Tascam PE-120 - how does it work?

[LP Records cc]

I just recently been given a PE-120, but it's not like anything I've seen before (I'm a newbie anyway). It works with a battery, its got two interchangeable "heads" and to "covers" (one sponge and one mesh). Plus its got two other selections besides "off". Anybody got some pointers on these mics.

I'm looking to help starting artists record demos, and I was hoping this mic is better than my Shure Beta58 and my Samsung Q8 dynamic mics. So I guess I also need to know what it's best used for.

If anyone happens to have a manual lying around I'd really appreciate a copy.

Please help!

 

[A Reel Person]

Pe-120

The PE-120 is a whole other class of mic than the Beta58 and the Samson.

The 3 position switch is Off/M/V,... ostensibly, Off, (obvious), Music and Voice. The "Music" setting is "just" the mic signal, as-is, and the "Voice" gives you a rolloff of low frequencies that would prevent the "proximity effect" you'd get,... meaning the "boominess" you'd get from holding the mic 3" or closer to the source, which is often the case when singing vocals into a mic.

It's a condenser mic, so would be comparable to other condensers,... good for instruments and vocals, should give a transparent response, and should be reasonably flexible,... good on acoustic instruments, maybe less appropriate for guitar cabs up to "10" or close-micing drums,... but doable. It was supposed to be a "do-all" recording mic from Tascam,... and was pretty high end in it's day.

The mesh and foam pop filters are "use-to-taste". I suppose the mesh pop filter cuts out less highs than the foam pop filter, and I'd see the mesh pop filter used for vocal work, and the foam pop filter used for field work where there's actual wind,... but that's not a cut and dried prescription.

The two "heads" are separate mic elements, on is "cardiod" (unidirectional) and one is "omnidirectional". They both lend themselves to different application, and/or is more of a "taste" thing or artistic judgment when and how to use them.

The battery was originally spec'd for a cylindrical 9V battery, I think you can still get at Radio Shack or maybe from online,... but with 2 "boots" should be included, it will work with a standard 1.5V AA battery,... just keep in mind the lower battery voltage will give you lower output.