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Re: Help choosing low cost mic with Sony PCM-M10

Subject: Re: Help choosing low cost mic with Sony PCM-M10
From: "Peter Shute" pshute2
Date: Fri Dec 30, 2011 3:41 pm ((PST))
David, I'm just wondering how directional your Brinibox is (if at all).=0D
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Peter Shute=0D
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Sent using BlackBerry=0D
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From: =0D
To: =0D
Sent: Thu Dec 29 03:45:36 2011=0D
Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Help choosing low cost mic with Sony PCM-M=
10=0D
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> Just remember I'm a complete beginner and don't require fantastic=0D
> quality just yet.=0D
=0D
Arwen,=0D
=0D
I'm always prone to dishing out advice especially to newbies. :-) Yet=0D
again I'll say that the secret is to get the mic in the right place at=0D
the right time or you're on a non starter however high the quality of=0D
your gear.=0D
=0D
You are limited in what mics you can use with a 3.5mm stereo jack=0D
unless you add a mixer or amplifier but you are not there yet. My=0D
first advice is to take it out with a fitted windjammer or just=0D
wrapped around with something soft like a sock and see what you get.=0D
You will be disappointed with the stereo image, and the built in mics=0D
till pick up everything from every angle. Compare the stereo sound=0D
with the single image from each channel and I would be surprised if=0D
you hear any difference.=0D
=0D
The PCM-M10 has a high impedance input so you will get less hiss from=0D
a higher output mic. But what mic? For general outdoor use I would not=0D
advise a cardioid as they have a very wide pickup "solid angle" (Left=0D
right, up, down)=0D
=0D
Whatever mic you start out with you will soon want better if you get=0D
hooked. You don't mention stereo, and that basically doubles your mic=0D
costs, but it does give you extra information on wildlife behaviour.=0D
=0D
Look out for a secondhand quality gunmic of any sort and you will be=0D
able to select by pointing.=0D
=0D
> 1) a cheap omni mic in a parabolic reflector - I still have to some=0D
> how get a reflector and the mic - one has been recommended to me by=0D
> a nature recordist for $50 from the UK, but once shipping costs are=0D
> considered and the reflector, this probably blows my budget.=0D
=0D
And you will have to lug a reflector around everywhere. This is a=0D
specialist device and limited in usefulness as a general mic.=0D
=0D
> 2) my preference: a cheap(ish) shotgun mic with cardioid and=0D
> supercardiod responses.=0D
=0D
Beware of systems which promise a lot for little money. I'd avoid=0D
cardioids in favour of any gunmic, and hypercardioids have bad rear=0D
sensitivity lobes which pick up from areas you don't want, including=0D
ground reflections. Good in treated studios, bad in the big outdoors.=0D
=0D
< I came across the Nady SGM12 from B&H, and am wondering whether it=0D
< would fit the bill and I could just order it with the recorder. It's=0D
< very cheap, but I'm not sure if it's suitable and I'm a bit=0D
< concerned that the frequency response is 50Hz to only 16kHz. The=0D
< signal to noise ratio is >68dB, max input sound level 125dB.=0D
< Sensitivity (1KHz at 1 Pa): 52dB / - 44dB (=C2=B12dB) It has 3 pin XLR=0D
< output connectors ... would this be any good for my purposes?=0D
=0D
I don't know this mic. I think the frequency spec will be the least of=0D
the problems. The sensitivity seems low so you will have to wind the=0D
gain up along with the hiss. If you can afford it, it may be a good=0D
experimental mic to learn with and help you to choose a better one=0D
later.=0D
=0D
If you are good at making things I can let you have details of the=0D
"Brinibox" prototype to play with. The original was a cut down=0D
cardboard box with two =C2=A310 mics and is giving good stereo and low=0D
hiss with a gain of about +12 dB.=0D
=0D
Brinibox compared with a Sennheiser pair on:=0D
http://www.stowford.org/recordings.htm=0D
=0D
David=0D
=0D
David Brinicombe=0D
North Devon, UK=0D
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce=0D
=0D
=0D
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