Greetings,
I am on the verge of purchasing a new system and would appreciate some feed=
back on my choice, although I know these things have been discussed ad naus=
eam for some of you! I record in some very quiet environments where any mic=
rophone and/or preamp noise will be heard. I know noise isn't everything, b=
ut it is important to me. It is the factor that has made much of my effort =
over the past 10 years unusable. That's a painful realization.
I now want to step up from my mid-level gear to the next level. My current =
system is a Zoom H2, a Sony MZRH1 Hi-MD, a Rode NT4, A Sennheiser ME66/K6 (=
all purchased at great discount on eBay except the minidisc that i bought n=
ew 5 or so years ago), and a homemade parabola and PBBA based on the EM172 =
mic capsules.
I am planning to purchase a pair of AT4022 (or if i can find a good deal, a=
pair of used 3032) microphones. To power and record them I am most incline=
d either toward the FR-2LE, or the SD MixPre-D going via line-in to one of =
my current recorders. I was seriously looking at the new LS-100 as the most=
versatile recorder on the market, but I am concerned about its robustness =
and some its quirks. Does it do too much to do any of it really well for $4=
00? The PMD661 is also a possibility.
Because my funds are limited, this recorder or mixer has to last me a long,=
long time. I may never be able to buy another. Robust build quality, relia=
bility in damp coastal environments, and long-term viability of components =
(Will CF cards and Tamiya batteries still be around in ten years?) matter t=
o me, along with the noise levels. The possibility of doing M-S recording s=
ome day when I can afford the mics is a factor, but not a significant one.=
Am I missing anything in my thinking on this? Am I going to need a better r=
ecorder to go with the MixPre-D instead of my H2, which I am more likely to=
use than the RH1 (the mechanical noise of the minidisc is its biggest flaw=
along with some operational challenges - the jog button is just a pain in =
the neck). My main concern about the MixPre is battery life.
I don't have the funds to get the mics, the MixPre AND a new recorder. So i=
f using the MixPre with the H2 line-in is a bad idea for some reason, then =
I'll probably turn to the FR-2LE, despite its many quirks.
Maybe you who love the PMD-661 will convince me that is the best combinatio=
n of performance and durability. I have had good experience with a borrowed=
PMD-670 (except for the noisy preamps).
This has been one of the hardest purchasing decisions I have ever made, and=
I make a lot of purchasing decisions for my employer.
Thank you for your patience and your help.
John
John L. Crockett
Westminster, VT
Let us live in harmony with the Earth
And all creatures
That our lives may be a blessing.
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