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Re: Alice Microphone for Field Recording?

Subject: Re: Alice Microphone for Field Recording?
From: "Telinga" klasstrandberg
Date: Sat Sep 17, 2016 3:02 pm ((PDT))
If you want to make a M/S mic, try using three Primo EM200.

Klas

On 2016-09-17 01:22, Gregory O'Drobinak 
[naturerecordists] wrote:
> Tom:
>
> A cello is a fairly loud instrument, especially when it is little over
> a foot away from a mic.
> Therefore, you probably can't hear the self-noise of that mic in that
> studio clip, but I'm fairly sure that it would be fairly objectionable
> in a quiet nature setting.
>
> The data sheet for the TSB-165A alludes to a noise floor of 28 dBA,
> which is 12 dB higher than the minimum that most nature recordists
> will tolerate.
>
> Note that you will also need a portable recorder that supplies phantom
> power and that has realtime MS decoding built-in so that you can
> monitor the actual soundstage while you are recording. The Tascam
> DR70-D has those capabilities, has quiet mic preamps and can be
> obtained for under $250.00.
>
> I haven't tried them but Primo makes some cardiod capsules that have a
> much better noise floor than the TSB-165s, but you would need to adapt
> the 'alice' phantom-powered circuit to work with the EM182 capsule.
> http://www.primomic.com/php/get_products_details.php?model=3DEM182
>
> M/S mics sound too 'confined' to my ears since there is no inter-aural
> delay encoded during the recording process to define the sounds in
> space, only intensity differences.
> This is fine in close-miked studio conditions, but is not optimal IMHO
> in the diffuse-field environment of the outdoors.The three mic
> elements of the 'Alice' mic must therefore be _quite_ closely matched
> in frequency response and level in order to preserve good imaging in
> the recording.
>
>  [1]
>
> Personally, I like boundary-array mics that use omni capsules.
> They give a much nicer sound stage that sounds full with great detail
> with respect to sound sources within a wide space.
>
> You can search the boundary mic newsgroup to get more information:
>
> http://diystereoboundarymics.blogspot.com/ [2]If you use the Primo
> EM172 capsules, there is no need for phantom power, they will work
> using only the built-in PIP (plug-in power) from recorders such as the
> Sony PCM M10. The DR70-D supplies PIP as well.
>
> The only other recording method I would use is ORTF, employing very
> low-noise studio cardiod mics (<11 dBA self-noise).
> The ORTF mic capsule spacing captures the inter-aural time differences
> of the sound sources similar to how the ears do.
>
> John Grzinich has done some lovely recordings using cardiod mics in an
> ORTF
> configuration:https://soundcloud.com/maaheli/padoj-rv-5-45am-dawn-chorus
>
> PADOJ=C4RV 5:45AM DAWN CHORUS, APRIL 22ND BY MAAHELI
>
> Pado lake is on the eastern side of the Meelva bog in Southeast
> Estonia. We arrived quite "late" to...        =09
>
> http://maaheli.ee/main/
>
> JOHN GRZINICH - SOUND + SITE + SITUATIONAL RESEARCH
>
> sound + site + situational research   =09
>
> Another mic
> resource:http://www.wildmountainechoes.com/equipment/microphones-nature-r=
ecording-ii-different-microphones-different-situations/
>
> So, I hope that this helps answer some of your questions.
>
> BR,
> Greg
>
> -------------------------
>  FROM: " [naturerecordists]"
> <>
> TO: 
> SENT: Friday, September 16, 2016 3:08 PM
> SUBJECT: [Nature Recordists] Alice Microphone for Field Recording?
>
> I tried doing some searches, but I haven't found anything really
> conclusive to answer this question: Has anyone tried using an Alice
> microphone for field recording?
>
> The reason I'm asking is that Jules Ryckebusch posted a link to an
> Instructables he wrote that details his build of an Alice-based MS
> microphone:
>
> Build the MS Alice Stereo Microphone [3]
>
>  [3]
>
>  Build the MS Alice Stereo Microphone [3]
> This instructable will show you how to build and use an MS microphone.
> One of the classic stereo microphone recording methods is the MS or
> Mid-Side microp...
>
>  View on www.instructables.com [3]
>  Preview by Yahoo
>
> Jules stuck three TSB-165 capsules in the mic body. One faces forward
> (providing mid), and the other two facing sideways and wired in series
> to create a figure-eight mic (providing side). Each mic has its own
> Alice board, also installed in the mic body. The signals are fed out
> through a 5-pin XLR.
>
> This would make for a very compact, very light MS setup for field
> recording. For travel or for locations that require long hikes to
> reach, there's a lot of appeal here.
>
> But it would help to know if anyone else had tried using an Alice
> microphone for field recording, and what the potential pitfalls are.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom
>
>
>
> Links:
> ------
> [1] http://www.primomic.com/php/get_products_details.php?model=3DEM182
> [2] http://boundarymics-list-uwm.edu/
> [3]
> http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-the-MS-Alice-Stereo-Microphone/
> [4]
> https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/naturerecordists/info;_ylc=3DX3oDMTJl=
bTEwMTJtBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIxMjY4NjAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDgzNjYzBHNlYwN=
2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbWUDMTQ3NDA2ODE1NQ--
> [5]
> https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=3DX3oDMTJkbm92ZDV2BF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdyc=
ElkAzIxMjY4NjAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDgzNjYzBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxNDc0=
MDY4MTU1
> [6] https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html
> [7] https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/






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