Help With Live Recording

[beefstew]

Hi all!

I run a very simple rig

SP-CMC-19 Cardiod mics -> MZ-RH910[Hi-MD} (my very first taping rig)

I find that i have distortion sometimes running mic-in to the MD [i have no battery box, but am attempting to build one from the Greenmachine DIY] i was wondering if going Line In with a Batt Box would cut out the distortion ( i record LOUD rock shows)

and also - i would like to patch from the SoundBoard at some of these shows.... but im sure the signal would be too Hot.

I saw this DIY to make a attenuator box http://ca.geocities.com/dkleined@rogers.co...tenuatorBox.htm

but i am electronic illiterate and tried searching for these parts on DigiKey to make it

10k log pot

knobs

1.5k resistor -- 1% metal film, ¼ watt

and i have no idea which ones to choose - there are tons of varietys of each type of thing and i dont know if i am getting the right one

i saw that some people are using headphone volume control things as attenuators... how is the quality on these things?....would it work/sound better than the DIY box?....would it for for my purpose [patching the SoundBoard]?

or if there is any cheap alternative to making the DIY Atten. box then suggestions are welcome

Thanks!

~dave

Edited December 9, 2006 by beefstew

[beefstew]

Also ive been wanting to build a Battery Box from the greenmachine DIY [thanks to greenmachine its really great!] but i cant find exactly what parts i need at DigiKey.

could someone help me with part numbers for what i need so i can order them? thanks!

~dave

[Roamer]

Having a battery box will surely help you. But you could also be limited by the maximum level of pressure your mics can handle (I didn't check yours specificaly). A battery box will also raise that max. level (compared to a lower voltage). God luck in your project !

[A440]

Build a battery box rather than an attenuator. An attenuator will cut the signal from the mic going into the MD unit, but it will also lessen the ability of your mics to handle loud sounds. A battery box will slightly boost the signal from the mic (which is why you switch to Line-in) and increase the ability to handle loud sounds.

I would be willing to bet that the problem is not in the mics--it's in the MD preamp, which can't handle loud sounds and particularly loud bass. Mic-->Battery box-->Line-in will bypass the preamp and capture the loud music.

You should also try the soundboard patch. Line-in expects a strong signal, and the soundboard output might well be at line level. Here's more about line-in recording:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=7989