wrote:
>
> Dear Field Recordists,
>
> I recently started using a new setup. It consists of a Sony MZ R37 Minidisc
> recorder and a portable recorder interface with 48V phantom power. I use a
> Sennheiser ME short shotgun mic and a Telinga dish with Sennheiser ME 62
> omni. I have some questions about all this. Firstly, since the mics I am
> using have power supplies I do not need the phantom supply on the interface
> right? If I do use it with the powered mics will it hurt anything, help
> anything? Will the setup I'm using produce adequate field recordings of
> birds? By adequate I mean good enough to put on CD or cassette for others to
> listen to. I'm using mono mode to do single species. I would eventually like
> to do some ambient nature recordings. What stereo setup would work best for
> the least amount of money but still produce sufficient gain recordings? If
> using mics that require a phantom power supply are less expensive then I
> would prefer to go with that.
I don't know as phantom power will save money, especially if as you do
it's requiring a separate power supply. I'd use the mics with internal
batteries in preference, simply less lumps to be carting around, less
chance of a bad connection, or snagging a cord. Save the phantom power
for the mics that only work that way.
Phantom power has a slight advantage with really long runs. And
sometimes the mics will record really loud sounds better. Other than
that, it's just a alternative power method. I suppose another thing is
that you would probably be using less throw away batteries. But, if your
mic will take internal batteries, you don't need phantom power.
Note that when using a mic that does not need phantom power, you should
turn it off. Some mics can be damaged.
As far as stereo, figure it's at least twice the cost of mono, except
for maybe the single point stereo mics. I like the Sony ECM-MS957 stereo
mic. It's not for distant pickup, I primarily use it when the weather
gets too bad for my Telinga. It's much easier to protect it from the
weather, and it's fairly easy to record out the car window even in
pouring rain. Not the best recordings that way, but for survey work it's
ok. The Sony will match your recorder well, and runs off a single AA.
Note that the ECM-MS907 is not near as good a mic, though much cheaper
and far more common on Ebay, I don't recommend it.
Walt
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