> My interest in recording is, at this point, still principally
> binaurally. I find the theory pure and enjoy the style. Headphone
> exclusive listening/playback doesn't bother me so much. So, I've
> looked into the Shure's and the DSM's. I don't like the sound of the
> Shure's and the DSM's have at least a one month wait and a pretty
> decent cost with the necessary WHB...
>
> So, I started thinking about just going to a more classic stereo
> recording set-up: affordable AT-3032's, Rolls PB224 phantom power
> supply and getting all the necessary Rycote windscreens, shock-mounts,
> stands, etc. But, with this rig, all of a sudden, the ease of use,
> stealth, and technical savy (which I probably have quite a bit less of
> than I'd like to think!) comes into play. And there there is the Sony
> ECM-MS957 or the AT822 (both of which can be used singly for stereo
> recording, no? I like that!)...or the Rode M3 and NT3...and...!!!???
>
> I'm mostly interested in, what I'm calling...for lack of knowledge as
> to what it's professionally called...natural soundscapes. I guess
> "ambient" recording. I'm not, at this point, interested in isolating
> the sounds of a bird, a frog or a train but, capturing the whole
> environment I may be hitting the record button in. And, they're
> usually quite spaces I'm recording in. Sure, I'll occasionally find
> myself in the urban jungle but, for now, I guess I could just use my
> noisy in-ears...
As a lover of, and advocate of, the DSMs (here and elsewhere), I would
immediately suggest that they are not really quite enough for the kind of
quiet ambiance recording you describe. I love them -- but if they have one
real Achilles' Hell, it's their noise floor. I strongly suspect you would
not find the results you got good enough. It's too bad; they are certainly
in the "what you hear is what goes on tape" camp -- hence my love of them.
It will definitely require more work -- probably some DIY -- but have
considered the "modified SASS" approach, in which you place quieter omni
mics in a Crown SASS housing? I do believe people on this list have had
success doing this with the 3032s -- I don't own a pair but in the archives
you will find many allusions to them being considered a great deal.
If money were no obstacle I might consider creating a binaural-style set
from the new Sennheiser MKH 8020s, using the "active cables" to make the
mics small enough to be worn on the temples in some sort of WHB-like
mounting...
...except that there is an inherent contradiction between truely quiet
ambiance recording and any sort of binaural-like approach; body noise and
breathe etc. start to become *serious* problems, especially for long
recordings! Something to consider...
Good luck,
aaron
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