Sound Pros batt. box vs. Core Sound batt. box

[optimistic-pessimist]

I'd like to get some expert opinions on something...

I've been using a set of Core Sound Binaurals to tape front of stack for about two years now. When I first got them, though, I was not pleased with the size of the Core Sound batt. box , nor with the awkward bass filter switch jutting from the end , and lastly not with the all-metal box. It's overkill!... I feel like I could drive over the damn thing. So I opted, instead, to get rid of the XLR plug on the end of the mics and use a standard 1/8" plug, and then run the mics into a Sound Pros SPSB-3 batt box/ bass filter. It's much much smaller and the casing is made entirely of plastic.

Now, sometimes I've been very happy with my results, sometimes only moderately so. I can say that all of my recordings are listenable... but when I listen to some bootlegs I own by other tapers also using CSBs... I question why mine aren't up to that level . Mine almost never seem to sound very "full"... even though I usually stand as close to the speakers as I can. I'm not talking about problems with levels, brickwalling, clipping, or anything like that. Simply the overall "feel" of the recording.

I'm wondering how likely it is that my recordings are suffering from using the Sound Pros box over the Core Sound box. I'm hoping that my new RH10 will give a significant increase in quality of my recordings... and I'll be testing that out at 3 shows in the next couple of weeks ... but I just thought I'd throw my question out there for anyone who may be interested... or at least bored with nothing better to do.

Lastly, I've considered taking a Core Sound box, taking out all the contents, and putting them into a box that I'd be happier with... maybe even switching the regular 9 volt battery for the mini 9 volts that the Sound Pros box uses. Anyone know where I might find an empty box that would suit my needs?

I've attached a pic of the Sound Pros box next to my RH10 for size comparison, and taken the cover off to get a look at the inside... Note the mini-9v battery.

Sorry for the long post but I'd love some opinion on this... if anyone cares enough to respond.

Edited August 25, 2005 by optimistic-pessimist

[greenmachine]

Your quality problem seems to be more a matter of microphone placement than anything else. Moving as close as possible to the source won't necessarily give you the best overall balance, what you'll get is a very dry, direct, often monotonic sound without any feeling for room acoustics / ambience. Near the soundboard is often a good position to record. Otherwise, let your ears be the guide to find a sweet spot. Where do you place your mics? In/near your ears, collar, under your shirt, in your rear trouser pocket, in your left shoe? Do you use a microphone stand? Placement makes a huge difference.

[optimistic-pessimist]

Actually I'm following a technique used with one of my all-time favorite recordings... TOOL - 11.16.02 - Oklahoma City. The taper stood front of stack, placed the mics on his chest taped flat to the underside of his shirt. The recording is remarkably clear, well balanced and full. You can hear the sound made when the guitarist slides his hand down the strings over the frets, even in the middle of a song with the other instruments going. Probably the only thing taking away from the quality of the recording is that it was done in LP2 mode.

Anyway... I'm not looking to capture room acoustics or ambience as most of the shows I go to are rock and metal shows in arenas. I tape front of stack to try to capture as much clear, direct music and as little crowd noise as possible. Also, I failed to mention that, to my ears at least, the vocals usually tend to sound a little more distant than the rest of the music on many of my recordings. That probably my biggest complaint. I guess the only way I'm really going to figure this out is to actually do a side by side test with the same setups and different batt. boxes. Easy to say though.............

[dklein]

The polarity of the core sound battery box is 'backwards' by most standards but it works with CSBs. It's just a matter of the technique used to apply the source follower (or Linkwitz) mod to the capsules.

The SP box is not powering the mics properly. If you're wiring the connectors yourself, reverse the polarity. The core sound box is ground positive.

[optimistic-pessimist]

I had someone look over both boxes when I first bought them. He told me the same thing, and told me that simply placing the battery in backwards in the Sound Pros box would work just fine.