I'll add to the good comments John Hartog has already posted. I've used
the Shure WL183s extensively, and also AT 3032s (but not quite as
much). The 183s are great for a lot of situations, but they're too
noisy for quiet natural settings. Regarding the 3032s, Eric Benjamin
reported some astonishing results a year or so ago from his tests of
one individual 3032: 8 db(A) self noise, considerably lower than AT's
published specs. At $170.00 (US), I think these mics are a real
bargain. Last spring I made a simultaneous test recording in my
suburban Minneapolis neighborhood with stereo pairs of 3032s and 183s.
First you'll hear the 3032s, followed by the same slice of time
captured with the 183s. (NOTE: If disclaimers are needed when comparing
different signal paths using the same mics in the same setting, then
disclaimers should be shouted from the rooftops when comparing entirely
different mic rigs side by side. So here's my official disclaimer: The
following clip is for illustration only. It should not be taken as
definitive of anything. It is nothing more than a recording of two
experimental stereo mic rigs in one particular acoustic environment at
one particular time.) That said, here goes...
http://www.trackseventeen.com/media/tsp/060331-3032_183.mp3
or
http://www.trackseventeen.com/media/tsp/060331-3032_183.wav
I have many other clips recorded with these and other mic rigs, along
with some photos of the rigs at:
http://www.trackseventeen.com/soundscapes
The page is badly in need of updating, but hopefully it might be
useful...
Curt Olson
pga7602 wrote:
> While we are at it, lets throw in the Audio-Technica AT3032 as well.
> Rob Danielson?
>
> --- In "pga7602" <> wrote:
>>
>> Hi John,
>>
>> I noticed that you have experience with both the wl-183s and NT1-As.
>> I am in the process of choosing between these two mics and was
>> wondering which one you liked better for quiet ambient sound
>> recordings? Thunder? Streams? frogs?
>>
>> Can you give me a comparison the two mics other than the obvious size.
>>
>> Thanks for your help in advance.
|