Rob,
Thanks for the information.
Based on the charts and the $ I want to spend at this point, the mics of
choice are probably: 1 Sennheiser K6/ME66, 2. Rode NTG-2 or the 3. Audio
Technica AT897. =A0I am leaning to the Rode NTG-2 since it is more in
my price range. =A0But I am still considering what is right to do.
=A0I have listened to recordings of all 3 and the Sennheiser appears
slightly better with the Rode a close 2nd.
Again... thanks... I will share my final purchase decision later.
Mark
--- In Rob Danielson <> wrote:
>
> At 10:54 PM +0000 3/28/08, Mark Forry wrote:
> >After much internet reviewing, I chose the Marantz PMD 620 recorder.
> >I am looking to make
> >bird song recordings to help identify birds in the field that I
> >cannot see, but hear only. I have
> >Thrayer's birding software that provides excellent song recordings
> >for comparison.
> >
> >I made my field recorder selection based on 2 sources: oryoki's
> >recent naturerecordist review
> >and the transom.org review. Considering what I was looking for it
> >seemed to be the best
> >compromise.
> >
> >I am now looking for an external shotgun microphone in the $50-200
> >range. This area is
> >more troublesome for me to sort out. I have read I should get the
> >best microphone I can
> >afford. However, I want to start out with little in it until I
> >understand how I am using the field
> >recorder better and know more about what is needed.
> >
> >Your recommendations are welcome. My understanding is that this
> >recorder does not have
> >phantom power so keep this in mind when making your recommendations.
> >My 2 primary
> >uses for the field recorder will be for birding in the field and
> >doing podcasts. I am new to
> >the audio field so bear with me as I get acquainted with what is
> >required. Plus, I am new to
> >naturerecordists.
> >
> >Thanks in advance....
>
> Hi Mark--
>
> Sorry if my answer to your mic selection question seems overly
> technical. The question you ask is very common. I've tried to provide
> some "tools" you and others might be able to use in understanding
> your options.
>
> The role of "noise" is more important in nature recording because the
> sounds and spaces we record are often much quieter than the usual
> fare of voice, music, and loud sound effects/environments. Sadly, we
> are finding that many of the newer, "point and shoot" recorders are
> much better suited for the later subjects.
>
> With a noise floor of -112dBu, the mic premp in the PMD 620 is
> noisier than what many would consider very well suited for nature
> recording. (Raimund's chart lists the noise floors of many popular
> recorders http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm) This noise is
> produced by the mic preamps in your recorder when you raise the gain
> to high levels to record soft subjects. As a result of this high
> level of noise in the PMD 620, the number of "well-matched" mic
> choices is fairly limited. Of course, you can invest in "better" mics
> you can use with a "better" mic pre/recorder in the future. Many
> readers on this list would probably recommend this having purchased
> mics that turned out to be noisier than they hoped they would be.
> There's lots of bad advice out there!
>
> Manufacturers specifications ("specs") are not to be relied upon
> 100% but they do provide a good reference. The mics in the White Area
> on the below chart are a good match for your PMD 620 (with its noise
> floor of -112dBu). The mics in the Pink Area will add a significant
> amount of noise to your high gain recordings. The mics in the Blue
> Area would be an investment for using with a "better" mic
> pre/recorder in the future. The Brown mics, no matter where they
> fall, have high self-noise that make them less than ideal for
> recording ambience in quiet locations.
> http://ad2004.hku.nl/naturesound/RobD/Table3_RaneNotes148_-112dBu.gif
>
>
> For reference, below is another chart with mic options for a Hi-MD
> recorder with its -124 dBu noise floor. The mics in the White Area on
> the below chart are a good match for a Hi-MD recorder. The mics in
> the Pink Area will add a significant amount of noise to your high
> gain recordings. The mics in the Blue Area would be an investment for
> using with a better mic pre/recorder in the future. The Brown mics,
> no matter where they fall, have high self-noise that make them less
> than ideal for recording ambience in quiet locations:
> http://ad2004.hku.nl/naturesound/RobD/Table3_RaneNotes148_-124dBU.gif
>
>
> Please note that if one is only interested in recording loud sounds,
> even the brown mics can produce very acceptable results because your
> record levels (and noise) will be low.
>
> There are many experienced recordists on this list who can recommend
> and discuss specific mics. My charts might help you refine your
> search.
>
> I just used model numbers on the charts. On this page,
>
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/pages/MicSpecs-Cover.htm\
l
> you'll find the mics, by model number, with the manufacturers'
> self-noise and sensitivity provided. In some cases, the numbers have
> been changed to match tests that folks have conducted.
>
> To avoid the predicament you are in, I suggest researching mics first
> before buying a recorder. Unfortunately, the opposite seems to be the
> rule. The mics are the most critical component in a recording system.
> Rob D.
>
>
> --
>
>
>
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