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Re: MX391 Field Trials in a Robust Soundscape (was Dawn Chorus Comp

Subject: Re: MX391 Field Trials in a Robust Soundscape (was Dawn Chorus Comp
From: "hartogj" hartogj
Date: Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:03 pm ((PDT))
Hi Klas,
The MX-391 do run on plug in power. Just like the Wl-183, they just need an=
 adapter cable or rewired to a stereo 3.5mm plug.

While there could be differences in the electronics in the housing. Compari=
ng the specs of the 391 and the 183, the difference in self noise values co=
uld easily be attributed to the boundary plate on the 391. I'm not looking =
at the specs, but I think is is about a 6 dB difference. Also the specs for=
 the 391 assume the mic will be mounted on a larger boundary: they are desi=
gned to be mounted to a table top as conference mics.

They both list the same replacement capsule.

Now, comparing the 391 to the 3032. That is a bigger mystery, as I would ex=
pect the MX391 to have about 12 dB more self-noise when mounted on similar =
boundaries.

John Hartog
rockscallop.org


--- In  Klas Strandberg <> wrot=
e:
>
> Do the MX-391's run on plug in power? Guess not..?
> Cause I cannot imagine that a 183 would give the same low noise
> floor, naked and single, so I presume there must be a mic amplifier
> inside the mesh, doing some EQ, bringing down the noise floor a couple of=
 db??
>
> I listened, of course, with great curiosity to your rig in the
> parabol, but I think I need a video to it to understand what is happening=
.
>
> Klas
>
>
>
> At 00:56 2012-03-31, you wrote:
>
>
> >Hi Curt and Klas
> >
> >Thanks for your useful comments.
> >
> >In 2006/7 I was tempted to buy a pair of WL183s after reading
> >encouraging posts here regarding their use.  I was put off because
> >of their high retail price in the UK and invested in some Rode mics
> >instead.  I eventually bought a pair of AT3032s when they were being
> >sold off cheaply prior to being discontinued.
> >
> >You can imagine my delight at being able to get the MX391s via the
> >ebay offer.  I am extremely pleased with them.
> >
> >At the end of February this year I was able to test out the MX391s
> >in what can only be described as a "robust soundscape".  I visited
> >my Daughter and her family in Elmshausen, S.W. Germany.  Elmshausen
> >is a small village in the Oldenwald about halfway between Frankfurt
> >and Heidelburg.  It is situated in a hollow surrounded by steep,
> >wooded hills.  From earlier visits I new the area was good for
> >woodpeckers of both the spotted and green type so I planned to
> >record them on this trip.
> >
> >Because I was travelling by air this was a good opportunity to field
> >test the newly constructed lightweight head spaced boundary, fitted
> >with MX391s feeding the Olympus LS-10.  Photos of the rig are in this al=
bum
> >
> >https://picasaweb.google.com/G0SBW.PM/MX391MicRig?authuser=3D0&feat=3Ddi=
rectlink
> >
> >I walked up a nearby hill into the wood and set up the boundary rig
> >on a lightweight tripod and waited for my woodpeckers.  It was quite
> >a wait and there was not a lot of action.  I walked back to the rig
> >and as I got there a woodpecker started drumming above and just to
> >the left of the mics.
> >
> >http://soundcloud.com/g0sbw/tripod-woodpeckers
> >
> >This made it all worth while despite the background noise which was
> >intrusive all the time.  I think the hills surrounding the village
> >amplified the noise of the busy B47 road, which runs through the
> >village, buzz saws in the woods and aircraft going to and from
> >Frankfurt, as well as the sound of children in the kindergarten and
> >the matins bells from the other villages in the area.  Hence my
> >comment about the "robust soundscape".
> >
> >During the visit I also took the opportunity of trying out the
> >boundary rig in "tree ears" configuration.  Again the noise problem was =
there.
> >
> >At one point during the tree ears recording I was bending over, with
> >my back to the track through the woods, using headphones to monitor
> >the recording and was astonished by what I monitored.  To use a Star
> >Trek phrase "Its a bird's song, but not as we know it, Jim".
> >
> >http://soundcloud.com/g0sbw/a-birds-song-but-not-as-we
> >
> >Apologies for that - but it is close to April 1:-) and it does
> >nicely demonstrate the stereo capability of the MX391/boundary set
> >up.  The last four photos in the above web album show the tree ears
> >configuration.
> >
> >As I was packing up the gear at this site the ruggedness of the
> >MX391s was demonstrated.  The tree on which the rig was suspended
> >was at the top of a 2 metre bank at the side of the woodland
> >track.  As I was scrambling down the bank I managed to slip and
> >landed on top of the bag holding the boundary rig etc.  I managed to
> >bend the boundary (easily fixed with brute strength and glue) but
> >the 391s were not even scratched.
> >
> >
> >Cheers, TomR
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >"While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> >sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause=
.
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> Telinga Microphones, Botarbo,
> S-748 96 Tobo, Sweden.
> Phone & fax int + 295 310 01
> email: 
> website: www.telinga.com
>
>
>








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