Syd wrote:
>Local (Brisbane, Australia) sound recording specialists, Musiclab, advise
>that:
>
> "Sennheiser has just released a range of their Evolution dynamic
>microphones in retail blister packs at very competitive prices - German-made
>microphones at Chinese-made prices.
>
> "There are three mics in the range. Each is a cardioid pattern and
>comes packed with a 5m XLR-XLR mic cable. The e815S and e816S also feature
>a silent ON/OFF switch.
>
> e815S - general purpose mic. RRP $119 - special price $79
> e816S - vocal stage moc. RRP $219 - special; price $149
> e817 - lead vocal mic. RRP $269 - special price $117
>
>(End of Musiclab advertisement)
>
>[NOTE: I wonder if there is a typo. error in the last special price.]
>
>Those prices are of course in Oz dollars - currently worth about 65 cents
>US, each.
>
>I don't imagine too many Naturecordists with condenser mics are going to
>race out and buy any of these dynamic mics., but at a couple of hundred
>dollars Australian, as against a couple of thousand for Sennheiser MKH
>series, they ARE cheap, and may be worth considering for someone with a
>limited budget, starting out in nature sound recording. It seems likely
>that they would have the usual Sennheiser reliability.
>
>For some years from 1968, all my recording was done with just two mics; a
>uher and a Grampian, and I think both were dynamic. Didn't require any
>power supply, anyway. And I got some excellent results - either with a
>parabolic reflector or using a long cable to get close to the subject.
>
>So :
>
> (a) this confirms (though no confirmation was needed) what Walter and
>others have been saying that recording equipment is designed and made for
>the music industry; and
>
> (b) it would be a kind thing, were someone with technical knowledge to
>get the specifications and comment on the probable usefulness of these mics
>for nature recording, for the benefit of the technically-challenged (like
>me) and for those starting out in nature recording.
>
>Cheers
>
>Syd Curtis in Australia
>
Hi Syd--
We're always on the lookout for good deals on low noise field
recording mics for my classes. As you suggest, a dynamic mic with
low enough noise for general field recording is unlikely. Some manufs
don't even bother listing the noise specs for dynamics. But there are
some good mics creeping into the lower price range; we've been
testing a few that seem to show promise.
Either for an extra set or as a first set of mics, the Rode NT-1A
large condenser is what I now recommend. $200 each. I been using two
in surround arrays with my MKH-30/40 since May. I keep thinking there
must be a hitch, but their overall sound compares very favorably and
the NT-1A is quieter. Even though they are large condensers, they
have a wider than usual polar pattern and their off-axis coloration
is much less than I expected. Moisture-wise, they have made it
through couple of rainy nights. They are larger but not bulky and
were quite easy to mount in 4" PVC homemade shock mounts. They come
with some shock mounts which I found too rigid for field use. I've
had no additional problems with wind. The biggest drawback I've
experienced is getting dealers to ship sequential pairs which Rode
says will provide pretty good chances of getting closely matched
characteristics. There have been some very slight differences
between the mics I've compared by ear. I haven't tried a sequential
pair yet.
They run on phantom power only. With Evert's help, we figured out how
to modify the $80 Audio Buddy stereo mic preamp to run on 4X9volt
batteries so we're looking at about $500 for a pair of field ready
mics. The comparison testing I did was promising so I took a pair
into the field and, so far, they've not let me down. I had hoped to
put together this info on our website along with all the mic
characteristic info I started compiling, but I've run out of time.
Below is the link to a comparison stereo sound file. It has the $1200
MKH-40 on the Left channel through a $700 MP-2 mic pre and on the
Right channel is the $200 Rode NT-1A going through the $80 Audio
Buddy. $2000: $300. The test situation could be better but if you
listen to the captured qualities in the various sound sources, its
useful. A->D was a RME Multiface @ 24bits originally. Sorry, its a
4mb file.
http://www.uwm.edu/PSOA//Film/Danielson/MHK40>MP-2(L)NT1-A>AB(R)FLT.mp3
There are a few more related tests if you look around on the directory level:
http://www.uwm.edu/PSOA//Film/Danielson/
For quality on a budget, this combination is the best field ready
package I've had experience with.
Best,
Rob Danielson
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