Optimizing the FT-1000MP with the Heil Goldline

info provided by Andy, KK7AC
Additional info on MP Setup provided here

I have had the 1000MP since January of 1996. I have had several "top line" transceivers
in the past; 1000D, TS-940, 950SD. I got to love the MP not only for its wonderful receiver,
but for it's transmit audio in DSP that not everyone at the time seemed to unlock or was
aware of.  I am not an expert in audio or RF design, however, I have a pretty good knowledge
of the transmit settings on the 1000MP, and I know and enjoy good "studio broadcast" audio
on SSB.

In the beginning: I always stuck with my trusty old Astatic D-104 amplified microphone as
I did in all the Yaesu equipment I ran. Yaesu equipment tends to need either
           1. - an amplified microphone with the processor OFF, or
           2. - a non-amplified microphone with the processor ON.

I and another good friend (KX9T) bought our radios at nearly the same time. Since we
both had and ran the D-104, we decided to "try it out" on the MP.  After about a week of
playing with the DSP settings, we found the MP and D-104 was an excellent combination!!
It was not as you may think of your typical D-104 sound. You know the rusty, high pitched,
full throttle compressed audio that makes your ears bleed. Great for CB's, and the last hour
of the CQWW, but everyday rag chewing? No way. This was not the case however with the MP and
the D-104 combination. It was this "new" sound. Kinda "bassy", but still fidelic. I don't
claim to be the first person to "unlock" the secrets of the MP in relation to TX DSP, or the
first one to have this type of audio on SSB with any transceiver for that matter, but man
did I ever get the audio comments on the bands. Never before did anyone stop and say
"Man you sound good, its kinda bassy, but you have the highs also, I don't how how to
describe it": "What kind of microphone is that?": "What is the rig you're running?  It sounds
like you're on AM."  These are just a few of the comments. The real fun began once I told
them what I was running: "A 1000MP with a D-104? That's impossible!"  "You cant run a D-104
with a new 600 ohm radio, it's a mis-match."  "That's not a D-104, it's too bassy".  So for
nearly 3 years, I ran that old D-104 and MP combo.  It sounded great, and "we were of the
select few", but in early 1999 SSB audio took center stage with a lot of hams. More and more
hams where on the experimental bandwagon with both DSP, and using different microphones.

The switch: My XYL bought me a Heil Goldline Studio microphone for my birthday in November
of 1999. I did not expect to receive this, but I thanked her just the same.  I had not heard
too many on the air, so I did not have much of an opinion on them. I hooked it up as
described on the owner's manual. This did not work out at all!! Audio reports where going
from great on the D-104, to "flat bass no highs" audio. How is this possible? The response
on the Goldline is 50-16,000 Hz, not 1000-2000 on the D-104! Well, after being beat up on
14.178, I was in shock. After altering the settings that I ran for so long on the D-104, I
still could not get the audio to "brighten up" - it was just flat. Then after hitting the
processor button while listing on the monitor, I fell out of my chair! The processor was the
key. That's what was needed to bring up the audio.

Again, I am not an expert in the field, but I will give you some great advice in the SSB
audio field as it pertains to the MP with nearly any microphone. I do not run any external
equalization, noise gates, compressors, or audio amplifiers. This equipment is necessary if
you run an older radio that does not incorporate DSP. The DSP equalization in the modern
radios is great, and don't waste your time or money on outboard gadgets if your running the
MP or any other wide transmit bandwidth DSP radio. You will go nuts, and the gains that you
will achieve may not make you completely happy after spending $5000 on this crap.

The two things you need are:

1. A good (not necessarily expensive) microphone with a wide response. (40 to 18000 Hz).
2. A modern HF transceiver with DSP equalization in transmit.

If you are running the MP, and have a Heil Goldline, DO NOT FOLLOW THOSE INSTRUCTIONS!
Bob has you running the OFF position in menu setting 4-4. That's wrong! Below are the
settings you should start with. I have talked to Bob about this already, and I believe that
the newer microphones now being sold contain a revised "manual" and the settings below are
in it.

4-4=        3                   always - every good sounding MP I've heard runs "3"
5-9=        6.0 kHz (t-Fil)     always
7-7=        100-3100 (SSb-t)    always
8-9=        Proc - Lsb          *0.040  + or -.040   (*  adjust depending on voice)
            Proc- Usb           *0.040  + or -.040   (*  adjust depending on voice)
            t-LSbcAr            -0.200   always
            t-UsbcAr            -0.200   always

(N1EU note - 8-9 menu settings have no effect in the MP if EDSP is switched on)

        ALL SETTINGS ARE WITH THE EDSP ON, AND THE PROCESSOR ON

**NOTE: Proc settings are the only two you use to adjust the audio now.  The higher the
setting the higher the frequency response. My voice is already fairly deep, so I use "Proc"
in both sidebands in the 0.070 range. Others that need the lows in the audio chain because
their voice is higher, or does not have lows in it, need to consider starting in the 0.000
range:maybe even lower?! P.S. I found that the Goldline mic doesn't do to well on FM or AM. 
If you know the secret, let me (KK7AC) know. Till then I will run the D-104 on those modes.

If running a D-104, ALWAYS KEEP THE PROCESSOR OFF. USE SIMILAR SETTINGS.
An MD-1 or MD-100 works well with the same settings with the processor on.

73, and good luck. E-mail KK7AC to set up a sched. So I can hear or help you on the air.
-Andy KK7AC