Which Digital Recorder for field recordings?
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Muzik 4 Machines Muzik 4 Machines https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=9550 - KVRAF
- 7829 posts since 6 Oct, 2003 from Quebec
any but NOT the m-audi microtrack 2496, died after 4 uses(won't even power u)
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- KVRAF
- 2696 posts since 3 Aug, 2003 from Narnia
Right, first let me say that I have no idea how good these devices are, but they certainly are innovative...
Digital Voice Recording MP3 Pen
Or how about a pair of Recording / FM / MP3 Sunglasses
Digital Voice Recording MP3 Pen
Or how about a pair of Recording / FM / MP3 Sunglasses
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deaf dunderkwac deaf dunderkwac https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=78199
- KVRAF
- 5247 posts since 15 Aug, 2005 from RainLand featuring RAinRAinRAin
Hot mics and low-noise preamps are what makes even a barely acceptable recorder work.
It's really the difference between these units.
Sometimes you do get more then you paid for, as the 'good' stuff keeps getting cheaper and better.
I work (professionally) with the best equipment made.
I compose (hobbiestly) with the least expensive/most-bang-for-the-buck I can find.
The "gap" between the two narrows every year.
I've found good quality (low-noise) preamps for $60. Not too many years ago I used to have to build them if I wanted to avoid paying over a grand.
It's really the difference between these units.
Sometimes you do get more then you paid for, as the 'good' stuff keeps getting cheaper and better.
I work (professionally) with the best equipment made.
I compose (hobbiestly) with the least expensive/most-bang-for-the-buck I can find.
The "gap" between the two narrows every year.
I've found good quality (low-noise) preamps for $60. Not too many years ago I used to have to build them if I wanted to avoid paying over a grand.
for entertaining porpoises only
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- KVRian
- 644 posts since 19 Jan, 2006
So what's good hot mics, and what's good cheap preamps? What about Eurorack, Xenyx, or DMP3? For field recorder preamps, what about http://stores.ebay.com/WalkingWolf-Amps-Stuff or http://stores.ebay.com/CHURCH-AUDIO_W0Q ... esstQQtZkm
This is kind of delving into the DIY realm pretty far. The second guy boasts of using burr brown op amps in his very best, for well over $100, and the first guy appears to use some burr brown amps in several of his for much lower prices. I also note that that Wolf guy uses 2 9v batteries in some of these. I gather that some people think highly of those ICs. Any impressions? What about mics?
This is kind of delving into the DIY realm pretty far. The second guy boasts of using burr brown op amps in his very best, for well over $100, and the first guy appears to use some burr brown amps in several of his for much lower prices. I also note that that Wolf guy uses 2 9v batteries in some of these. I gather that some people think highly of those ICs. Any impressions? What about mics?
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deaf dunderkwac deaf dunderkwac https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=78199
- KVRAF
- 5247 posts since 15 Aug, 2005 from RainLand featuring RAinRAinRAin
Unless you have the knowledge and equipment to deal with analoque circuit design, I recommend that you don't bother with diy.
That said, I made many nice-sounding preamps for dynamic microphones using SSM2017 chips, setting the gain range to be adjustable from -30 to -55dB.
The Burr Brown chip was better for condenser mics and was capable of using high-voltage power supplies, increasing it's headroom before clipping.
Discrete amps are difficult to make without a good scope and testset, as you spend most your time 'picking' transisters for the lowest noise/distortion tradeoffs.
I haven't built a tube amp since the 70's and have my reasons why I don't like them for microphones. (too many to list)
I've always had good test equipment, so I could test my home-designed pieces of crap.
My education includes electronics at a design-level. It's not like I just tossed stuff together.
I'm not in a position to judge microphones anymore, but I NEVER found electret condenser elements to be 'low-noise'
It's better to use a dynamic element for that if you can't afford a real conderser.
The only condensers I'm very familiar with are unfortunately not in the relm of the home-hobbiest (or even the semi-pro)
Nor sould they be bothered with. For field recording for film/video time is always the enemy. You don't have many second-chances to capture the sound so you make your microphone choices accordingly.
My choice of mics varied from a Sennheiser 816t to a Sheops C-5 system. Towards the latter part of my carrer, if the bulk of recordings was inside I chose the C-5 system.
Your friend in the field, no matter what mic element you choose, is a VERY good windscreen. You can throw away the stuff supplied by the manufacturer as it's good for about a 5kph wind.
You're gonna find that the windscreens cost more then a good-quality mic.
I have made my own, but they looked miserable compared to a Rycote or a Lightwave (although you can hide a lot of it in the fake-fur covering lol )
so to codense:
low-noise mic preamps coupled with low-noise mics with the gain setup appropriately.
A better-then-foam windscreen for both indoors and outdoors.
These are the main components for gathering good field-recordings.
My favorite low-noise mics:
Sennheiser 816s for long shotguns (their new series doesn't have the 'reach' of the 816 imho)
Shoeps C-5 with hyper/cardiod/figure8/omni heads.
Others here know about some of the less-expensive condensers and I have used the some of the Rhodes mics. I still prefer the Neumann's but that might be because I've used them for so long and 'look' for that sound on certain instruments/voices
bad spln is my fort-aaaaa[/fonz mode off]
That said, I made many nice-sounding preamps for dynamic microphones using SSM2017 chips, setting the gain range to be adjustable from -30 to -55dB.
The Burr Brown chip was better for condenser mics and was capable of using high-voltage power supplies, increasing it's headroom before clipping.
Discrete amps are difficult to make without a good scope and testset, as you spend most your time 'picking' transisters for the lowest noise/distortion tradeoffs.
I haven't built a tube amp since the 70's and have my reasons why I don't like them for microphones. (too many to list)
I've always had good test equipment, so I could test my home-designed pieces of crap.
My education includes electronics at a design-level. It's not like I just tossed stuff together.
I'm not in a position to judge microphones anymore, but I NEVER found electret condenser elements to be 'low-noise'
It's better to use a dynamic element for that if you can't afford a real conderser.
The only condensers I'm very familiar with are unfortunately not in the relm of the home-hobbiest (or even the semi-pro)
Nor sould they be bothered with. For field recording for film/video time is always the enemy. You don't have many second-chances to capture the sound so you make your microphone choices accordingly.
My choice of mics varied from a Sennheiser 816t to a Sheops C-5 system. Towards the latter part of my carrer, if the bulk of recordings was inside I chose the C-5 system.
Your friend in the field, no matter what mic element you choose, is a VERY good windscreen. You can throw away the stuff supplied by the manufacturer as it's good for about a 5kph wind.
You're gonna find that the windscreens cost more then a good-quality mic.
I have made my own, but they looked miserable compared to a Rycote or a Lightwave (although you can hide a lot of it in the fake-fur covering lol )
so to codense:
low-noise mic preamps coupled with low-noise mics with the gain setup appropriately.
A better-then-foam windscreen for both indoors and outdoors.
These are the main components for gathering good field-recordings.
My favorite low-noise mics:
Sennheiser 816s for long shotguns (their new series doesn't have the 'reach' of the 816 imho)
Shoeps C-5 with hyper/cardiod/figure8/omni heads.
Others here know about some of the less-expensive condensers and I have used the some of the Rhodes mics. I still prefer the Neumann's but that might be because I've used them for so long and 'look' for that sound on certain instruments/voices
bad spln is my fort-aaaaa[/fonz mode off]
for entertaining porpoises only