--- In Rob Danielson <>
wrote:
>
> At 2:48 PM -0400 7/27/06, Walter Knapp wrote:
> > What I do pay attention to is results, and the
> >MKH-80 are very desirable mics. Excellent, clear sound, high
> >sensitivity, low self noise, just the thing for nature recording.
IMHO
> >they are better than the MKH-30 & 40 as a M/S pair.
>
> Increased clarity is how I'd describe the difference as well. I
used
> a 30/40 pair for the front M-S on my 744T surround rig for two
years
> and switched to a 80/40 pair a year ago. The 80 seems to have
> extended response under 50Hz and noticeably smoother lower-mid
> response. The most evident upper end noise on my 80 is about a
1/3
> of an octave higher. There's less graininess to notch-out around
8K
> Hz (compared to the MKH-30). In quiet natural locations, the
output
> of my MKH-40 (which was bench- tested with the 30 by Sennheiser)
> typically produced 2-3 dB more output than the MKH-30. My MKH 80
> produces 2-3 dB more sound file saturation than the 40. There
are
> several solid plusses with the 80. Rob D.
>
>
> --
>
on this subject of 'better' figure 8s than an MKH-30,
has anyone any experience with the Pearl ELM-B, esp,
outdoors?
this figure 8 has a dual filament design and a
very long (7-to-1 ratio) rectangular diaphragm, in
case anyone is interested after following the recent thread
on figure 8 mic design characteristics.
while researching Kavi Alexander's transition from
all-tube/analog custom-built recording gear to digital,
I learned that he uses ELM-Bs in his preferred Blumlein
configuration. although presumably he doesn't record
in Costa Rica in the 'green' season, so who knows how these
might work out of doors.
Kavi apparently now uses SD 722 (and some Tascam DSD pieces),
and also the Grace V3. at least he used to before switching
to a True Systems P2 (over the Grace) as his preferred mic
pre. prior to settling with the P2, he modified the V3 with an extra
10db gain, and added an external M-S switch.
Kavi is a purist, and professes to most often use just two mics in a
Blumlein (or Mid-side) configuration for his normally small musical
group recordings of the highest caliber. He claims to do NO
processing of the signal in post. the specs on the P2 describe Mid-
side decoding and features which support optimal mic placement, such
as the "stereo phase correlation meter", a series of green, yellow
and red LEDs that presumably indicate the ratio of in-phase to out-
of-phase signal (I think).
unfortunately the P2 is AC powered, and weighs 15 lbs, and is
therefore not that useful to nature recordists I would imagine,
although price is very similar to the V3.
cheers,
clay
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