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Post by ninworks on Nov 18, 2020 6:06:12 GMT -5
I love little devices that solve big problems in a big way and don't cost a bazillion bucks. I ordered a mic signal booster from Sweetwater a couple days ago that is basically an inline buffer for dynamic microphones that have either a very low level or are recording something very quiet and need a lot of gain from the pre amp stage to get the level loud enough to record. When the gain has to be boosted a lot with the pre amp the noise floor comes up as well and the signal level of the mic is not driving the pre amp hard enough for it to perform optimally. I want this mainly for my Royer R121 ribbon mic since ribbon mics have a very low level but it will work for any dynamic microphone. I watched and listened to a number of videos, done by different people, in different studios, that did some A/B comparisons of the same ribbon mic, recording acoustic guitars, through different pre amps, all set at optimal levels, and the difference was quite noticeable to me. With the booster there is a transparency or clarity to the recording that wasn't there without it. There was also more definition in the high end of the spectrum. It wasn't any brighter or louder but sounded better. I kind of equate that to like looking through a clean or foggy window. Basically, the same amount of light gets through but the image is clearer without the fog. These boosters can also be used with conventional dynamic mics like a Shure SM57 or Senheiser MD421. When recording something very quiet it can boost the signal to drive the pre amp stage harder and improve the mic's sensitivity. This is the doo dad. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/dBooster--royer-dbooster-in-line-signal-booster |
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Post by roly on Nov 20, 2020 1:24:05 GMT -5
Thanks for your post.
Watched the video, seems it is a passive device, so the added gain must be achieved with a transformer, not +48.
cheers
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Post by ninworks on Nov 20, 2020 7:45:26 GMT -5
Thanks for your post. Watched the video, seems it is a passive device, so the added gain must be achieved with a transformer, not +48. cheers Not passive. It requires phantom power. Make sure the link works correctly. I've had it misdirect me a time or two. The device is made by Royer and called the dBooster. |
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TBird
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Post by TBird on Nov 20, 2020 8:08:34 GMT -5
How would that work with a typical condenser mic?
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Post by ninworks on Nov 20, 2020 15:36:15 GMT -5
How would that work with a typical condenser mic? It's not for condenser mics. Dynamic mics only. Condensers have sufficient level to drive any type of pre amp or interface. |
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TBird
Wholenote
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Post by TBird on Nov 21, 2020 7:39:22 GMT -5
The reason I ask is that it seems like my Neumann TLM 102 does not produce a strong signal, judging by the fact that the input gain on my Presonus interface has to be cranked about all the way to get a decent level in Logic.
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Post by ninworks on Nov 21, 2020 9:17:34 GMT -5
This unit will not pass phantom power through it so a condenser mic won't work with it unless you have a stand-alone phantom power unit to insert between the mic and the booster. There are lots of those on the market and they are pretty inexpensive. Behringer makes one for less than $50. Sweetwater has them for $28 right now.
The TLM102's output is rated at 50 ohms. That's quite low. The input on your interface/mic pre amp should be at least 5 times that so 250 ohms minimum. It's very likely that it is but you might check the specs on your interface to see if there are switchable load settings for the mic input. If there are try some different ones to see if that helps.
Sweetwater has a Black Friday sale going on right now and they have knocked $18 off the price of the dBooster. $161 now. I got mine a week ago and it was $179.
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TBird
Wholenote
Posts: 298
Formerly Known As: greg1948
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Post by TBird on Nov 28, 2020 9:00:48 GMT -5
This unit will not pass phantom power through it so a condenser mic won't work with it unless you have a stand-alone phantom power unit to insert between the mic and the booster. There are lots of those on the market and they are pretty inexpensive. Behringer makes one for less than $50. Sweetwater has them for $28 right now. The TLM102's output is rated at 50 ohms. That's quite low. The input on your interface/mic pre amp should be at least 5 times that so 250 ohms minimum. It's very likely that it is but you might check the specs on your interface to see if there are switchable load settings for the mic input. If there are try some different ones to see if that helps. Sweetwater has a Black Friday sale going on right now and they have knocked $18 off the price of the dBooster. $161 now. I got mine a week ago and it was $179. I checked my interface and there is no impedance selector, only a switch for "guitar". That doesn't do anything for the mic. Right now, I have to crank the input gain on the mic to about 8 to get a decent level. Would adding an outboard mic pre-amp help or just add another potential source of noise in the chain. I am looking an ART tube preamp for fairly cheap. Or should I just leave well-enough alone? |
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Post by ninworks on Nov 28, 2020 10:34:14 GMT -5
An inexpensive mic pre would probably help. It may ad a little noise but the signal it would likely sound better than having to crank up your interface due to the gain deficiency.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 1, 2020 11:59:53 GMT -5
The TLM-102 should have plenty of power. Make sure you have the Presonus' 48v phantom power switched on, and bring up the input gain in Logic.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 1, 2020 12:03:54 GMT -5
ninworks, I clicked your link and it's a Sweetwater baseball cap. Tone hats DO work?  That little mic booster looks like a useful (and really affordable!) piece of kit. |
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Post by ninworks on Dec 2, 2020 12:58:38 GMT -5
ninworks, I clicked your link and it's a Sweetwater baseball cap. Tone hats DO work? That little mic booster looks like a useful (and really affordable!) piece of kit. Something has changed because the link used to work. Not working today. Sweetwater's site is wanky today. Try this one instead. royerlabs.com/dbooster/ |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 2, 2020 13:26:10 GMT -5
I did...I chased it down on Sweetwater's site.
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TBird
Wholenote
Posts: 298
Formerly Known As: greg1948
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Post by TBird on Dec 3, 2020 8:00:14 GMT -5
The TLM-102 should have plenty of power. Make sure you have the Presonus' 48v phantom power switched on, and bring up the input gain in Logic. Hmm, I thought the input gain in Logic was controlled by the audio interface. I'll have to check that out. |
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