Rob,
Your rule of thumb (below) should work OK, although I haven't
actually tested 4 low vs 10 high. And now Raimund has suggested
differences in noise using 16 vs 24 bit, so obviously I will need to
keep trying new settings! (will do that over next few days when
bleak weather is forecast).
What I did find in comparing 5 high with 5 low, (and then boosting
the 5 low signal in Peak), was that the sound quality of the beeper
was slightly harder in 5 low, and perhaps sounded more natural in 5
high. No idea what this is all about! Hence my suggestion of going
with 5 high. But the sound quality was just fine comparing 2 low
with 10 high.
Raimund, if I record on 24 bit, and later convert it to 16 bit, will
the reduced noise benefit be retained?
Vicki
On 07/07/2008, at 6:26 PM, Rob Danielson wrote:
> Vicki--
> Based on your tests so far, is this rule of thumb correct for when to
> use High of Low Sensitivity on the LS-10?
>
> Use the High Sensitivity setting on the LS-10 if the meter (in High
> Sens mode) indicates that level of "4" or higher is required. Use a
> Low Sensitivity setting of "10" if the meter (in High Sens mode)
> indicates a level of "3" or lower is required. Rob D.
>
> = = = = =
>
> At 4:51 PM +1000 7/7/08, Vicki Powys wrote:
>> Sorry that my last message to Rob was not quite right! I herewith
>> make a correction.
>>
>> More indoor tests today (using a softly beeping electronic
>> metronome): For loud sounds e.g. lyrebirds, if you have a strong
>> signal at high sensitivity volume 2, you will get a better (less
>> noisy) result if you switch to low sensitivity and volume 10. The
>> signal will be about the SAME, but the noise a lot less. This rule
>> applies if you are using ME67, WL-183s, or built-in mics.
>>
>> However if you need the recorder on high sensitivity volume 5 to get
>> a decent signal, it is not worth trying to use low sensitivity on
>> volume 10 then boosting the signal later (if you do, the noise levels
>> will be very roughly the same).
>>
>> I have done more tests with the WL-183s, on high sensitivity volume 5
>> (a good average level for recording birdsong). They give a very
>> slightly LESS strong signal than the built in mics, but when the
>> signal levels are equalized, the 183s are still a bit less noisy.
>> The 183s seem to work best (less noise) with the low cut ON,
>> alternatively they need a bit of low roll off below 500 hz.
>>
>> Vicki Powys
>> Australia
>>
>> On 07/07/2008, at 9:17 AM, Vicki Powys wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Rob,
>>>
>>> Yes I have tried lining up two files, one recorded in high
>>> sensitivity volume 2, the other on low sensitivity volume 10. I
>>> then
>>> increased the levels of the low sens. file by 5 dB (also 7 dB) to
>>> match the levels (of the recorded bird sounds or whatever) of the
>>> high sens. file. The exact amount of increase needed I am still
>>> working on, but it seems to be about 5-7 dB. Even with this
>>> increase, the noise levels are still lower with the low sens. file,
>>> especially the FIZZ noise.
>>>
>>> Vicki
>>>
>>> On 06/07/2008, at 2:01 PM, Rob Danielson wrote:
>>>
>>>> At 11:52 AM +1000 7/6/08, Vicki Powys wrote:
>>>>> All,
>>>>>
>>>>> Using an ME67 connected to my LS-10, I have done a bit more
>>>>> testing
>>>>> in the field (and indoors) of noise levels using high vs low
>>>>> sensitivity. For lyrebirds, I do seem to get a better result
>>>>> using
>>>>> low sensitivity at volume 10, instead of high sensitivity at
>>>>> volume
>>>>> 2. There is much less FIZZ.
>>>>>
>>>>> But also, surprisingly, I seemed to get better results yesterday
>>>>> when
>>>>> recording Regent Honeyeaters (they have a soft melodious call),
>>>>> using
>>>>> low sensitivity at volume 10, then raising the levels to match
>>>>> what I
>>>>> had recorded at high sensitivity at volume 5. Again, much less
>>>>> FIZZ
>>>>> on low sens.
>>>>
>>>> Did you confirm this with matched playback levels? If not,
>>>> place the
>>>> tests made with high and low sensitivity one after the other on
>>>> different tracks in a time-line. Boost the playback volume of
>>>> the low
>>>> sensitivity one to match the playback level of the louder (high
>>>> sensitivity) one. You should be able to hear the difference in the
>>>> "fizz" noise level where the two files join.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> This seems to be a very complex issue! More testing needed!
>>>>>
>>>>> I haven't tried these tests with the WL-183s, but would suspect a
>>>>> similar result.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps. The WL-183's are fairly sensitive mics but not in the
>>>> same
>>>> ballpark with the ME-67.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Re my binaural setup, and your comment Rob (see below), where
>>>>> do I
>>>>> find Aaron's DSM temple mount set up?
>>>>
>>>> Aaron uses a WHB/N Windscreen
>>>>
>>>> <http://www.sonicstudios.com/access.htm#whb>http://
>>>> www.sonicstudios.com/access.htm#whb
>>>> I'm not sure if Leonard
>>>> sells just the mount-windscreen or not but you can see how his
>>>> design
>>>> works in the pictures. Rob D.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Vicki Powys
>>>>> Australia
>>>>>
>>>>> On 03/07/2008, at 12:31 AM, Raimund Specht wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rob Danielson wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A metronome at 5 metres might be a pretty "hot" reference
>>>>>>> signal.
>>>>>>> Its possible that the "Low Sensitivity" setting might not
>>>>>>> provide
>>>>>>> sufficient gain for quieter sounds and environments. Its worth
>>>>>>> further investigation, for sure.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Coincidentally, earlier today, I thought of Aaron's DSM temple
>>>>>>> mount
>>>>>>> preference in relation to your WL-183 rig priorities. Rob D.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes, this is a relatively loud test signal. Though, I believe
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> this is an adequate model for a loudly singing Lyrebird.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For recording softer sounds, one should perhaps better use the
>>>>>> HIGH
>>>>>> MIC SENSE setting. The problem with the Lyrebird was obviously
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> the REC LEVEL was turned down to 2, which caused the higher
>>>>>> overall
>>>>>> noise level. In other words, it is not appropriate to attenuate
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> microphone signal and then amplify it again in the next stage.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Note that the MIC 2 input of the TASCAM DR-1 also provides a
>>>>>> relatively low gain (input clipping level: -28 dBu), while its
>>>>>> inherent noise floor (-115 dBu(A)) is still good enough for the
>>>>>> K6/ME6x series.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>> Raimund
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>>
>>> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
>>> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
>>> Krause
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
> Krause
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
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