Wow! Tons of information here. I'll try to reply to everyone:
Gregory, what you said is all very encouraging. To date I've been using a =
Tascam DR-70D to record using a mix of setups, two of which are an SASS bui=
lt around EM-172 capsules, and an ORTF arrangement using EM-184 cardioid ca=
psules. So far the SASS lends itself best to the recordings I've been tryin=
g to make, providing a really nice sense of space that even the ORTF setup =
doesn't quite deliver.
One of the reasons I'm looking into other setups, though, including the OR=
TF setup I built, was a recent trip to Edinburgh. It was a good trip from m=
ost aspects, but kind of a wash for field recording. I packed my SASS in my=
suitcase, but for a variety of reasons never really got to use it. I wound=
up relying on spaced omnis instead. Now that I have the ORTF setup I would=
reach for that before spaced omnis, but I'm still looking into other optio=
ns. A single self-contained MS microphone looked like a nice option.
Klas, you hit on my backup plan. In case the TSB-165A and Pimped Alice com=
bination proved to be too noisy, I was considering just sticking three card=
ioid Primo capsules in the mic body and calling it quits. I've only ever us=
ed the EM-184 as a cardioid, though. The EM-200 is new to me. The datasheet=
looks really appealing, though.
The only question I have is how to get them. micbooster.com carries the 17=
2 and the 184, but I haven't found anyone selling the EM-200. I've contacte=
d Primo in the past, hoping to get samples or even small lot sales, but of =
course that never panned out.
I'm not ruling out the Alice mic just yet. Not until I can hear some field=
samples recorded with it, anyway. But I think I'm off to find some side-by=
-side tests of ORTF vs. MS so I can get an idea of that confined sense of s=
pace you were talking about, Gregory. A broad sense of space is crucial for=
what I'm doing, so that may be a deal-breaker.
For what it's worth, another setup I'm planning to play with is a Jecklin =
Disc with those two omnis I used in Edinburgh. That would preserve the inte=
r-aural delay of the SASS and ORTF, and add in the baffle from the SASS wit=
hout the boundaries.
None of these would necessarily replace my SASS for recording near where I=
live, but I'm really hesitant to toss my SASS in my suitcase again. Everyt=
hing survived the trip, but I've had kite and photography gear damaged by b=
aggage handlers in the past, so I'd rather not risk it if I don't have to.
Thanks for your help, everyone.
Tom
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