Thank you both for your comments. I did try to use the archives- which is h=
ow I directly and indirectly came up with the material I mentioned initiall=
y. I was hesitant to ask the equivalent of "what is the best microphone/re=
corder?" and tried my best not to - but perhaps I did anyway. Concerns for =
mics and equipment for speech are very different- frequency response, noise=
floor, dynamic range- the ability to lock myself up in my IAC booth etc.- =
and considering this is for students and would have to be paid for by the U=
niversity rather than my research funds, I just wanted to ensure that I was=
n't making any horrible mistakes; Learning curve I can handle, idiotic choi=
ces I beat myself up over.
Again, thanks for taking the time to respond.
Paul
--- In Rob Danielson <> wrote:
>
> 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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