Please rate the Midiman Audio and DMP-3

[crgman]

The Audio Buddy is $80 and the DMP-3 is $200. Do you really get $120 more mic pre with the DMP-3??

 

[Krakit]

I think it depends

Are you using the pre-amp strictly as a computer recording interface, or do you plan on using it for other applications?

After looking both over on Midiman's website, it seems that the more expensive unit is designed to be somthing a bit more.

For instance, they reccomend using the DMP as a direct box for studio recording. While, they tout the Audio Buddy as designed specifically for line in recording into a computer soundcard.

Carl

 

[crgman]

I would be using it for recording..

 

[Krakit]

Computer recording or studio/tape/portable recording.

That's the crux of it.

Carl

 

[Dolemite]

I'd go for the DMP3.

I suspect the Audio Buddy would be pretty good as well, so if you're on a seriously tight budget, you might consider it as a temporary solution. Personally, I think this is one situation where "buy cheap, buy twice" is quite applicable. IMO, the DMP3 would be usable when you have much better gear, but the Audio Buddy would be quickly outclassed.

Some things to consider with the Audio Buddy:

1. Like many mic pres in this range (Presonus Bluetube, Joe Meek VC3Q, etc) the Audio Buddy doesn't deliver 48 volts of phantom power. The DMP2/DMP3 don't have this problem.

2. It lacks the precise metering of the DMP3

So if you plan on using nice condenser mics at any point, you'd be much better off with a pre that can actually power them correctly and can give you better metering so you can find the right gain settings for a hot signal that doesn't clip.

If you're using cheaper condensers (ones that can be battery powered usually do well with low voltage phantom power) or just dynamics, the Audio Buddy would be OK. If I were you I'd ask Midiman/M-Audio if any internal changes were made to the unit along with the new paint job. Maybe they've fixed the phantom power issue, for example.

Also, the DMP3 can be had for, I think $179. Gidge will tell you where.

 

[crawdad]

Whats this? The VC3 doesn't have 48v phantom power? Or are you saying it generates a lesser voltage? This is news to me.

 

[Dolemite]

Yep, the Joe Meek and a host of others can't produce the full 48V. Even the DMP2 sags to 44V when both channels are heavily loaded, which seems to be fine in most cases.

From: David Satz (DSatz@msn.com)
Subject: Re: Blue Tube Phantom problem
Newsgroups: rec.audio.pro
View: Complete Thread (4 articles) | Original Format
Date: 2001-01-15 07:14:27 PST


<roccoflores@my-deja.com> wrote:

> [ ... ] It´s incredible they can sell a product with such
> a big problem.

Unfortunately, U.S.-designed mike preamps in the lower price
category often have circuitry that can't possibly work well with
high-quality, transformerless condenser microphones. The
phantom powering circuit is often just plain wrong, and the
preamps overload far too easily.

I always check these two parameters plus the function of the
"clip" indicator, before trying out a preamp on live music.
Just for fun, here are some notes that I've kept over the past
few months. The issues here are:

[1] Input overload voltage (0 dBu = 775 mV, which would be a
decent spec to aim for; 6-10 dB higher would be better, but 0 dBu
is OK _if there is a reliable overload indicator_)

[2] adequacy of the phantom power supply for a microphone
that needs ca. 4 to 5 mA (for two such mikes, if the preamp is
a stereo unit)

[3] if an "overload" indicator is present, at what level relative
to actual overload does it light? (Note: I measure this only as
a steady-state voltage, not as an impulse--but both behaviors
are quite important.)

==============================================

Siemens V 72 overloads at -15 dBu in (no phantom powering,
no overload indicator)

Symetrix SX202 overloads at +2 dBu in (4 above LED on);
phantom powering OK

dbx 760X overloads at around +3 dBu in (5 above LED on);
phantom powering OK if extraneous resistor feeding the two
6.8 kOhm phantom resistors per channel is reduced in value
(modification approved by dbx technician)

Beyer MV 100 overloads at ca. -5 dBu in (6 or 7 above LED on);
phantom powering OK; overload point decreases as batteries
wear down, but "clip" LED seems to track this behavior.

PreSonus "Blue Tube" (fails 48 V phantom test) overloads ca.
-14 dBu in

Midiman "Audio Buddy" (fails 48 V phantom test) overloads ca.
-17 dBu in (LED lights exactly where output distortion is audible,
but can miss input overload)

JoeMeek VC3 (fails 48V phantom test) does NOT overload with
+6 dBu in! (original model, not the current model VC3Q)

Aphex 107 "Tubessence" (marginally fails 48V phantom test with
odd results; Aphex tech support described a fairly strange circuit
with non-standard voltages and resistor values, claiming that it
met the "AES" standard for phantom powering, which does not
exist) overloads ca. +4 dBu (ca. 7 dB above LED on, but the LED
interacts w/low cut filter also-try -4 dBu in at 500 Hz,)

Event EMP-1 does NOT clip at + 6 dBu in (though clip LED comes
on 9 dB before!); phantom power OK

ART Dual MP (squeaks by on 48V phantom test) normal setting does
NOT clip at + 6 dBu in; LED lights exactly where input distortion is
audible at higher gains. At +20 input gain, clips at about -8 or -7 dBu.

Nakamichi MX-100 "mixer" (3 in, 2 out): No phantom power; does
NOT clip at +6 dBu in; no overload indicator

M Audio DMP2 (original model): Phantom power OK if only one
channel loaded (open circuit voltage on other channel drops to +44.6 V);
input clips ca. 75 mA (ca. -20 dBu); LED reflects output clipping only
(lights ca. 2 dB below that).

 

[Randy Yell]

I have the Audio Buddy and though I have heard about its phantom power deficiency I have not experienced any problem powering my mikes.I have an Audio Technica 3525 that supposedly requires 48v that runs fine through it.I am pretty sure that the AB does not supply 48v(from all I've heard)but I think its pretty close.

I use my AB both with my computer system and my Roland VSR880 with equally good results.Although M-Audio stresses computer recording in their marketing,the AB has 1/4 bal outs that will work fine with any system.It has both xlrs ins for mics and 1/4 ins for use as a direct box.

 

[Gidge]

anybody thats heard all 3 of these and DOESN'T vote for the DMP3 needs serious therapy.......

although for the $$$ the Audio Buddy is quite usable...as good as the Blue Tube, imo.....