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2. Re: Need help selecting a field recorder and microphones :)

Subject: 2. Re: Need help selecting a field recorder and microphones :)
From: "Mike Rooke" picnet2
Date: Fri Jun 4, 2010 2:32 pm ((PDT))
I intend to make mics privately only for specific customers with complicate=
d requirements making each mic a custom build, nearly all to date have been=
 experimental prototypes.

 The capsules I use are identical, and I have been using them before Teling=
a, not that means anything I actually prefer Telinga's clip on's since they=
 are so easy to use.

Theres are only two models of capsule currently available in this performan=
ce class which doesn't leave much to the imagination as to what you can do =
with them. Solder two (or four) to the cable + 3.5mm plug and away you go, =
to whitesands bay in my case, check tidal flow:-
http://www.pipmics.com/s/?page_id=3D21

In summary,  I'd *much rather* recommend the majority of users to Telinga w=
ho are providing a ready to use / complete clip-on mic system, and no doubt=
 variants in the future. - There I shot my own foot.

Talking of shot, heres one of the actual capsule, http://www.pipmics.com/s/=
?p=3D11

BR
-Mike.

--- In  vickipowys <> wrote:
>
> Hi Christian,
>
> That is a very lovely recording, very realistic!
>
> If you are interested to go a step further with quality then I would
> add that I have heard wonderful soundscapes with no noticeable hiss
> from a friend who uses a Sony recorder (model before yours) plus two
> Telinga EM23 mics.  I am sure the new Telinga clip on mics would be
> as good or better.  I understand Mike Rooke also makes (or assembles) =

> PIP mics of a similar quality.
>
> cheers,
>
> Vicki Powys
> Australia
>
>
>
> On 02/06/2010, at 9:16 PM, redteamwins wrote:
>
> > Hi everybody!
> >
> > I just wanted to update you all.  I went ahead and bought a Sony
> > PCM-M10 - it's beautiful, graceful, and just generally wonderful.
> >
> > Rob, after your nudging, I followed your advice and did the right
> > thing and soldered up a pair of WM-61A's that I bought from Digi-
> > Key (I've got 8 more that I've got to figure out what to do
> > with :).  Thank you for those instructions!  I got an old pair of
> > Sony walkman headphones (right angle plug!), desoldered the little
> > baby speakers, and soldered the ends of the wires to the microphone =

> > capsules.  I shrink-wrapped each capsule, put a non-shrink wrapped
> > sleeve on the end so that it will all mount on my eyeglasses, and
> > put some foam at the end with a rubber band for crude wind
> > protection.  Building mics like this is probably routine to you
> > badasses but I felt pretty proud of myself when it was all done.
> >
> > I made a recording this past weekend on a beach near Rosarito,
> > Mexico covered in small rounded stones.  During high tide, the
> > waves crash on the stones - as the water recedes the stones roll
> > and collide and make a wonderful sound.  I was sitting on the rocks =

> > higher up on the shore and the water was about two feet away from
> > my feet when big waves came.
> >
> > My friend took a photo of these stones years ago:
> > http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidg/30181933/
> >
> > I have posted a recording of these waves here:
> > http://soundcloud.com/redteam/mexico-rocky-waves-96-24
> > (file currently uploading - it should be up about 35min after this
> > message is posted)
> >
> > The microphones sounded pretty good until my ears tuned in to the
> > hiss.  This was rather soul-crushing as it's something that's hard
> > to un-hear. Also, many of the sounds have a rather hollow quality - =

> > as if the mics were mounted at the bottom of two plastic cups.
> > There were actually mounted with only foam windscreens at the front =

> > of my eyeglasses.  Regardless, this recording is the achievement of =

> > a dream I've had for at least 8 years and you all helped me get
> > there.  Thank you all.
> >
> > Now I'm considering buying the Telinga Clip-Ons for my trip to
> > Europe that begins in a couple of weeks.  I haven't really been
> > able to get much information about them from Telinga.  I think
> > they're actually too big to be discreet with in public, but some of =

> > you say such nice things about Telinga that I'm willing to give
> > them a shot despite their size - I really need higher quality
> > mics.  Anyone have pictures of these microphones?  Any specs?
> >
> > Thanks again, folks!
> >
> > -Christian
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In  Rob Danielson <type@>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Christian--
> >>
> >> This is how I see it: You're spending thousands on a once in a
> >> lifetime trip. You are excited about recordings acoustic nuances of
> >> settings that range from loud to very quiet. The recorder and mics
> >> are $200 under your budget,.. The ~$300 Telinga mics will be a great,
> >> safe investment that will not lose value and I know you'll be glad
> >> you made the investment many years from now. Solder-up a pair of the
> >> WM-61A's for $30 http://tinyurl.com/2fr2p6r or pay $80 for them this
> >> week and hear what you think.
> >>
> >> Sorry about throwing the numbers at you. Here's a description about
> >> mic self-noise:
> >> http://tinyurl.com/2ws926p
> >>
> >> 32dB(A) Noisiest mics
> >> 22 dB(A) Average
> >> 16 dB(A) almost quiet enough for quiet location
> >> <10 dB(A) lowest self-noise you can get, best.
> >> To convert signal to noise, subtract the S-N number from 94. e.g. the
> >> MM-HLSO specs,"Signal to noise ratio: 65dB, 1khz at 1pa" so,  95-65 =
=3D
> >> 30 dB(A) self-noise.
> >>
> >> There's no point in spending a penny more on these smaller mic
> >> options unless you can see they'll give you an improvement in noise
> >> performance. Here's a list of the basic retail repackaging options
> >> for the smaller mics except for Klas' "Clip Ons" which use Primo
> >> EM-172's which are new and not on the list. You can contact Klas at
> >> <telinga@>.
> >> http://tinyurl.com/ykdesaj
> >>
> >> Soldering steps:
> >> https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/type/www/116/Trek01/BuildingMics/
> >> WM-61A_BrookBuildsMics/WM-61A_BrookBuildsMics.html
> >>
> >>
> >> At 9:52 AM +0000 5/17/10, redteamwins wrote:
> >>>
> >>>  should I get one of those little 9v battery supplies for whatever
> >>> microphone I buy?
> >>
> >> No.
> >>
> >>> I'm concerned about a car or bus completely overwhelming my
> >>> microphones in somewhat loud street environments. From what I've
> >>> learned, that situation is helped by some kind of "pad" or
> >>> attenuator cable and/or a battery supply giving more power to the
> >>> microphones to avoid clipping. Am I going in the right direction
> >>> here?
> >>
> >> Not a worry. Turn the gain down, go to low sensitivity setting if
> >> need be.
> >>
> >>
> >>> At the same time, I wonder if there is some nice place in between
> >>> the Sound Professionals' ~US$80 offering and Telinga's ~US$750+
> >>> offering! Does anyone have anything favorable to say about Core
> >>> Audio's ~US$250 offering? How about products from Microphone
> >>> Madness?:
> >>> <http://microphonemadness.com/products/mmhlsomsenmi.htm>http://
> >>> microphonemadness.com/products/mmhlsomsenmi.htm
> >>> I haven't read any real reviews of their products.
> >>
> >>> I have heard nothing but good stuff about Sonic Studios' products
> >>> but jeeeeeeeez ... I can't afford those either.
> >>
> >> See the doc above. I'd consider these instead for 1/3 cost and same
> >> noise performance.
> >> https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/type/www/audio-reports/Shure-WL183s/
> >> index.htm
> >>
> >> But 14 dB(A) performance from the Clip-ons at ~$120 more  makes
> >> better sense to me. Rob D.
> >>
> >>
> >>> So here's my point - maybe Sound Professionals' US$80 products are
> >>> good, but if I can get anything substantially better for ~US250 I'll
> >>> totally do it.
> >>>
> >>> And again - folks - thank you for sharing your advice and expertise.
> >>> I'm sure newbies post in here for this kind of advice all the time
> >>> and yet you have been so patient with me. I can't wait to make some
> >>> recordings for you all to listen to.
> >>>
> >>> -Christian
> >>>
> >>> p.s. Can anyone point me to a good primer on learning what you guys
> >>> are talking about in terms of dB's? I'm trying to learn how to
> >>> distinguish between microphones and I can't decipher all the values.
> >>> I think I have a pretty good idea about what a noise floor is and
> >>> what self-noise is ... but after that I don't really know what to
> >>> look for.
> >>
> >>
> >>
>








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