At 11:09 PM +0000 2/1/07, Raimund Specht wrote:
>As announced previously, I just completed another noise (and max gain)
>comparison test on various microphone and recorder combinations. The
>test is not perfect because I have no absolutely silent test chamber.
>Though, I believe that one can still get a good idea of the differences:
>
>http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm
>http://www.avisoft.com/test/noisefloors.pdf
>
>The most surprising result is that the maximum "gain" (input
>sensitivity) of the TASCAM HD-P2 is only 6 dB lower than the SD722,
>which shows that it's not always easy to correctly interpret the
>specifications provided by the manufacturers.
>
>Regards,
The consistencies between the tests and measurements see, to suggest
that your chart is a good guide to noise performance-- at least as Hz
"hiss" noise is concerned. The only rec/pre I'm 100% sure is
completely beneath the NT1A's noise is the 722. The noise from HDP2
might be very slightly there with the NT1-A's noise. The increasing
noise sequence seems to be pretty close to what your chart predicts:
722 -> HDP2-> 671 -> 670 -> 2496.
As we both are using the 722 and NT1A's as references, I thought I'd
try to add my recordings of NT1A->722 and the NT1-A->Rolls-> Hi-MD.
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/mediafiles/RaimundSpecht_Ro=
bD_RecTestsAIFF.mov
(H.263, 6mb, AIFF 16/48K sound. Playable with VLC or a QuickTime plug
in your browser)
To attempt this, I matched your NT1A->722 test to my NT1A->722 test
as closely as I could in terms of the hiss. Then I followed my
NT1A->722 test with my NT1A->Rolls-> Hi-MD (NH900) test and then your
NT1A-> 671 test. The hiss levels in the last two samples sound
pretty dern close-- just as your EIN numbers suggest.
Your test reveals huge differences in the character of the sound each
recorder/pre produces,.. Another topic I will avoid starting!
Noise-wise, all of these recorders do fairly well for less critical
applications. Your tests with the shotgun mics are a good example of
how even 6-8 dB(A) more self noise can negate the performance
differences of the lower noise pres. Partially for this reason, I
know a couple exceptions to the position that NT1-A's are not
suitable for use outdoors. :-)!
Thanks for putting all of this useful information together for everyone. Ro=
b D.
--
Rob Danielson
Peck School of the Arts
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/
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