Hi
I think the self-noise is dependent on the powering method used
for the K6. I carried out some basic tests using a Focusrite Red
stereo pre-amp and a K6/ME66 combo. Powered by the phantom supply
of the Focusrite the K6/ME66 was noticeably quieter than when powering
using the AA battery. So this may account for the apparent discrepancies
in self-noise that Rob has noticed?
In normal use I have not found the self-noise of the K6/ME66 to be intrusiv=
e
when recording using a Sony Hi-MD myself, even on battery power. Just watch
the level as it is sometimes prudent to drop down to the 'Low' sensitivity
setting sometimes on the Hi-MD as the K6/ME66 does have a 'healthy' output.
Phil
--- In Rob Danielson <> wrote:
>
> At 5:32 PM +0000 6/17/07, Adam Welz wrote:
> >Dear Rob
> >During our conversation regarding cheaper
> >recorders (copied below) you said the following:
> >"Your Sennhieser ME 66 with K6 power module likely produces more
> >
> >self-noise than either the Hi-MD or
> >Microtracker' s mic pres."Since I'm very new to
> >this, I wonder if you could tell me if mic
> >self-noise and recorder pre-amp noise are
> >cumulative, or if a noisy mic will just cover up
> >pre-amp noise?
>
> Its cumulative and one can "cover up" the other
> depending on the difference in level and the
> sonic character of the noise sources. I have read
> in a couple of places that if the two noise
> sources differ by 10dBA, the noise from the
> louder source one will effectively mask the noise
> created by lower one. Likewise, if the
> difference is less, you will hear a mix of the
> noise from both sources.
>
> >
> >In other words, if the ME 66 with K6 is noisier
> >than either the Sony Hi-MD or the MicroTrack,
> >will it make any difference to the noise on the
> >recording which one I use?
>
> This would need to be tested to be sure, but I
> would guess that it would be hard to hear the
> difference in the recorders with that mic.
> Sennheiser states the self-noise of their ME66
> electret mic as 10 dB(A). I don't own the mic
> but based on tests posted by list members where I
> could compare its performance to other mics, I
> found its self-noise performance to be closer to
> 16dBA. The noise equivalent of the the Hi-MD
> recorder pres seems to be in range of 10-12dBA
> (based on a couple of tests done with mkh-40's
> with 12dBA self noise and numerous tests with
> NT1-A's with 6dBA self noise)=A0 Taking the figure
> of 11dBA for the Hi-MD's mic pre and 16dBA for
> the ME66, the mic's self noise would be around 5
> dBA louder.
>
> There might be someone on this list with the gear
> necessary to run a comparison test. If you are
> planning to use either recorder primarily with
> this mic, I wouldn't let the Hi-MD's slightly
> better noise performance be the determining
> factor, especially as the ME66 has high output
> and requires lower mic gain as a rule. Rob D.
>
>
> >
> >Best
> >
> >Adam
> >
> >
> >9b.=A0
> > =A0=A0
> > Re: Cheaper recorders cont.=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
> > =A0=A0
> > Posted by: "Rob Danielson"=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
> > =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
> > =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
> > =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
> > danielson_rob
> > =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
> > =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
> > =A0=A0
> > Mon Jun 4, 2007 3:29 pm (PST)=A0=A0=A0
> >
> > =A0=A0
> > At 7:48 PM +0000 6/4/07, Adam Welz wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >re:
> >
> >>
> >
> >>I have read in other forums that the Edirol is noisier than the
> >
> >>MicroTrack, but I can't find any comparision of these two with the
> >
> >>MZ RH1 in terms of recorded sound quality.
> >
> >
> >
> >Your Sennhieser ME 66 with K6 power module likely produces more
> >
> >self-noise than either the Hi-MD or Microtracker' s mic pres.
> >
> >
> >
> >As Oryoki summarized. the RH-1 has the same mic pre chip/low-noise,
> >
> >high-gain quality as any of the Hi-MD recorders. Here is the NH-900
> >
> >Hi-MD compared to a Microtracker:
> >
> >http://www.uwm. edu/~type/ audio-art-
> >tech-gallery/ pages/MicroTrack _NH900_722_
> >IMA-QT-present. html
> >
> >
> >
> >You might note that the Hi-MD recorder has considerably more gain if
> >
> >you are recording subtle sounds
> >
> >
> >
> >On the Gallery page you will find a test comparing Hi-MD and the Zoom H4=
.
> >
> >http://www.uwm. edu/~type/ audio-art- tech-gallery/
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >
> >>A few people have emailed me to tell me to stay away from MiniDisc
> >
> >>as the format is outdated. This, however is of no concern to me as I
> >
> >>will be transferring all recordings to CD or hard-drive in AIFF or
> >
> >>WAV format and not archiving anything on MiniDiscs or flashcards
> >
> >>themselves - they'll just be the interim storage medium.
> >
> >
> >
> >You might also want to consider how much you record and how often you
> >
> >can get to a computer for uploading CF cards. 20- 1GB Hi-MD
> >
> >(reusable) discs for $120 will hold 30 hours of 44K/16 material. The
> >
> >disks can also record 7 hours+ in Hi-SP mode if you need to do longer
> >
> >term site monitoring. Rob D.
> >
>
|