> ... was wondering if any of the very experienced recordists on here fanci=
ed pitching some ideas to the designer to tweak it in our direction (he may=
be amenable)? I love the idea of a cheap recorder (=C2=A380?), smaller tha=
n the zoom H1, with low noise pre and no stupid built in mics and absolutel=
y no bells and whistles! Tough, water-resistant, like an audio gopro. Any t=
houghts?
Robert,
Here goes. :-)
For wildlife recording, a compatible lo-Z low noise XLR balanced line pream=
p
is likely to cost more that the recorder. If using 3.5mm jacks, you would
also be talking about PIP which is a whole new ball game.
The big dampener is that it won't record stereo which rules me out as a
customer immediately. Apart from that, here are a few thoughts. :-)
The input level could be fixed at a level where the inherent mic noise
swamps the digital dither noise (in the lowest two bits), leaving 13 bits
for the signal or 78 dB s/n. In practice, you don't need the higher bits if=
you bring up the playback level, but folks are still hung up on the
leftovers from tape recording where you have to hit near 100% peak to get
over tape hiss. Sorry, just my standard gripe. :-)
=E2=80=A2Chop the top internal mic off, to make it belt-pack sized (a littl=
e
smaller than the Sennheiser G3 belt-pack transmitter)
Fine. Idents can be put on with the lavalier. If you have a number of these=
sets out, someone is going to need idents badly in post to know who was who=
.
=E2=80=A2Make the connectors locking, so the lav can't pop out
But the wire may break at the plug if it gets tugged. How about a right
angled socket so the plug doesn't stick out, plus a simple moulded-in cable=
grip where the built-ins used to be?
=E2=80=A2Add "Audio Bracketing", so you have a backup recording in post if =
you
blow out the main track
OK for the folks who still think it's tape. :-)
=E2=80=A2Make key buttons recessed, so a user can not accidentally stop the=
recording or change settings as they are active and moving around ... no
"butt dialing"
Recessed buttons may be difficult with gloves in cold locations. The
alternative would be a sliding button lock which disables easy to use
buttons. Make it bright red to remind folk. How many controls do you need
apart from record on and off? Possibly a "last run" replay for a check. Hav=
e
a low power red "recording" LED for confidence. A luxury would be to flicke=
r
it on high levels. This thing has to be idiot proof.
=E2=80=A2In addition to headphones, provide a "thru" connection, so the Lit=
tle
DARling can be a front end recorder, then drive a wireless transmitter like=
the Sennheiser G3 system
Dou you mean another output socket? Getting away from the KISS principle.
The best check would be overall from voice to main mixer. Which output woul=
d
you use? The high level one which is prone to overload going into the
transmitter which will have its own limiter which will come too late, or th=
e
low level output? Also you would be putting extra mechanical hazards in the=
prime wireless channel.
Would you use the low-end DARling system for prime sound? A wireless set
should have a high quality mic matched to the transmitter.
Consider including a low quality ident mic behind a small hole with a push=
button. I know this s back-tracking, bot users will say "if only it had a
mic".
Reviewing all of the above, what is the DARling actually for? To widen the=
sales market for it, I'm drifting towards a medium quality more general
application including the "dictaphone" market which takes us back to a buil=
t
in mic. Sales are going to be limited if you only include the more
specialist applications.
The market you will be competing with is the ubiquitous mobile and handheld=
device.
David Brinicombe
"While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause.
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