Got my "cheap substitute" unidirectional XLR mic today. Pretty lightweight; looks good, but feels like something that could be destroyed by a 90 lb waitress stepping on it in a karaoke bar. Preliminary tests with the ART preamp appear to verify that the preamp is working just fine - bad news for the ElectroVoice mic, though. I need to do more thorough testing, using all the cables (including the EV's little coil cord thingy) just to verify that no intermittent problems crop up occasionally.
Forgot to mention earlier that I tried to look inside the DL-42 rear housing with no luck. Removing the three screws, I was unable to get the rear shell to budge. I wonder if it's 'glued' with something like a sealant designed to keep moisture out. Anyway, I couldn't get anywhere with it, and getting in there is the only way I could ever do more with the two tiny output wires from the transformer. I'm sure that a real diagnosis and repair would cost more than I can handle these days. It's probably time to retire it to Museum Piece status.
Back in my filmmaking days, I had a great job for a young single guy, which made it possible to try sound filming. I bought the DL-42 for right at $400US; this was way back in 1974 "when a dollar was something". I had friends driving decent cars that hadn't cost them $400! Only the Super8 camera, the Braun Nizo S800, cost more (around $900). Taping was done on a modified portable Sony reel-to-reel machine from an outfit called Super8Sound - a photo flash cable from the camera to the recorder controlled the speed of the recorder to keep them 'in sync'. The audio tape was called Super8 Mag Film - 8mm wide with sprocket holes along the edge, exactly like the film we were shooting (except on reels, not cartridges, and 100 percent magnetic oxide coated). The setup was simplicity itself, and very easy to use. The other really serious guy in our group was my friend Steve Dundis, who went on to be a teaching professor of media at one of the universities in Illinois, and was the Director of many industrial / promotional films for little outfits such as Motorola.
Again, many thanks to everybody for tips and suggestions, but especially Mike, Art and Tim. All the best, sirs - God bless you!
Larry Cottrill
