New 6600M and Electro-Voice RE320 output levels

Jim Draker

Received my new 6600M last week and hooked up the hand mike with it came with and it worked just fine. Then tried hooking up the Electro-Voice RE320 to the 1/4" balanced jack and had no audio output with mic gain 100% +20db boost on and even tried with bias on. The only way I got it to work so so ( not hitting 0db on meter) was to run it though my W2IHY EQ plus and 8 band EQ. Does this RE320 really need that much more boost (preamp) for it to work properly with my 6600M? I did check out the new cable with ohm meter and checked good. Thoughts?

P.S. Hand mic worked well for the the contest over the weekend

Bill -VA3WTB

For those mics it is common for people to use an outboard mic amp to work correctly.

Craig_KØCF

I use an Electro-Voice RE320 with my 6500 and it works fine with no outboard pre-amp required. I am using the rear balanced input. Do you have the correct mic input selected on the 6600M? And did you turn off the bias?

73,
Craig, KØCF

Larry _ NY8T

I use a Electro voice re-20 with my 6500 and it has just enough gain feeding into the balanced connector.

Mic gain on  96%

Processor on DX

+20 db boost

Jim Draker

I tried with bias on and off. It only worked with the bias turned on. I did not see anything about choosing which mic input selected. You talking mic jacks or mic profiles? I tried some different profiles

Craig_KØCF

Jim, on page 64 of the 6600M User Guide it tells about choosing the correct mic input. On the 6600, there are two mic inputs. Unlike other radios, the Flex requires you to choose the mic input you are using. The mic selector is on the left side of the control panel. The RE320 is a dynamic mic, so the bias should be turned OFF. My mic gain is set at 69% and easily drives the mic level meter to 0dB.

73,
Craig, KØCF

p.s I am just about 30 miles south of you in Iowa City!

Rich McCabe

That RE320 should not be using BIAS.  

Did not realize you were Iowa boys.  Ankeny here

RIch

Jim Draker

I see that now Craig on page 64 Mic1 and Mic2 and etc. I bet I need to select R-BAL for rear balance? is that correct for what I am thinking? or mic1 or mic2?

P.S. Nice having you as a neighbor. Not very nice outside today  

Jim Draker

Hello Rich, I am just N.W. of Cedar Rapids. New to the Flex family. Was very impressed with the 6600M over the weekend Contest.

Jim Runge

R-Bal. Should work fine. I use a RE-27 .

Craig_KØCF

Not having a 6600M, I am just guessing here... Probably R BAL. There is more info on page 146, too. There they show just MIC and BAL, plus the Line inputs. Missed that the first time. Also a section early on in the manual (p.14 I think) about wiring the mic connector.

On my 6500, they are labelled MIC and BAL, where MIC is the front panel Foster 8-pin connector.

Yeah, **** weather for sure!

Hi to you Rich! A lot of Flexes in Iowa, it would seem.

73,
Craig, KØCF

Jim Draker

Thanks for the help Craig, I will check it out when I get home after work.

73's Jim, WG0U

Rich McCabe

By the way I am running the RE320 as well.  I did not mention it because I have W2IHY EQplus and iPlus inline. Although the iPlus is passive, the EQplus does have gain so did not figure my comments were relevant.

I know it worked direct into the Foster on my 6500.

Rich

Rich McCabe

Its an impressive radio. For the most part I love mine.

Jim Runge

You will also need to turn on the TX EQ and remove a bunch of bass. I use 63 -10, 125 -6, 250 0, 500 +5, 1k +7, 2k +7, 4k +7, 8k +7. The processor on at normal. This will be a place for starters. I use a RE-27.

Cal N3CAL

I use the Electro-Voice RE320 with my new Flex 6600 and it works great!   It's plugged into the back of the radio to the 1/4" balanced jack.  Make sure your mike input is set to "BAL".  +20db selected and no bias.  My mic gain is set at approx 65-75 (proc normal) which is plenty! 

Cal/N3CAL

Rich McCabe

Jim,.

I don't know if that is an error in the manual or what. But my 6600m does not have M- and R- in front of the inputs.  Its just BAL, MIC, LINE and ACC. Maybe this is for those that would run a Maestro on a M radio.

I find Flex's implementation of this confusing. They look like setup menus however you need to leave it on the proper input when you exit.  As an example if you go and setup the BAL and then click MIC and look at it and then leave the setting is MIC.  So make sure its on the BAL tab on left and then close the menu.

Rich

Jay Nation

Rich

The M- and R-, refer to how it worked when the Maestro was a separate unit. M- indicates a jack on the Maestro, R- indicates a jack on the radio itself. so that either can be selected and used.
 
#Flexradio

73, Jay / NO5J

gary

I just received a notice that my Flex 6600 (with Maestro) is getting ready to ship, but I'm a little confused about accessory cables & jack configurations to order for a better mic than the handheld that they say comes with it. I was told that if I don't specify, the 6600 comes with the 1/8-inch mic connector jack...but I see that Cal (N3CAL) is using the Electro-Voice RE320 plugged into the back to the 1/4" jack. There's a pretty good $329 package for this on amazon, so wondering if I need to specify my 6600 build with a dedicated 1/4" balanced jack? And do I order the Flex XLR to 1/4" Balanced TRS accessory cable?  Also, what do I do about triggering the separate back-panel PTT RCA jack? Would I also be able to use all this with the Maestro? Advice please.                                                                                                                          Gary / WA2TXR

Cal N3CAL

Gary,

The 6600 comes from Flex with both a 1/8" mic jack and a 1/4" balanced mic jack on the back of the radio.  The RE320 is a XLR balanced mic so your best option is connecting it straight to the back of the 6600 1/4" balanced jack (XLR to 1/4" Balanced TRS cable).  You will need a seperate PTT option like a foot switch or a hand PTT trigger which plugs into the back RCA Jack. 

Cal/N3CAL

Jim Draker

Well guys set to BAL and +20db boost and BIAS off and all is working good!!!

Thank you all for the for all the help and replies. This is awesome to have Community forum with people helping out each other like you do!

73's Jim WG0U

Rich McCabe

That's great news Jim. Glad it is working for you.

You can blame this little issue on Tim. He is on leave right now and this thread should be far enough down the list when he gets back he will never know

Rich

Jim Runge

Glad it all came together.  Enjoy.

73,  Jim  K6JR

KF4HR

Even with +20 boost, circuitry gain is too low with my RE27.  Preamp required.

Bill -VA3WTB

I think that is most common to use an outboard preamp with this mic, some here say they don't need any help, but I don't no how. Maybe that is why they run the mic gain around 65 or 70.

KM6CQ - Dan

With the RE20, the boost on running at 100 mic gain, the level is correct. 
With the SM57, the boost on running at 85 mic gain, the level is correct. 
It does feel a little odd to run such high gain levels in respect to an audio board. 
This was done going into the TRS Balanced 1/4 jack.

Dan

KM6CQ - Dan

I think your right Bill. I use a Symetrix 528e with mine. 

Dan

gary

Thanks Cal...much appreciated.
Gary/WA2TXR

Cal N3CAL

Happy to help Gary!  Congrats on the the 6600!  73

Cal / N3CAL

Scott Russell - N1SER

Anyone interested in the RE320 there is a package deal from BSW that includes the mic, shock mount, pop screen and XLR cable for $299. Here's the link. I've purchased from them and recommend.

https://www.bswusa.com/Dynamic-Microphones-Electrovoice-RE320-Package-P7592.aspx

Scott N1SER

Rich McCabe

That's a good deal. Unfortunately, I don't like EVs shock mount as it is to bulky with the oversized U on the top. Have one sitting in the drawer currently.

Best price I have seen.