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

Subject: 3. Re: Avlex M-S mic O/T
From: "Keith Smith" keithahsmith
Date: Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:35 am ((PST))
Hi Max,

Phew! That was embarrassing. The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!

The original description is now so many posts back I'll copy it here. Also,
I failed to mention it is cross-faded from 3 scenes. I was trying to find a
time/spot where the background noise was lower. I stopped by the creek,
thinking it might give another example of the stereo imaging. The whole
thing is hand held.

"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 snow
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 would =
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. "

It's not the wort thing we might have ever heard, and was a substantial
improvement over the mic supplied with the MZ-R90 minidisk recorder. As I
recall, the MZ-R90 without the added mic, cost me as much new as the total
I paid for both my HD-P2 + the PMD661 used. Oh, the magic of technology
(and retail pricing). The HD-P2 had never been used at all (the wrong
birthday gift for someone) and the 661 had very light usage.
k

On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 5:55 AM, Max <> wrote:

> **
>
>
> We got there in the end Keith! Well done. I've just listened to the
> recording through my near field speakers (my headphones are in the car an=
d
> I'm feeling lazy!) and I have to say that the quality was better than I w=
as
> expecting. What was the sudden gush of water? And nearer the end, some
> background (?) sound disappeared suddenly? That bird call I hadn't heard
> before, so I'm guessing that was a species we don't get in the UK.
> Once again thanks for the trouble you took!
> Cheers
> Max
>
>
> --- In  Keith Smith <> wrote=
:
> >
> > Ok. There was a space in there. Gmail handles them, but Yahoo doesn't.
> >
> > Sorry to all for this!!!
> > http://www.samplesmith.com/NatRec/Sony_ECM-MS907_661.wav
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Keith Smith <> wrote:
> >
> > > 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%20ECM-MS907_6=
Message: 61_InGain8.
Subject: 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 <kahsmith@>
> > >>> 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 <maxcatterwell@> 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
> > >>> complicated
> > >>> > > 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 2:1=
2
> I
> > >>> replay
> > >>> > > the
> > >>> > > > last few seconds with some gentle denoising (Voxengo Redunois=
e
> > >>> > > --signature
> > >>> > > > acquired from the under-the-bedclothes test) with 2db of make=
up
> > >>> gain.
> > >>> > > > Temperature is about 4=B0C, gently breezy and you'll hear som=
e
> snow
> > >>> 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 th=
is
> > >>> would be
> > >>> > > > similar to the HD-P2 at about 7-7.5, as the Marantz pre's see=
m
> 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, and
> > >>> > > bought
> > >>> > > > > it with the intention of making up an M/S rig, but never di=
d
> 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 bit
> > >>> > > 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
> > >>> silly
> > >>> > > 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 my
> > >>> > > 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 o=
f
> > >>> 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 clea=
r
> 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
> > >>> the
> > >>> > > lead and
> > >>> > > > > for some reason hadn't connected the ground in the XLR! Whe=
n
> 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 the
> > >>> > > > > self-noise
> > >>> > > > > > would have been masked by cymbals and the background nois=
e
> 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 g=
et
> > >>> 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 m=
ic
> > >>> 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
> > >>> any
> > >>> > > new, or
> > >>> > > > > > more spam than usual after signing up.
> > >>> > > > > >
> > >>> > > > > > Take a look at the sensitivity vs self-noise of some of t=
he
> > >>> >$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 MS
> > >>> > > > > 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
> > >>> current draw
> > >>> > > > > (just
> > >>> > > > > > listing as P48).
> > >>> > > > > >
> > >>> > > > > > I think my next move is to get some Primo EM172's (lots o=
f
> > >>> stuff
> > >>> > > 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 be
> > >>> > > 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 th=
e
> 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 weightin=
g
> is
> > >>> used
> > >>> > > but I
> > >>> > > > > > > would
> > >>> > > > > > > > > > have thought that they would have stated
> A-weighting
> > >>> if 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 fo=
r
> 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 ou=
t
> 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
> > >>> so 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.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.=
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.ca
Photography - www.mymountains.ca









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