contains a pre amp with phantom power. Another option would be a mixer - if you are going to need one, anyway, you can get an inexpensive Behringer with mic pre's built in.

From reports we've seen, the VF-80 is still $400 more than the MR-8, so you have room for other options. There are $100 tube pre amps that will give you getter sound than you'll get from anything built into a recorder or mixer.

Sounds like you have a supportive music store, so you should be able to test combinations until you find what's right.
 
Thanks for all the input and help. It's very much appreciated.

RampageGL:

The MR-8 has been set up properly according to the store. The trim knob is at maximum and I get only 25% max signal input. I can't turn the knob any more. This is with the guitar right on top of the soundhole, within 1 inch, ( not really a good setup).


dyoub:

I did try another mic in the store, (Shure 57 or 58) when they were checking my setup. Levels were about the same.

mrx:

Before I buy a pre-amp I am trying to find out if the MR-8 is operating properly. Is input level always this low? Is this typical of an MR-8? Shouldn't I be able to increase it to above clipping level, and then back it off?

Where do you guys set the trim knob when using a microphone on an acoustic guitar, before it starts clipping?

How high should the input levels be?

If I add a pre-amp will this bring the input levels up? Do you know of any tube preamps with two channels, as I eventually want to record in stereo with two microphones?
 
A few suggestions:

1. Make sure you set the switch on the back of the MR-8 to mic if you have a microphone plugged in.

2. I (and others) have successfully recorded vocals using a passive mic, so I believe that should work. I do remember having to turn the trim way up, but I remember it was short of max.

3. Turn up the volume slider on both the track you want to record to and the master volume. It is OK to turn them up past 0dB as long as the VU meter in the display does not clip and you don't hear distortion.

4. Try setting some of the amp sim effects. It appears that they bump the volume a bit when turned on.

5. Play with the headphone volume trim pot too, just in case. But remember that the recorded volume is indicated by the meter readings.

6. Are you able to record instruments with adequate volume? At least that'll tell you that the unit is generally working.

Good luck.

DC
 
Ivan,

A couple more questions -

With a Shure mic you were still getting low levels? That does not sound right. I'll try my SM58 with my acoustic to see what happens, but we use a similar mic for vocals and the levels are so hot I have to turn down the trim.

You mentioned having the acoustic an inch from the "sound hole" - do you mean the internal mic on the MR-8, or was your condenser mic an inch from the guitar? If you were using the internal mic, that does not sound right either - the internal mic on my MR-8 can pick stuff up from across the room.

As for acoustic recording, I use a Takamine plugged into the MR-8, agains, with no level problems.

Have they tried another MR-8 to make shure yours isn't bad?
 
mrx said:
Ivan,

If you were using the internal mic, that does not sound right either - the internal mic on my MR-8 can pick stuff up from across the room.

Have they tried another MR-8 to make shure yours isn't bad?
Click to expand...

No kidding, I live in a little town, and I can hear cars going up the hill a block or so away when the trim is cranked, the low motor noise really gets picked up, it gets kinda annoying at times....
 
I think I'm having the same problem. I'm using an SM-57(ggod dynamic mic) with my MR-8, but its very difficult to get the levels up to the top even when I really try. If I put the mic right up to my guitar (1 inch lol)and strum very loudly, I still have difficulty getting it to clip. I have the trim set to max also. This doesn't seem right. If I turn the trim down even a little bit, I don't pick much up.

Shouldn't I be able to get the levels up to the top?

Oh, and the internal mic picks up plenty. I can make that clip just by tapping it lol.
 
I've used a VT-1030 vocal mic for recording vocals, acoustic and I've used it to pick up my amped bass. At all times, I have the trim maxed out, to the MIC setting on the trim control. If I'm right on top of the mic, it'll clip out, but other than that, distance from the mic is the best way I've found to control exact levels.

I couldn't believe how good my bass sounded recorded on the mic... it sounds as though you've got a problem with your trim specs...

Good luck...
 
I've used a VT-1030 vocal mic for recording vocals, acoustic and I've used it to pick up my amped bass. At all times, I have the trim maxed out, to the MIC setting on the trim control. If I'm right on top of the mic, it'll clip out, but other than that, distance from the mic is the best way I've found to control exact levels.

I couldn't believe how good my bass sounded recorded on the mic... it sounds as though you've got a problem with your trim specs...

Good luck...
 
adams said:
I think I'm having the same problem. I'm using an SM-57(ggod dynamic mic) with my MR-8, but its very difficult to get the levels up to the top even when I really try. If I put the mic right up to my guitar (1 inch lol)and strum very loudly, I still have difficulty getting it to clip. I have the trim set to max also. This doesn't seem right. If I turn the trim down even a little bit, I don't pick much up.

Shouldn't I be able to get the levels up to the top?

Oh, and the internal mic picks up plenty. I can make that clip just by tapping it lol.
Click to expand...

I've now tried my MR-8 with a Studio Projects B1 condensor mic (with phantom power adaptor) and the levels are great. I think this mic may have some sort of pre-amp in it.

If I have it side by side with my SM-57, the B1 picks things up well, and the SM-57 hardly picks the sound up.
 
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