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mdemeyer 21 October 2006

I know from searching the archives that a couple people here use the Schoeps M222 tube bodies. I'm considering getting a pair of these to expand my palette, and wonder if anyone can comment on the DC vs AC versions of these power supplies. As I understand, they offer a slightly different set of options...

DC

- 12v powering option & external power supply
- 'Line level' output (although seems gain is not that high)
- 'Tube Direct' output
- Single 'Harmonics' setting

AC

- Internal power supply
- 5-level 'Harmonics' setting

I record primarily choral and unamplified instrumental music, most of it live performances. Preamps are Hardy M1 (primary) and Benchmark MPS420.

Regarding powering, the AC unit could be more convenient to set up since it does not requiring dealing with (two more, for a pair) external power supplies. I seem to be carrying enough bits already. The trade-off is that being able to use a battery might make it easier in situations where it is inconvenient to run AC out to the mic location.

I'm guessing I don't really need more 'harmonics' effects for the kind of music I record (or do I), but wonder about the 'Tube Direct' output on the DC unit and the ability to use some gain closer to the source with that unit.

Also any detailed comments about the character of these vs the standard bodies (I use CMC5) are of interest.

Thanks,

Michael

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Comments

anonymous Sat, 10/21/2006 - 20:46

mdemeyer wrote: Also any detailed comments about the character of these vs. the standard bodies (I use CMC5) are of interest.

I have several CMC6 and M222 bodies. The differences I notice are very slightly mroe bottom on the CMC, and the fundamental and overtones seem more "in focus" with the M222.

A long-time highly regarded Schoeps source in the US told me that he had recently seen a graph of the CMC6 that showed a 1dB rise in LF which would account for the LF difference.

Rich

anonymous Mon, 10/23/2006 - 14:39

Hello Michael,

We use the DC version and I like the mics very much. They are wonderful on
strings and brass as well as choral and singers. We use the "tube direct" setting exclusively with the harmonics switch on. Output in this position yields a low output which requires some modest gain from the mic amp.

Usually we are using the 222 mics with a tube mic amp to keep it all tube.

I cannot recall if the AC version offers a tube direct setting but we like it tube direct because the signal comes directly off of the tube.

YOur best source for info on this little used mic is Bernhard Vollmer at Schoeps. He now owns Elvo, the manufacturer of the M222.

anonymous Tue, 10/24/2006 - 01:30

http://www.mikrofonbau.de/nt222_e.htm

there is a link describing them both.

"The DC model can be switched to "Tube Direct". But this only means to
switch off the following solid state amplifier. The AC model offers the
same with the only difference that the solid state amplifier is called
line driver ("P48") and does only offer lower impedance without any gain.

Both - the DC model in "Tube Direct" and the AC model with "P48" off -
have the identical signal path and the same specifications (for example
the 500 Ohm output for shorter cables).

With the DC type you can switch on an up to 40dB amplifier to connect
your microphone to a line input when you have no microphone input or
only one with bad quality.

With the AC model you can handle your M222 like any other microphone.
You can switch on the line driver ("P48" on) and use it with phantom
power via long cables."

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