> I=92m already wanting to experiment and fiddle, and I=92m really wanting =
to play with an external mic or two. Since I=92m primarily wanting to recor=
d quiet soundscapes, I=92m looking for something with low noise, but my bud=
get is meager at this stage.
Charles,
Go stereo. OK it's twice the mic price, but with placed stereo sound images=
,
I think random noise is more acceptable.
Next tip, buy used mics which are a lot more cost effective. Make sure you=
can return them if they are faulty, but you can get two older directional
mics for less than half the price of a new single mic.
Another option is to experiment with SASS or Jecklin arrays and upgrade to=
cleaner mics if you like the effect. Alternatively a reflector mic gives an=
immediate sound energy level lift, but with a more variable frequency
response.
The most audible mic noise is hiss and I have a routine for reducing hiss
using the Audacity editor which has almost inaudible side effects and, with=
luck, can take the mic noise below the ambient acoustic noise level.
I have a comparison on my web page of the same recording on two expensive
Sennheiser gun mice with my "Brinibox" using two =A310 mics;
http://www.stowford.org/recordings.htm#stereotest
Is one really worth several hundred =A3 more?
Here's the Brinibox made out of a cardboard carton:
http://www.stowford.org/sounds/brinibox.htm
and this was one array in the test comparisons above. I reckon it can give =
a
boost a 12 dB lift to the sound signal at the mic due to the horn effect.
David Brinicombe
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