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Re: Which Location Recorder - Which Mics...

Subject: Re: Which Location Recorder - Which Mics...
From: "Rob Danielson" danielson_audio
Date: Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:04 pm ((PDT))
At 2:32 PM +0000 10/20/10, soundsvisual wrote:
>Hi Emil
>
>Thanks very much for your detailed response.
>I can't really afford/justify a Sound Devices box.
>I will look at the Tascam - Digital Village have
>it for around =C2=A3750, but I still need to get some
>mics. Do you think it has the edge over the
>Fostex? I will almost always just be recording 2
>channels.
>
>What would you suggest microphone wise? The MKH
>setup is great like you say but expensive and
>big. It doesn't have to be M-S - I'd prefer
>something more discreet if poss...? Is there a
>stereo mic in one piece worth considering or is
>that a no no?
>
>Please do go into the detail - because SFX is
>what I record. From the hush of a library to a
>steam train etc.
>
>Is the D50 worth considering if you are going to
>bypass the mic preamps and have separate
>microphones with your own preamp?

It depends on the self-noise performance of the
mics you use, but not likely.  It would make your
research go more smoothly to read through this:
http://tinyurl.com/34ojchb  The D50 is in
Raimund's chart.

Array-wise, M-S is popular for general sound
effects and location ambience recording but if
you are going to record in quiet, natural places,
there are few options beside the MKHxx-30
combinations. The MKH60/MKH30 is popular for
film/video/effects. M-S requires a mic with a
figure 8 polar pattern. Here's a list we created
not too long ago: http://tinyurl.com/2dlr3rs

There are no very small mics, single-point or
otherwise, that can come close to matching the
self-noise performance of the Rode NT1A's, 6dB(A)
See: http://tinyurl.com/28yoayb. AT4022's are
popular (see list archive matches:
http://tinyurl.com/36vrdsd). Rob D.

  =3D =3D =3D


>
>Thanks,
>
>Jonathan
>
>>  hi jonathan,
>>
>  > the pcm50 is great, but its not low noise. i just had one with me my l=
ast
>>  holiday. i did some recordings and they are , wll, not bad, but if you =
also
>>  try to record more quiet locations, forget the pcm50. the mics inside a=
re
>>  far too noisy. and the sound is always.. like you=C3=82=C2=B4ve recorde=
d everything
>>  with a little box.
>>  thats very subjective. its a great unit if you want to record something=
 on
>>  the go, and i believe it sounds much better than those other pocket
>>  recorders (for instance, i have the zoom H2, and the pcm50 is better th=
an
>>  the H2, less noise, better depth), but if you want to record seriously =
fine
>>  sounds, get a sound devices or this fostex recorder.. or the new tascam
>>  with the 6 channel preamp. i tested it against the 702, and it did real=
ly
>>  well, search the group for the link, rob mad a great video about it.
>>
>>  if you like the rme pre amp, a great thing is the quad mic from rme. it=
 can
>>  run from batterie, and it sounds great. i tested it and in a blind test=
 me
>>  and a colleage thought that the quadmic sounded better than the 702.
>>  allthough just a little bit.
>>  you could put this preamp infront of the tascam or fostex, and you will=
 get
>>  a quality same to the 702. but a little bulkier..
>>
>>  and to answer which mic, the 30/40 combination is great and maybe one o=
f
>>  the most quietest MS out there. not comparable (cause they are so much
>>  better) to the mics from the pcm50, they play in a different league..:-=
)
>>
>>  also consider the shoeps, much more noisier, but for some sfx recording=
s
>>  they are a little better... (if you want to record sfx i can go into
>>  detail about this..)
>>
>>  also a great mic: the AT4021 if you want to have a cardioid. low noise.=
 i
>>  compared it to the mkh40, and it is doing good. noisier but good.
>>  i can give you this comparison if you like.
>>
>>  all the best
>>  emil
>>
>>  On Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:53:00 -0000, "soundsvisual"
>>  <> wrote:
>>  > Hi - have followed this group for a while now. I used to record sound
>>  > effects professionally for a library using an HHB Portadat and a
>>  Sennheiser
>>  > MKH30-40 or 60 mic rig. I sold all of that kit a while ago, but am
>>  getting
>>  > back into location recording.
>  > >
>>  > At the moment the kit I am using is no good for wet weather or discre=
et
>>  > work as I'm using a MacBook Pro, an RME Fireface 400 (bus powered) an=
d a
>>  > pair of matched Rode NT1s. I mean great quality - incredibly low nois=
e
>>  > (maybe a little brittle sounding?) but in terms of being "portable" o=
r
>>  > discreet - no. So which way to go? I love the RME Fireface 400 pre-am=
ps
>>  > they are excellent, but not sure how I would power that unit without =
the
>>  > MacBook?
>>  >
>>  > So I've looked at a Sony PCMD50 - would be great for discreet work - =
and
>>  if
>>  > I wanted to use some different mics I could get a phantom power pack =
and
>>  go
>>  > that route. That's the most cost effective way, and I like the idea o=
f
>>  > being able to put it in my pocket - would be good for recording ambie=
nt
>>  > sounds where a big rig is going to start questions from security etc.=
..
>>  >
>>  > Or if money was no object, would a SoundDevices recorder and a Sennhe=
iser
>>  > 30/40 rig be so much better?
>>  >
>>  > I suppose the answer is both.
>>  >
>>  > As far as mics are concered, the NT1s are great except I have no bask=
et
>>  for
>>  > them - just a couple of windjammers to slip over the top, and they ar=
e
>>  > mounted on a camera tripod.
>>  >
>>  > So any tips for a stereo mic (maybe m-s)- v low noise - better than
>>  onboard
>>  > the Sony PCMD50?
>>  >
>>  > Thanks for any suggestions.
>>  >
>>  > Regards
>>  >
>>  > Jonathan
>>  >
>>
>
>


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