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8. Re: Avlex M-S mic O/T

Subject: 8. Re: Avlex M-S mic O/T
From: "Keith Smith" keithahsmith
Date: Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:55 pm ((PST))
Did it again. I've shortened the file name.
http://www.samplesmith.com/NatRec/Sony ECM-MS907_661.wav
k


On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 6:02 PM, Keith Smith <> wrote:

> I see. Yahoo breaks the link.
> try this<http://www.samplesmith.com/NatRec/121114-GriffithWoods_Sony%20EC=
M-MS907_661_InGain8.wav>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 5:47 PM, Max <> wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>>
>> I can't get to work either, and I've tried it two browsers; Firefox and
>> Chrome?
>>
>> Max
>>
>> --- In  Keith Smith <>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Sorry 'bout that! This tests OK -darned if I can see the difference ;)
>> > http://www.samplesmith.com/NatRec/121114-GriffithWoods_Sony
>> > ECM-MS907_661_InGain8.wav
>> >
>> >
>> > On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 4:35 PM, Max <> wrote:
>> >
>> > > **
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Hi Keith!
>> > > OK, the good news; I just love your brilliant piccie - devastatingly
>> good!
>> > > The bad news; the sound link doesn't work. I was so looking forward =
to
>> > > listening to that, particularly as you went to all that trouble.
>> > > So, you've got an uncle in Norwich? I live about 70 miles from there=
;
>> it's
>> > > a beautiful city. Are you an ex pat, or is it one of those complicat=
ed
>> > > stories? If so, you don't have to tell it!
>> > > Hope you can sort the link
>> > >
>> > > Cheers
>> > > Max
>> > >
>> > > --- In  Keith Smith <kahsmith@>
>> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > HI Max,
>> > > > I've never sold anything good without regretting it later (usually
>> > > within a
>> > > > week!). A couple of those guitars would buy me a lovely mic closet
>> today.
>> > > >
>> > > > I took the Sony ECM MS907 out this morning. Terrible day for air
>> > > traffic. I
>> > > > was on the edge of the city. Things are pretty slow for wildlife
>> sounds
>> > > > around here at this time of year (and at my skill level), so it
>> won't
>> > > sound
>> > > > like my uncle's English country garden in Norwich!
>> > > >
>> > > > It's pretty hissy, but not the most objectionable hiss I've ever
>> heard.
>> > > The
>> > > > MS907 is plugged into a Marantz PMD 661 with the gain set to 8. I
>> haven't
>> > > > applied any EQ, or postGain; just chopped and x-faded. At 2:12 I
>> replay
>> > > the
>> > > > last few seconds with some gentle denoising (Voxengo Redunoise
>> > > --signature
>> > > > acquired from the under-the-bedclothes test) with 2db of makeup
>> gain.
>> > > > Temperature is about 4=B0C, gently breezy and you'll hear some sno=
w
>> falling
>> > > > off trees in the sun. The creek will perhaps give a better idea of
>> the
>> > > > imaging at 120=B0, which hasn't been altered. I'm guessing this wo=
uld
>> be
>> > > > similar to the HD-P2 at about 7-7.5, as the Marantz pre's seem to
>> offer a
>> > > > little more, and quieter gain.
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > >
>> http://www.samplesmith.com/NatRec/121114-GriffithWoods_SonyECM-MS907_661=
_InGain8.wav
>> > > >
>> > > > I also met a new
>> > > > friend<
>> http://www.samplesmith.com/NatRec/2012_11_14_IMG_0066-1-1.JPG>who
>> > >
>> > > > made my day -love these image-stabilizing tele's!
>> > > > k
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 8:21 AM, Max <maxcatterwell@> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > **
>> > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Hi Keith!
>> > > > > Let's hope I have better luck with THIS reply!
>> > > > > Firstly, in reference to the CAD 179, I do have one of those, an=
d
>> > > bought
>> > > > > it with the intention of making up an M/S rig, but never did get
>> > > around to
>> > > > > it. The original idea was to use it with my MKH60 which I sold
>> complete
>> > > > > with Rycote basket and fluffy for a silly price brrr! Secondly, =
I
>> also
>> > > > > still have my HD-P2. This is pure luck, because I bought it in a
>> bit
>> > > of a
>> > > > > state, with repair work needing doing, and because it looks a bi=
t
>> > > rough I
>> > > > > didn't bother to sell it, even though it now works perfectly. A
>> month
>> > > or
>> > > > > two back a brand new sealed case for it came up on eBay at a sil=
ly
>> > > price,
>> > > > > so I bought it, and at least it looks better now! The only other
>> mic
>> > > I'm
>> > > > > likely to buy sometime is the AT BP 4025, which Jan brought to m=
y
>> > > attention
>> > > > > with one of his marvelous recordings. I still have a couple of
>> ME66's
>> > > with
>> > > > > K6's, but one of them is faulty; must sort that out! Lots of
>> things to
>> > > keep
>> > > > > me happy for a while anyway.
>> > > > > I went out yesterday to see if I could find some Crossbills to
>> record;
>> > > I
>> > > > > found them, but had equipment problems. I'd taken the Nakamichi
>> > > collection
>> > > > > with me and had the long shotgun on it. It soon became clear I
>> there
>> > > was a
>> > > > > problem which made all three mics useless! The birds were there
>> with a
>> > > nice
>> > > > > flock of Siskins, but the means to record them wasn't!! On
>> inspection
>> > > this
>> > > > > morning, it turns out that the problem was with the lead which
>> came
>> > > with
>> > > > > the mics. Clearly at some time the previous owner had replaced t=
he
>> > > lead and
>> > > > > for some reason hadn't connected the ground in the XLR! When I'd
>> > > previously
>> > > > > tested it, it must by chance have been just touching?! For some
>> stupid
>> > > > > reason; I'm guessing old age, it didn't occur to me to use the
>> internal
>> > > > > mics! Such is life
>> > > > > Cheers
>> > > > > Max
>> > > > >
>> > > > > --- In  Keith Smith <kahsmith@>
>> > > wrote:
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Heh, It's probably my bad Karma, Max.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > I did notice the 25 DB?, so I haven't been in a hurry ;)
>> > > > > > When I bought the Sony mic it was a few years before I became
>> at all
>> > > > > > serious about recording. It was an improvement over something
>> even
>> > > > > cheaper.
>> > > > > > I was making casual recordings of gigs I played, so much of th=
e
>> > > > > self-noise
>> > > > > > would have been masked by cymbals and the background noise of
>> the
>> > > crowd.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > As I think back, I have to admit I'm a wimp. Although my first
>> > > recordings
>> > > > > > go back to a Webcor wire recorder, it wasn't until half decent
>> audio
>> > > > > > interfaces for computers became affordable that I could get
>> results
>> > > that
>> > > > > I
>> > > > > > could stand, and thereafter develop more than a cursory
>> interest in
>> > > > > > recording.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Some of the most useful material I've seen on comparing mic
>> specs
>> > > came on
>> > > > > > links I found in this group. It was a great help to get a feel
>> for
>> > > how
>> > > > > the
>> > > > > > relationship between sensitivity and self-noise affect noise
>> > > performance
>> > > > > of
>> > > > > > a mic/pre combination.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > http://www.avisoft.com/tutorial_mic_recorder.htm (Raimund is a
>> major
>> > > > > > contributor here.)
>> > > > > > http://www.rane.com/note148.html
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > I also find this site very useful:
>> > > > > > http://www.microphone-data.com/
>> > > > > > You need to set up an account (free), but I haven't received a=
ny
>> > > new, or
>> > > > > > more spam than usual after signing up.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Take a look at the sensitivity vs self-noise of some of the >$=
2K
>> > > > > > Sennheiser's that get mentioned on this list. Then take a
>> Valium &
>> > > lay
>> > > > > down
>> > > > > > for a while.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > A little OT:
>> > > > > > One source of inexpensive and quiet mics that seldom gets
>> mentioned
>> > > here
>> > > > > is
>> > > > > > CAD. I have 3 M-179's and a Pair of e300=B2's. One caveat with
>> these is
>> > > > > that
>> > > > > > they're pretty greedy on phantom power, drawing around 8ma/ea,
>> which
>> > > will
>> > > > > > probably exceed what your portable recorder will supply. They
>> are
>> > > > > > multi-pattern though (179's are inf variable), and great for M=
S
>> > > > > recording.
>> > > > > > I got some decent MS stuff with a pair of 179's on my Tascam
>> HDP2,
>> > > > > before I
>> > > > > > realized I might be toasting the phantom supply. Now I'm a bit
>> timid
>> > > > > about
>> > > > > > trying it again.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Rode is in the same league for noise, and probably less greedy
>> but on
>> > > > > some
>> > > > > > models they seem a little queasy about actually stating curren=
t
>> draw
>> > > > > (just
>> > > > > > listing as P48).
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > I think my next move is to get some Primo EM172's (lots of stu=
ff
>> > > here on
>> > > > > > these) and warm up the soldering iron.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Cheers,
>> > > > > > Keith
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > On Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 7:25 PM, Max <maxcatterwell@> wrote:
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > > **
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > I've emailed you privately Keith
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > --- In  "Max"
>> <maxcatterwell@>
>> > > wrote:
>> > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > Very strange!!! I added my reply to Keith on the end of my
>> > > previous
>> > > > > > > post, but once again it wouldn't send. So I deleted it, and
>> off it
>> > > > > went????
>> > > > > > > I'll try adding it here, but I'm not hopeful.
>> > > > > > > > No, it won't go!?
>> > > > > > > > I'll try posting under a new title
>> > > > > > > > Max
>> > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > --- In  "Max"
>> <maxcatterwell@>
>> > > > > wrote:
>> > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > Hi David,
>> > > > > > > > > I'm having great difficulty posting this evening; I've
>> been
>> > > trying
>> > > > > to
>> > > > > > > reply to Keith for hours without success. I'll post my reply
>> to
>> > > him on
>> > > > > the
>> > > > > > > end of this, just in case.
>> > > > > > > > > OK, I appreciate your reply and the extra input you've
>> given.
>> > > One
>> > > > > > > thing I'm assuming about this mic, is that the decoding is
>> done
>> > > > > internally.
>> > > > > > > At this point in time my technical knowledge is limited, but
>> as
>> > > > > there's no
>> > > > > > > mention of having to decode, I'm guessing it won't need to b=
e
>> > > done. In
>> > > > > a
>> > > > > > > way I hope it DOES have to be done, because it would be
>> something
>> > > to
>> > > > > learn
>> > > > > > > and play with in Audition! But as I've said already, I'm not
>> really
>> > > > > > > expecting much for such a dirt cheap mic, but it was the m/s
>> spec
>> > > that
>> > > > > > > rather intrigued me. Time will tell.
>> > > > > > > > > Cheers
>> > > > > > > > > Max
>> > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > --- In  "Avocet" <brini=
@
>> >
>> > > wrote:
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > What do YOU make of the specs? It's so cheap that I'=
m
>> > > tempted
>> > > > > to
>> > > > > > > buy
>> > > > > > > > > > > one whatever, to try with my LS-10.
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > Max,
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > It is likely to be value for money, take that as you
>> will.
>> > > :-)
>> > > > > As a
>> > > > > > > > > > kickabout mic or for putting on idents, fine, but don'=
t
>> > > expect
>> > > > > much
>> > > > > > > > > > with those specs.
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > The stated noise level is high, whatever weighting is
>> used
>> > > but I
>> > > > > > > would
>> > > > > > > > > > have thought that they would have stated A-weighting i=
f
>> that
>> > > is
>> > > > > what
>> > > > > > > > > > they mean. Witn no info, I'd expect a "best case" test=
.
>> They
>> > > are
>> > > > > > > > > > unlikely to publish a "worst case" test.
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > The output worries me at 5.6mV/Pa which is low for any
>> mic.
>> > > With
>> > > > > > > quiet
>> > > > > > > > > > sounds like nature recording, the input noise of any
>> > > affordable
>> > > > > > > > > > recorder will probably be audible, even over the 25dB
>> mic
>> > > spec.
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > As a music mic, the max SPL of 110 dB rules it out for
>> close
>> > > > > miking
>> > > > > > > of
>> > > > > > > > > > instruments or even voices. It may be bad for handling
>> noise
>> > > and
>> > > > > > > prone
>> > > > > > > > > > to wind as well due to the fig-8 reponse.
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > You can't easily separate out the M cardioid capsule s=
o
>> you
>> > > will
>> > > > > > > > > > always have an all-round pickup from the fig-8.
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > David
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > David Brinicombe
>> > > > > > > > > > North Devon, UK
>> > > > > > > > > > Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce
>> > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > --
>> > > > > > Keith Smith
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Keith Smith Trio, Northern Lights =96 Altai Khangai -
>> > > www.keithsmith.ca
>> > > > > > Photography - www.mymountains.ca
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > --
>> > > > Keith Smith
>> > > >
>> > > > Keith Smith Trio, Northern Lights =96 Altai Khangai -
>> www.keithsmith.ca
>> > > > Photography - www.mymountains.ca
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Keith Smith
>> >
>> > Keith Smith Trio, Northern Lights =96 Altai Khangai - www.keithsmith.c=
a
>> > Photography - www.mymountains.ca
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Keith Smith
>
> Keith Smith Trio, Northern Lights =96 Altai Khangai - www.keithsmith.ca
> Photography - www.mymountains.ca
>
>


--
Keith Smith

Keith Smith Trio, Northern Lights =96 Altai Khangai - www.keithsmith.ca
Photography - www.mymountains.ca









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  • 8. Re: Avlex M-S mic O/T, Keith Smith <=
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