Hi Ryan,
I'm afraid I'm a little late to the conversation but I wanted to add and re=
inforce a couple of things that others have contributed.
I have been recording with minidisc and the NT4 for the past 4 or 5 years (=
10 years with minidisc). I just switched from the minidisc to the Olympus L=
S-11 recorder a few months ago, and I'm very happy with the Olympus. The ma=
in benefit for me is getting rid of the minidisc's mechanical noise. Activa=
ting recording is simpler as well, and the battery life is phenomenal. Also=
, the Olympus and the PCM-M10 require no software to work with the Mac. Jus=
t plug in and they show up as an external drive. Easy. Much better than the=
horrible Sony Hi-MD Transfer software for Mac.
One thing to note about the minidisc recorders is that they had very low-no=
ise preamps for a small portable recorder. There is nothing quite like them=
currently on the market. The NT4 is not a very sensitive microphone, so it=
has a fairly low output noise (-114 dBu). That means you need quiet preamp=
s to go with it. The minidisc preamps work very well with the NT4. The clos=
est you can get with current small recorders is the Olympus LS-5/10/11 (onl=
y the LS-10 is available in the U.S.) or the Sony PCM-M10. These are a coup=
le of dB noisier than the minidisc, but not enough to make an audible diffe=
rence. But if you get a recorder that is any noisier than one of these, I t=
hink you may start hearing more noise in your recordings with the NT4 than =
what you are used to.
I find the stereo image with the NT4 to be a little dull. It works well for=
me when I have a focal sound that I want to emphasize along with a general=
sense of the stereo sound field, and when I can get the mic close to the s=
ource. It also sounds good played over loudspeakers. But for a detailed and=
accurate soundscape image on headphones, do consider building a SASS type =
microphone array. They are very easy and inexpensive to build, and the ster=
eo image is much more detailed than what the NT4, or any crossed pair of ca=
rdioids or shotguns, delivers. I've compared the NT4 with the SASS and a cr=
ossed pair of ME66 shotguns. Each has its benefits, but I tend toward the N=
T4 for convenience and portability, and the SASS for shear joy of listening=
(I haven't tried Curt Olson's winged array, but I will at some point).
For wind protection, the Rode Blimp works very well with the NT4. The Blimp=
comes with large clips that fit the rather large body of the NT4. In my ex=
perience, the NT4 needs a blimp. Nothing else adequately protects the back =
side of the capsules, although maybe someone out there has a DIY solution t=
o this.
For me, the LS-11, NT4 (with blimp) and SASS-type mic array make a very goo=
d, basic recording kit for relatively little money. With any luck this tech=
nology will still be relevant 20 years from now. It's hard to see how it co=
uld improve much at this point, except maybe for quieter preamps to become =
more affordable.
What worries me is that the quality of natural soundscapes will continue to=
deteriorate.
best wishes,
John
John Crockett
Westminster, Vermont
--- In Ryan Logtenberg <=
.> wrote:
>
> Hi Group!
>
> My last post was in 2005 under another username and now I'm getting
> ready to take up my hobby of nature recording again. I was hoping I
> could get some advice on my gear and upgrading it.
>
> Here's what I have:
>
> 1. Rhode NT-4 Mic (10 years old)
> 2. Sony Minidisc (10 years old).
>
> software: Adobe audition
>
> I use a Mac computer now, so I'd like to replace my minidisc recorder
> to something that is compatible with a mac for importing the files.
> I'd also would prefer built in storage with the option to expand (ie:
> SD card slot) but this is not a deal breaker if the built in storage
> is enough.
>
> I also need to get some sort of wind sock (I always meant to have one,
> but didn't get the chance.). Need some advice on which one to get.
>
> The types of sounds I'd like to record include: ambient nightime
> sounds (crickets, frogs, owls), ocean surf, rain, babbling brooks. So
> a stereo mic is obviously important. That is why I originally bought
> the Rhode NT-4.
>
> Is my mic still relevant for recording CD quality sounds?
>
> My budget is $500. I was hoping for a recording device under $250.
>
> Thanks!
> Ryan
>
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