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Re: Small Recorder

Subject: Re: Small Recorder
From: "peter" quies_still
Date: Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:00 am ((PDT))
Yes, sorry for lack of info.

How did I get to using the 20db pad all the time?
Well, when I first got the d50, I tested every setting, and out of curiosit=
y made recordings with the pad on and off and realised that there=92s less =
noise with the pad on. i know that sounds counterintuitive but I did come a=
cross similar impressions online after my tests.
So yes, it seems that recording with no pad and say an input gain of 3 has =
more noise than recording with the pad on and input gain at say 7 or 8.

The microphones I use without the Mixy are two binaural models, one from So=
und Professionals, the other from Sonic Studios. Any other microphones I fe=
ed through the Mixy first.

And yes, the Mixy is not cheap but worth every cent as far as I=92m concern=
ed.

Peter

On 14 Apr 2014, at 6:18 pm, Gregory O'Drobinak <> =
wrote:

>
> Glad that works for you, Peter.
> However, engaging a 20 dB pad right off the bat seems counter-intuitive. =
But then you haven't given much info as to what gear is involved and how it=
 is connected.
>
> BTW the cost of a Mixy unit exceeds the cost of a brand new SD702, which =
does indeed appear to have mic preamps with a better noise floor.
>
> But if I could get a Mixy preamp for under US $1000.00, I might be tempte=
d to try it.
>
> - Greg
>
> From: peter <>
> To: 
> Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2014 9:01 PM
> Subject: Re: Re: [Nature Recordists] Small Recorder
>
>
> I have the D50 and love it. Sure, it doesn=92t have XLR inputs, but I use=
 a Mixy field mixer and get the same quality (or better) than an SD.
>
> My experience with hiss and self-noise when I=92m not using the pre-amp:
> For starters, I always use the -20db pad setting. Input gain depends on t=
he mics. Some microphones let me crank the input gain up all the way withou=
t generating hiss, others won=92t let me gain higher than 6,5. In most case=
s, that is more than enough gain, even with the pad setting.
>
> Hope this is helpful.
>
> Peter
>
> On 14 Apr 2014, at 11:33 am,  wrote:
>
>> > Also, is there a simple way to attenuate the microphone signal a bit, =
maybe 6 to 12 dB, without worsening the self noise? I would like to run my =
M10 at full gain since this is where Raimund's chart shows the preamp noise=
 to be the quietest, but that is too much gain for the em172 under most rec=
ording conditions.
>> John,
>>
>> Without knowing all the parameters, this is difficult to answer. The
>> solution is to test the mic and recorder using the pile of bedclothes te=
st
>> method. This will give you an account of mic hiss which is usually the
>> annoying noise.
>>
>> As you reduce the gain level, the mic hiss should reduce in proportion. =
At
>> the point that recorder input noise becomes louder on the recording than=
 the
>> mic hiss, then you are losing s/n ratio.
>>
>> There is nothing you can do about mic hiss, so as long as it is swamping=
 the
>> recorder noise, you have the optimum record level with the maximum headr=
oom.
>>
>> David Brinicombe
>>
>
>
>
>
>






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