MZ-RH1 questions

[stowsmum]

Hi, everyone.

I've just acquired an MZ-RH1 and have some questions of recording loud gigs - rock, pop, post-rock, electronic, etc.

I want to know if anyone can recommend the best settings to use. I am using greenmachine mics and a battery box into the mic input. At the moment I'm using Auto levels on the music setting with low sensitivity. Is this a good place to start? I will experiment but for my first gig using them I want to be using the optimal settings.

Any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[reefbeef]

First, use the manual rec level setting, not automatic.

Since you are using a battery box, you should go Line In so that you can record higher sound levels without clipping.

Going line in, you will need to record kinda high on the levels. I record jazz gigs with the levels all the way up. For really loud music, somewhere around 25 should work. The great thing about the RH1 is you can see the levels while recording and adjust on the fly and next time you turn it on, the levels are the at the same setting.

[stowsmum]

First, use the manual rec level setting, not automatic.

Since you are using a battery box, you should go Line In so that you can record higher sound levels without clipping.

Going line in, you will need to record kinda high on the levels. I record jazz gigs with the levels all the way up. For really loud music, somewhere around 25 should work. The great thing about the RH1 is you can see the levels while recording and adjust on the fly and next time you turn it on, the levels are the at the same setting.

Are the automatic settings completely useless then or is that mainly to ease post-processing?

Also, I can't get the line-in to work or is it just that I have incredibly low signal levels?

[Strungup]

Are the automatic settings completely useless then or is that mainly to ease post-processing?

Also, I can't get the line-in to work or is it just that I have incredibly low signal levels?

Auto Rec levels are mainly for Meetings , Voice , etc , evn in that there are two settings , one for voice and one for music .

You need to read the manual very carefully to get all the details , sometimes manuals should be called "Maul u alls" instead because of being badly written , because that what it feels like reading them being Mauled , but it is a necessary evil .

[stowsmum]

Auto Rec levels are mainly for Meetings , Voice , etc , evn in that there are two settings , one for voice and one for music .

You need to read the manual very carefully to get all the details , sometimes manuals should be called "Maul u alls" instead because of being badly written , because that what it feels like reading them being Mauled , but it is a necessary evil .

Yeah - I've read the manual. That's where I go the impression the auto music low setting would be viable for live recording. Guess not.

Anything else I should know? The line-in does work, right?

[onhiatus]

MIC-BATTERY BOX-LINE IN

REC LEVEL <20 FOR LOUD GIGS. I RECORDED EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY AT 14 AND WAS EXCELLENT.

MIC SENS LOW, AND FOR LOUD MUSIC ARE 2 SETTINGS THAT WORK FOR ME.

[stowsmum]

Okay, I'm having a problem with the mics and battery box. They work fine on the mic-in but there's not nearly enough attenuation. The line-in works fine when using a line source like a CD player. However, when I use the mics and battery box in the line input, it's impossible to get any appreciable signal level even on high sensitivity and the recording level manually set to max.

What am I doing wrong?

[Strungup]

Okay, I'm having a problem with the mics and battery box. They work fine on the mic-in but there's not nearly enough attenuation. The line-in works fine when using a line source like a CD player. However, when I use the mics and battery box in the line input, it's impossible to get any appreciable signal level even on high sensitivity and the recording level manually set to max.

What am I doing wrong?

the High Mic sens setting has nothing to do with the Line input it only adjusts the mic input .

[stowsmum]

the High Mic sens setting has nothing to do with the Line input it only adjusts the mic input .

Oh, of course!

But then why are my levels so horribly low on the line in?

[Strungup]

Oh, of course!

But then why are my levels so horribly low on the line in?

did you set "Manual Rec level " in the Recording settings? if so , then raise the rec level from the Jog lever or the remote , all the way up . and test the Battery box from that setting.

If the Battery Box , is working thru the Mic input but not the Line input , then there isnt any amplification from the Batt box . ( I think his battery box , is just mainly power supply for the mics .

The Battery Box is Mainly for REALLY LOUD concerts , if you can get away with a Low Mic sensitivity and use the Mic input you will be better off just bring the Rec levels down as much as is needed .

For Line in , I always , ...ALWAYS....... use nicer mics , and a small mixer or preamp that will give me the levels I need , and better control over the levels .

Mackie 402 VLZ3 , very nice smal 2 channel board , or for Portability , Rolls MX34 preamp , or my own homebuilt preamps which give 26 db of VERY clean gain at 88db S/N

not too shabby . but even then , I use the 26er's thru the Mic input at Low sensitivity for best results unless it is a very loud sound source .

I am wiating for the Mackie to come to Japan , the 402 and 802 arent here yet , email from Mackie , said the end of this month or beginning of next .

I will have my money ready .

Edited May 23, 2008 by Guitarfxr

[stowsmum]

did you set "Manual Rec level " in the Recording settings? if so , then raise the rec level from the Jog lever or the remote , all the way up . and test the Battery box from that setting.

If the Battery Box , is working thru the Mic input but not the Line input , then there isnt any amplification from the Batt box . ( I think his battery box , is just mainly power supply for the mics .

The Battery Box is Mainly for REALLY LOUD concerts , if you can get away with a Low Mic sensitivity and use the Mic input you will be better off just bring the Rec levels down as much as is needed .

As I mentioned in my post, I have set recording levels to max.

The battery box/mics combo is working fine into other recording devices's line ins...

[Strungup]

As I mentioned in my post, I have set recording levels to max.

The battery box/mics combo is working fine into other recording devices's line ins...

hmmmm , that is interesting , Line in , is Line in ............... Now you have my curiosity , if it works with other devices , I wonder why it isnt working with the RH1

and plus you said the Line in works from a CD player ,................ hmmmmm if there is a Voltage leaking from the Battery box output , it may create a shunt in the line in , or short .........

If you have a pair of el cheapo phones , you can cut the cable on , strip the wires off keep the plug , plg it in to the battery box output , use a voltage meter set to DC and check if there is a voltage present .

[stowsmum]

hmmmm , that is interesting , Line in , is Line in ............... Now you have my curiosity , if it works with other devices , I wonder why it isnt working with the RH1

and plus you said the Line in works from a CD player ,................ hmmmmm if there is a Voltage leaking from the Battery box output , it may create a shunt in the line in , or short .........

If you have a pair of el cheapo phones , you can cut the cable on , strip the wires off keep the plug , plg it in to the battery box output , use a voltage meter set to DC and check if there is a voltage present .

It works, just at an incredibly incredibly low level. Probably too low even for a Mogwai concert.

However, it works fine when going through the mic-in preamp.

Will test the battery box...

[stowsmum]

Anyone?

[A440]

Anyone?

This is pretty baffling.

You've got the mic-->battery box working in other line-ins.

You've got other devices working into the RH1's line-in.

You have the level all the way up at 30 and you're not getting a good signal.

How about mic into mic-in?

How about mic and battery box into mic-in (which should be strong enough to distort--don't worry, it doesn't damage anything)?

Seems like you've tried all the combos, and as Guitarfxr says, there's nothing different about the RH1 line-in. It should work the same as any other recording device's line-in. You're sure you have all the controls correct? That you're raising Record Level and not Volume? (Volume is output volume.)

While the theory says that the battery box doesn't amplify, my experience says it does--enough of a boost to work with line-in.

You ought to contact Greenmachine. But from what you say, the thing should be working. How about putting Line-in on Automatic level? Then do you get something? It'll sound awful for music,, but you'll know that the jack is working. If Automatic works, that would suggest you're setting Manual controls incorrectly somehow.

[srizvi1]

just out of curiosity, with your MZ-RH1, were you already able to adjust your recording levels? Or did you have to do a tweak similar to what A440 had given me here:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&am...st&p=127344

(I can control recording level fine now, I'm just asking).

[A440]

Unlike all the other MD and Hi-MD units, the RH1 remembers when you've set Manual, returns to the level you've set, and lets you change the level manually without going back to the menu and REC SET.