Hi Phil-
re:
http://tinyurl.com/y62fq2
>.. OK to use straight into a Sony Hi-MD machine mic input for atmosphere t=
ype
>recordings?
To the best of my knowledge, its a pretty safe bet that most of the
electret mics like these are made-up from capsules that perform very
similarly-- especially for the application you describe. It depends a
bit on how much noise one can live with and how loud one want to play
her/his recordings, but, generally speaking, small-packaged electret
mics are challenged to perform as well (self-noise-wise) as the
larger condenser mics we often discuss. Because many recordists
prefer small rigs, whenever a new, small mic comes out that could
have sunstantially lower self-noise, there is great interest. One
need only consider the current discussion of Klas's new KSEM-23 ;-)
which folks are hopeful will be among the better small, electret mic
performers, if not at the top.
I wasn't able to include Klas's mic in a recent test we did, but of
the four, popular, electret mics I had on hand (Primo EM158,
Panasonic WM-61A, Rapid 35-0190, and Shure WL-813 - all on HiMD PIP),
the WL-183 seemed to have the edge. The 183 has ~21dB(A) self-noise.
Enter "183" into the list archive like this
http://tinyurl.com/vqm4y
for a wealth of info about this mic. The 183's take some soldering
and are~$200/pair or less.
Klas is just getting the new PIP powered KSEM-23 mic out for folks to
try. (Sorry, I didn't include any electret mic "triplets" like those
Rich Peet, Tom Robinson and Richard have been making because they
need another (simple) power supply which I didn't have handy.
Someday, we'll do a thorough test of these electret options.)
The noise "hit" going from a mic with lower self noise [like
~12dB(A)] self to one with ~21dB(A) self-noise is quite noticeable
when recording with high gain in quiet locations-- but not nearly as
much in loud locations.
As for larger, condenser mic options, here's some background on the
HiMD/AT3032 set-up as an intro to one or many budget angles:
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-reports/HiMD/index.htm. If you have
more money to invest, there are many good mics to consider.
There are many factors to consider and no field recording rig can
satisfy them all. If you want to make a list of your priorities,
folks can help your refine your choices. If you take some time to do
the research, there are many great options today. There are also some
"not-so-great" options to take a pass on. Good gear retains value,
so even if you want to gamble and start-off with a considerable
investment, selling it would be even cheaper than the cost of renting
it a few times if you take care of it. Rob D.
At 10:59 AM +0000 1/5/07, macmang4125 wrote:
>Hi
>
>I was wondering if anyone has worked with the above mics and if so what
>they thought of them? Are they fairly quiet mics and would they be OK
>to use straight into a Sony Hi-MD machine mic input for atmosphere type
>recordings?
>
>Link to mics:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CHURCH-AUDIO-PRO-BINAURAL-MIC-4-
>MINIDISC-MD-DAT-
>MP3_W0QQitemZ260041137309QQihZ016QQcategoryZ3281QQcmdZViewItem
>
>Thanks
>
>Phil
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
--
Rob Danielson
Peck School of the Arts
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/
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