Teenage Engineering TX-6

DegradedEcho · 2022-07-02T23:38:05.840Z

IMG_88931920×1920 147 KB

tx6 makes tiny feral forest stray kitten look like big cat!

also for scale, tx6 encoders be mighty pokey to operate with such dragon claws

jaseknighter · 2022-07-03T03:21:56.216Z

robbie:

There’s @ramphands mic pre, but iirc the required opamp is currently unavailable.

actually, looking at octopart, the opamp for this mic preamp appears available directly through TI and from one other distributor.

ramphands · 2022-07-03T03:36:05.570Z

Indeed:
https://www.ti.com/product/OPA172/part-details/OPA172IDBVT
I generally only look at Mouser/Digikey for stock as I only order from one supplier to cut down on shipping costs to Japan.
Perhaps I should just do a run of (self) assembled boards.

marcus_fischer · 2022-07-03T05:21:51.753Z

I would love to order one if you do!

rmro · 2022-07-03T06:35:13.321Z

I used to use one of those mics with my minidisc! I also used some Soundman omni mics strapped to a wire I could hold, they sound really good (not dpas but a definite improvement over the old Sony)

robbie · 2022-07-03T07:55:09.442Z

Good to know, I was going by this comment from last month:

How are you packing your grids/arcs/norns?

The key component is out of stock until mid 2023, so it’s rather moot.

So then it’s worth nothing @okyeron still has a couple of bare boards available in their shop.

DENKI OTO SHOP

Tiny Mic Pre PCB

PCB for the "Tiny" version of the mic pre by ramphands. A low-cost microphone preamp for use with electret microphonesForum post and details/discussion:mic pre - a tiny line-level electret microphone preamp for Norns/modular/field recording and...

ramphands · 2022-07-03T11:59:38.575Z

Yeah I didn’t realise it was available direct from TI until @jaseknighter’s post!

Definitely worth a build if someone has SMD soldering experience. The basic model with the jacks is quite a bit easier build-wise than the tiny version due to friendlier parts spacing, but the tiny version does away with the need to solder the microphone to a cable and jack. That could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference.

Palbin · 2022-07-03T12:52:50.848Z

About microphones. What do you think about ZOOM,s F1 Field recorder? It’s small and handy connected to the TX-6 (and you can add a shotgun module)…

zoomcorp.com

F1-LP

Two track portable recorder with lavalier microphone

ears · 2022-07-03T13:38:25.137Z

Not sure if anyone mentioned the IK Multimedia iRig Pre 2 mic preamp adapter interface but I’m going to try it out with the TX6: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A13NOwkoTyL.pdf

instantjuggler · 2022-07-03T16:06:09.102Z

I’m really curious to know how this works for you

21echoes · 2022-07-03T17:04:45.327Z

Maybe I’m just under-thinking it, but any reason to not just use a dynamic mic that requires no power at all? The tx-6 has decent ADCs and digital gain available, yes?

Brett_Gershon · 2022-07-03T18:04:54.717Z

For me an omnidirectional would be optimal for picking up whole atmospheres of sound that a dynamic just isn’t well suited for. I’m not all that versed in mics, but my experience with dynamics is they require quite close proximity to the sound source to really pickup where as condensers do better at a distance from the source. I’m really hoping this cue out mic powering business works out for PiP Omni. That will make the tx-6 such an incredible little machine.

Sean_Cullen · 2022-07-03T18:33:13.597Z

Is this type of power routing something that can be done via firmware update?

glia · 2022-07-03T20:13:37.000Z

It’s not a big deal but, for me, a matter of convenience and cost

I’d need to buy something for my ideal tx field setup (either a dynamic mic or something to ensure compatibility with my small collection of electret & omni mics)

I want to explore the presumably cheaper tools which can enhance my other mics first…that’s all

kasselvania · 2022-07-03T21:37:32.918Z

I feel this. I ordered some boards, mics and parts to build those electrec mics that I’ve been seeing here. That should be enough to get started. Plus, with some clever positioning, they could function as binaural recorders

laborcamp · 2022-07-04T17:33:26.686Z

Did you ever get to the bottom of how the TX-6 handles modular level signal?

kasselvania · 2022-07-04T18:02:59.683Z

TE had said that it could damage the ports themselves because the signal is so hot.

glia · 2022-07-04T18:30:53.954Z

with attenuation it is fine
i’ve used RIP as a step down to line level but will be trying some of the koma cables soon

Localprestige · 2022-07-04T18:56:48.779Z

I got the same answer from TE about damage without bringing it to line level. I have moved my cases around to have three line level stereo outs to TX-6. I have the Koma cable but don’t trust myself to keep it tamed that way.

Sidiblue · 2022-07-04T18:58:09.158Z

You think that even the line output of a shared system from the 7u cv bus is too hot?