Robin make some good points. I inserted a few comments into her's. Rob D.
At 1:21 PM +0000 3/29/10, Robin wrote:
>
>
>As you implied, I think you might want to read
>what has already been discussed in the archives.
>That said, I think you would be successful just
>going ahead with the choices you have already
>made. There is no perfect setup and there are
>always different options.
>
>> The main goal here is education but I would
>> love to be able to accomplish that goal with
>> as high quality sound as possible. I know its
>> a lot more possible these days than even 10-15
>> years ago.
>
>When I first did something similar we had to use
>cassette recorders. The last time I used
>MiniDisc and had ten-year-olds recording just
>fine. Anything you get now will be so much
>better, especially since the built-in mics make
>things easier...
... but as Robin writes later:
>Using mics off-recorder will encourage a new set of skills.
I'd say external mics are huge part of (1)
encouraging students to become as active in the
critical micing options as possible (2)
developing listening and micing skills faster (3)
getting good stereo imaging in the results. Even
quickly clipping mics on your shoulders is hugely
better than those tiny wanna-be stereo "arrays."
I gave extra credit for making stereo arrays and
it was a popular choice-- stereo imagining can
grow into a big part of their attraction if its
taught. Has strong ties to human perception
questions.
I'm very adamant about this. I literally sawed
off the built-in mics on our first VHS camcorders
so the students couldn't use them in my basic
video classes. Even more important in an intro
sound course?
> to a point (handling noise is often the limiting factor).
>
>> I had been considering the Tascam D07
>> and having students build a pair of
>> binaurals off of something like WM61As.
>
>If that unit is the cheapest and will allow you
>to get more recorders in student hands then go
>for it. The built-in mics will be most suited
>for loud close sounds, as is always the case.
>But your class will be able to learn the basics
>of recording, about how difficult it is to avoid
>noise, how to pick locations, etc. And the D07
>has better pre-amps than other popular units
>(like the Zoom H2) so it's less of a dead-end.
The worst of the hand-held preamps are fine for
WM-61A's. I'd suggest the Rapid 1090 capsules.
They're okay on the noise-wise and bigger/much
easier for first time soldering.
In recorders, I'd look at the solidness of the
recorder like dropability and button firmness and
check how reliable media transfers are on both
mac and PC. I'm not impressed with the zoom H2
in this regard. Also headphones are critical,
make sure there's sufficient gain for the
headphones. Get good, enclosed headphones. if you
are buying 20 or so, a good dealer will send you
4-5 to check out first. Find a dealer that will.
>Instead of building you can purchase home-built
>binaurals relatively inexpensively on eBay.
>Maybe someone else can recommend a seller. I
>assume you wouldn't need a pair for every
>recorder; they can be shared out. Using mics
>off-recorder will encourage a new set of skills.
>
>(But if you're doing electronics as well, why not build some?)
>
>> I am leaning toward a Fostex Fr-2le with
>> either 2x AT4042 (4041s?) or 2x Rode NT1As.
>
>Sounds good to me. Budget for some of the larger
>Tamiya batteries and chargers, since the AAs
>don't last long using phantom.
>
>> How would one characterize the differences
>> between the AT4041, 4042s and Rodes?
>
>The R=D8DE NT1-A are large-diameter cardioids and
>not as handy in the field. But either will work.
>Don't forget to budget for stands, cables,
>brackets, etc. as good ones don't always come
>cheap.
And windscreens. Don't let them leave the class
without fully functioning wind screens.
>(I have just bought a camera tripod since you
>can get sturdier ones cheaper than mic stands,
>which seem to be expensive. Now I just need the
>correct bushing to convert the screw mount.)
>
>-- robin
>
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