Mc6000 - microphone noise problems?

Figured I would start a new thread about my journey with my new MC6000 (with Macbook Pro and VDJ Pro).

Day one, hooked it all up (without speakers) and noted the unit controlled VDJ just great.

Day two, popped it into my flight case and connected my speakers. I was very pleased to hear the DROP in ambient noise (hiss) I was hearing when the volume was increased and NO MUSIC was playing. My Numark C3USB was quite noisy.

When I pressed the Mic 1 button (with no microphone connected), I was shocked to hear a fairly serious gain in noise (mostly hissing). I was running my Master at 12-o-clock and my microphone level at maybe 9pm (about 25% up). I've read other posts about the Mic outputs being VERY HOT, and was sort-of prepared for something like this. I was able to reduce the noise to tolerable by lowering the Master, but I'm not sure this will do when I'm live at a wedding. My kids were sleeping, so I chose not to try and raise the levels to test it any further.

THEN IT GOT WORSE :bad-words:. I pressed the Mic 2 button (with no microphone connected). The noise was LOUD. Not a clean hiss, but simply... unacceptable. Turned the levels down, and the noise was still unacceptable. I'll run home at lunch and actually hook up my microphones and "open the thing up" to see how it performs. I'm a little concerned about what I'm going to learn.

Some might say, "and that's why I buy Rane", but isn't Denon supposed to be a higher quality? Maybe this is a non-issue and I'm jumping the gun.

Well I have been one to complain about this alot. On the wireless mic I turned the gain down by switching it to -10 db. There is a connector that you can get for a wired mic that will also reduce the db input. Gotta go get one tonight for my show Friday.

yep - and I think it was some of your comments that prepared me for such an event. But I certainly don't want to call the Denon a piece of junk. You have the same problems WITHOUT CONNECTING YOUR MICROPHONE(S)? I use an ATW-3000 series wireless for my primary mic and the a Gemini UHF 5200M dual wireless for backup (and sometimes for client speeches). The run the ATW at -6db all the time (that's the lowest it goes), and I honestly am not sure how the Gemini is set. Might have to look into a plug-in db reducer for both... Fairly concerned about the noise coming out of my speakers before I even hook up a mic.

Haven't noticed it without the mic. Yes it is still a great peice of gear.

Have you made sure you update the unit to the newest firmware from the Denon website?

Ironically for Macs running Lion and the most recent version of Java (7u11), the "Java Preferences" have been removed from the software - so updating the firmware using the Denon instructions does not work. Fortunately, I believe I have v1.012 installed - this appears to be there most recent version.

I followed the instructions on how to determine the firmware version: http://www.denondjforums.com/denonf...p=137958&hilit=check+firmware+version#p137958

Well, I'm ashamed to say that I have taken care of MOST of the problem with simple adjustments. When I consider the EQ levels on a mixer, I typically start by having the H, M and L at 12-o-clock, then tweaking to get the sound I prefer. However with the mic EQ levels, this was very different. The factory sends the unit with most knobs at 12-o-clock, and I assumed the microphone EQ levels would little deviation from this (similar to my music channel EQ levels). Not the case. I was able to remove most of the noise by setting the H and M values at full counterclockwise positions (-15) - the L didn't really make much of a change. So I'm ashamed I jumped the gun without wiggling every knob.

BUT, I'm still surprised at how much noise comes from the mic output (EVEN WITHOUT A MICROPHONE ATTACHED).

Currently, I run my MASTER at about 3-o-clock. This means my individual channel volume levels (not the EQ values) are near 1-o-clock to push the volume I will need at most events. At this setting, I need to push the mic level pretty high. Maybe what I need to try is actually DECREASING (make more sensitive) the attenuation setting on the microphone so I can lower the mic level on the MC6000.

So I think I've put out the fire - just need to do some tweaking.

So let me say something good about this thing since I've spent some time b*tching about it, and I've said it before: The ambient noise level that comes out of the speakers when nothing is playing (yet volume is set high) is extremely low - of course, this is with the mics off - the sound quality is so much better than what I'm used to!

I've used the Hercules RMX for some time. I was totally not prepared for the difference in the outputs.
The output ability of the Denon (MC 6000) is astounding. It has more in the way of power than I think I'd ever need.
-Z-