From: D & m <>
>
> Thanks for the replies
> There is a lot of discussion on what makes a good mic. for recording in
> the environment. Regardless what you are recording on or what you
> subject is there would be certain criteria that separates a good mic
> from a average one. Some of these are mentioned regularly eg it is
> desirable for the self noise to be below 20dB but this just one aspect
> of it.
To me a good mic is one that's still impressing me after I've used it
for a season or more of nature recording. No amount of studying specs
can by itself pick them out. I study specs, I read what others use them
for and listen to the results, if possible I try and get one in my
hands. I download the spec sheets and put them in my collection and
compare them to those I already have downloaded, or even download more
for comparison. I hunt up reviews and opinions. I note where someone has
used them for a recording.
As far as the spec sheet the first thing I'll read is the polar pattern.
If it's not the right pattern for what I'm after the finest numbers in
the world won't help.
Next is how it's powered, I prefer phantom power mics.
Usually the first number I'll read is the self noise. I'm looking for as
low as I can get, but more I'm comparing that number to mics of the same
type I already know. Where does it rank? I have a general cutoff at
15dBA, but that's not hard and fast.
Somewhere about here I'll look at the photos and dimensions and think
about how it would be suspended and wind protected. How well it could be
used hand held. Check the weight, try to guess the balance.
Next I'll look at the polar diagrams and sensitivity graphs. I'm looking
primarily for a fairly flat sensitivity graph and smooth polar diagrams.
I make a guess as to how authentic and representative they are.
After that I'll go through the other numbers. Sensitivity is important,
but in the class of mics I might look at not a big problem.
At that point, if not before I'm into thinking about using the mic in
practical situations. For instance if the mic were one to be mounted in
a SASS, having a even diameter along it's length and a well exposed
diaphragm is important.
But building things around it is only one thing. I visualize sites I
might record with it. By looking at the polar graph and spectral chart I
try and sort out how it would handle picking up the site I'm visualizing.
I also pay attention to diaphragm size, generally nature recording mics
have diaphragms on the smaller size, but I'd like to experiment more
with large diaphragm mics.
I also evaluate the build quality and get some idea about repairs.
Nature recording exposes mics to quite a few hazards and you want a mic
that can take that. If you are considering a mic that's not been used
for nature recording but just studio there's a significant chance it
will fail quickly outdoors, particularly in humid conditions. You won't
find specs for this. The experiences of other nature recordists is about
all you have to go on. And you have to know what sort of places they
record in. The popularity of Sennheiser's ME and MKH mics, particularly
the latter, for nature recording has a lot to do with their toughness
out in the environment. Couple that with excellent specs and sound and
it's easy to see why they are the safe choice.
> I have a mic that is used on a video camera. Its Specs are
> Unidirectional, Frequency response 70- 16 000 but you for get anything
> below 700Hz. Output Impedency 600ohms, Sensitivity -68dB and its noisy.
> To assist in the poor sensitivity I use a umbrella for a reflector which
> many strange looks have come my way. I record on a minidisk mostly birds
> which I have to get close as possible to. Then I didn't know what I was
> getting but I had to start some where. I'm a little wiser now but there
> is a lot of things that still hazy.
That's really the trick, get out and record. Nothing helps with all this
like hands on experience. At first the information you read will be a
jumble, but it's organized primarily by using it.
Walt
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