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Re: smallest recording solution

Subject: Re: smallest recording solution
From: "cfmspencer" cfmspencer
Date: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm (PDT)
--- In  "oryoki2000" <> 
wrote:
>
> "cfmspencer" wrote: 
> > my aim is to figure out the absolute lightest
> > weight high quality setup possible...a 'minimal' 
> > kit that I would never even consider leaving at the
> > trailhead becuase it weighed too much
> 
> The new Sony MZ-RH1 ($300) is the lightest minidisc recorder 
available
> today, about 100 grams and less than 110 cc in volume.  But you 
still
> need an external mic or two.   
> 
> The smallest recorder with decent built-in microphones is the Nagra
> ARES-M ($1000), about 130 cc in volume and weighing 200 grams.
> Somewhat larger, but lighter, is the Edirol R-09 ($400).  The R-09 
is
> 186cc and 145g.  Its built-in mics are not quite as good as those 
in
> the ARES-M.  Both machines can be equipped with external mics if 
you
> prefer.
> 
> Both recorders use AA batteries for power.  The ARES-M is supposed 
to
> record for about 10 hours on two AAs, the R-09 about 6 hours.
> 
> The ARES-M has 1GB flash memory built in, good for about 90 
minutes of
> recording.  The R-09 has the advantage of using a removeable SD 
flash
> memory card to store recordings. When the SD card is filled, swap 
in a
> new card.  
> 
> The $400 price for the R-09 does not include the memory card.  A 
1GB
> SD card costs about $30 today. A 2GB card costs $50, so it's a 
better
> deal.
> 
> --oryoki
>


thanks much, Oryoki, I will look into these.

I tried to post my thanks to the group earlier today, but it got 
lost somehow.

so thanks again Oryoki, Rob and Marc for the great advice!

I was intrigued by the discussions about the Shure A96F, so I 
ordered one. B&H says that there is a production malfunction, so 
there may be a shortage, I ordered thru Amazon.

the 'controversy' about whether/how 'impedance-matching' works is 
interesting to me, but it's cheap enough to try for oneself, esp, as 
it appears to be the proverbial 'straight wire with gain'.

the Oade Bros. website offers Hosa's comparative product (albeit a 
1/4" version) coupled with a Denecke ps-2 phantom power unit as a 
low cost mic preamp.

http://www.oade.com/microphones/low_cost_mic_pre.html


it seems I should start with great microphones no matter what else I 
might decide downstream.  low noise / high output mics might lessen 
the possible need for high quality preamps. per Rob's spreadsheet, 
it is wasy to see why the MKH series are so popular.

thanks Rob for the suggestion to try the MKH-30 in M-S config.
after listening to some recent recordings made with my NTG-2, it 
seems as if I will appreciate stereo recordings more than mono.

it also seems that M-S is the simplest manner to get good stereo,
are there significant issues/downsides to using M-S?

after being impressed in an audition of the MKH-416 at B&H, I had 
originally thought of getting an MKH-418S stereo mic, but it seems 
the side mic is rather noisy for ambient recordings at 22db.

what is the ideal pattern for the Mid mic?

cheers,
clay












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