jonstatt
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2012
- Posts
- 861
- Likes
- 322
So I may be one of the first to get one of these AK recorders. I bought it for two reasons
1) To record piano and guitar using phantom powered XLR microphones
2) To record into DSD 128 some of my vinyl collection where the record version benefits from either a) being a mastering on vinyl only such as jazz records or b) greater dynamic range on vinyl version which is quite common for modern releases and not victim to the loudness wars
The unit is doing well with 2) but failing completely with 1)
AK sell two versions of this unit.
1) Recorder on its own with 2 mini XLR to full size XLR cables in the box
2) Recorder with two microphones (VERY expensive). These microphones fit to the front of the recorder with an included screw-in attachment and are phantom powered by 5v
I have four types of microphone
1) Rode NT3 (48v or battery)
2) Rode M3 (48v or battery)
3) Marantz PMP-3000 (48v)
4) Sony XLR microphone for video camera (5v-48v)
With 1-3, NONE of the 48v microphones work properly with this recorder. I did check with a volt meter that the unit is outputting 48v, and it is. Yet, all I am getting on the recorder is static. If I adjust the gain right the way up, amongst the now VERY loud static, I can just about make out my voice, but it is unusable.
With 4 (Sony mic), set to 5v, it works perfectly. Sound quality is excellent and SNR seems good too. Interestingly 5v is the same value for AK's own microphone bundle. I am starting to think all their testing was done with this.
With 1 and 2 using a built-in battery and phantom power disabled on the AK Recorder, that should work too right? No. I can record stuff this way as it is picking up sound, but it is quiet and increasing the gain to compensate causes noise.
So the only combination properly working is 5v phantom power. Everything else is not right. Initially I thought my unit was faulty. But I am not convinced it is because a) 5v is working showing both L/R mic inputs are able to record high fidelity sound and b) the volt meter shows 48v being output and the voltage is not collapsing under use. So I am thinking this is more likely firmware related and AK have done all their testing with their own mics and just hoped the rest works!
1) To record piano and guitar using phantom powered XLR microphones
2) To record into DSD 128 some of my vinyl collection where the record version benefits from either a) being a mastering on vinyl only such as jazz records or b) greater dynamic range on vinyl version which is quite common for modern releases and not victim to the loudness wars
The unit is doing well with 2) but failing completely with 1)
AK sell two versions of this unit.
1) Recorder on its own with 2 mini XLR to full size XLR cables in the box
2) Recorder with two microphones (VERY expensive). These microphones fit to the front of the recorder with an included screw-in attachment and are phantom powered by 5v
I have four types of microphone
1) Rode NT3 (48v or battery)
2) Rode M3 (48v or battery)
3) Marantz PMP-3000 (48v)
4) Sony XLR microphone for video camera (5v-48v)
With 1-3, NONE of the 48v microphones work properly with this recorder. I did check with a volt meter that the unit is outputting 48v, and it is. Yet, all I am getting on the recorder is static. If I adjust the gain right the way up, amongst the now VERY loud static, I can just about make out my voice, but it is unusable.
With 4 (Sony mic), set to 5v, it works perfectly. Sound quality is excellent and SNR seems good too. Interestingly 5v is the same value for AK's own microphone bundle. I am starting to think all their testing was done with this.
With 1 and 2 using a built-in battery and phantom power disabled on the AK Recorder, that should work too right? No. I can record stuff this way as it is picking up sound, but it is quiet and increasing the gain to compensate causes noise.
So the only combination properly working is 5v phantom power. Everything else is not right. Initially I thought my unit was faulty. But I am not convinced it is because a) 5v is working showing both L/R mic inputs are able to record high fidelity sound and b) the volt meter shows 48v being output and the voltage is not collapsing under use. So I am thinking this is more likely firmware related and AK have done all their testing with their own mics and just hoped the rest works!