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Re: Upgrading my PMD660 and ME67

Subject: Re: Upgrading my PMD660 and ME67
From: "bwanakomba" bwanakomba
Date: Thu Oct 4, 2012 1:11 am ((PDT))
Hi Jez and Klas,

Thanks for your posts on my subject thread.

On recorders can you recommend a better model that the PMD661 for about 
6-700USD? I am very open to other suggestions  I really need a model that takes 
XLR jacks as they are the only one robust enough for the field in my 
experience. This rules out the Sonys and the Zoom, Fostex and Tascams seem very 
similar models.

On the parabola issue.  The bushbabies, birds and other primates I record often 
produce a wide frequency range from as low as 50hz to 20,000hz and I as I 
understand it, only a very large parabola could capture this range, which will 
be difficult to manage in the field. Otherwise the bird recordings I have heard 
made with the parabola set up are amazing and in some situations would also be 
good for mammal recordings as well.  For example the deep booms of a male blue 
monkey is 

--- In  "Jez" <> wrote:
>
> whilst there are improvement between the 660 & 661 my advice would be to 
> consider some other recorders now, as lots of the other makers have better 
> options now. If you can afford Sound Devices then that would be the first 
> choice perhaps, where there are significant benefits.
> 
> --- In  "bwanakomba" <bwanakomba@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> > 
> > I have been recording bushbabies and other nocturnal critters for several 
> > years now in East Africa. My main aim is to get good enough mono recordings 
> > to identify species with.  I have persisted with my PMD660 and Me66&67 
> > which has done me fine.  Although I record in noisy forest environments 
> > where my target animals compete with all the other insects and frogs etc I 
> > still find my recordings to be noisy and hissy and are also effected by 
> > humidity. I have read that the PMD660 had noisy preamps but was advised 
> > that since I use quite 'noisy ' mics in this kind of environment this 
> > should not be a problem. But I have heard some nice recordings now with 
> > stereo arrays from the forests and also mono recordings. So I want to make 
> > the next leap.  
> > 
> > I like the usability of the PMDs so I think I will go for the 661 as it is 
> > said to be much improved. But is it worth splashing for better shotgun mics 
> > such as the MHK series mics, maybe Mkh 30 & a 60. Will I notice the 
> > difference when coupling it with a 661.  Would a pre amp help? Anyone tried 
> > this combo in the field. Worryingly I detect a reduced interest in the 
> > Marantz machines on the web now, with all the other options out there.
> > 
> > I like the idea of stereo environmental recordings more and more, not just 
> > mono. If I start using a Mid Side array is it possible to retrieve the mono 
> > track from it to use for my research, but also have the stereo picture for 
> > ambient recordings? I.e. do you get 2 for one?
> > 
> > Thankyou in advance for any comments,
> > 
> > Andrew Perkin
> > 
> > http://www.galagoides.se/
> >
>








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