best mic...

[stratman]

I just bought an MZ-R70. Main plan is for live rehearsal recording use for my band. I need to know what is the best mic I can use with this unit to record a loud music? I am looking at the ECM-MS907. I have a tube mic pre-amp and a couple of Marshall 603s. I wonder will this be better than the ECM mic setup? The thing about it is that it defeats the purpose of compact setup which is the reason to use MD in the first place. Any positive helpful comments are welcome. Thanks

[onlyfingers]

I also have a MZ-R70, which I have not begun to use. Like yours, it will be used to record practice sessions. I have to get a mic for my unit, too, so I will be monitoring the responses you get here.

(I went to the Sony web site. The MS907 works directly without a pre-amp, right? It says $99 on the site. But another model with similar specs sells for $299. Why the big difference?)

This is my second Sony MD unit. I got a brand new one from J&R a couple of months ago, but returned it because anti-piracy software prevented me from transfering my recordings to my computer. I have since learned that you have to play it back in an analog fashion to make computer files.

Now I have analog set-up, a WalkMan D6. The main disadvantage of the D6 is that I end up with a ton of cassettes that are in “practice order,” but I need to use them in “performance-order.” So I do a lot of tape-swapping and rewinding. The computer would help ‘cause I could just burn a CD that has all the tunes I need to work on, in order.

Since I could play my tapes through the sound board into the computer, and I have to do the same to get the MD tunes into the computer, I wonder how the MD has moved me forward. I got it as a gift, but now, to use it, I have to get some pricey mics.

With my previous MD, the Radio Shack mics I use on the WalkMan D6 didn’t put out enough. I could hear, but it was faint. So I took the line-out from the WM D6 into the MD, and got good enough quality without having to buy new mics. But then, as you point out, where is the size advantage, with all that crap plugged into this little unit?

At some point, I expect to get a digital recorder like the Boss 864, which won’t be as compact, but will probably give me better quality recordings and the file management I need.

[stratman]

Yeah man, I guess were in the same boat. I know that through a couple of decent mic (like 603) placed strategically well through a tube pre-amp I will get a very good recording. It defeats the portability part though.

As far as the price difference between the mics, I'm not sure about these Sony mic. I guess the more pricey the better performance. But with that price I'd rather save up some more cash and get me a stand-alone 4 trk digital recorder.

Well, hope I get more response in this thread section. Don't seem that popular though. Not much trhead here unlike the other ones.

Anyways, let me know what happens to your recording with the MZ-R70. I would like to know what happend. If you have any tips in recording a loud rock band without geting any distortion or garbled sound in the recorder I would really appreciate it.

[onlyfingers]

HI, Stratman.

I got a recommendation from Innovations on the Microphone forum to look at the Delta mic from Reactive Technologies for the Sony MD. I ordered one from their web site ($65, including shipping), and it works just fine for what I need to do. The only problem is that the direct-attach mic picks up disk whine. (The plus is that direct-attach is real convenient, and as close as you might get to built-in.) I got a short male-to-male cable from Radio Shack that puts the mic about 6" off the MD unit, and that tests out OK for minumizing disk whine. The set-up is pretty new, so I don't know what it can't do, yet. (Using advice found on this board, I managed to get reasonable quality digital files in my computer. The level is a bit low, so I'm working on that next.)

reactivesounds.com

[stratman]

I seem to be having a problem with reactivesounds.com. Anyways, I'll check around in the mic forum to see if I can get any other ideas. I just borrowed my friends Sony ecm-ms907 mic. This might actually work. I'll let you guys know this weekend when i go to band practice to see if hi decibles will be a problem with this mic setup.

[Swede]

I have access to the Sony ECM-MS907 and my opinion on it is that it's a peice of shit. Noisy as hell and recordings made with it sounds boxy and unnatural. I bet the marshalls would sound a helluva lot better.

Simon

[stratman]

That might be so, Swede. I haven't really tried the Son ecm-ms907 yet. Should I need to get a matched pair of the Marshall 603s?

[Swede]

Why don't you just try recording with your current marshalls? I think you'd still get a better recording with these unmatched than you'd get with the sony.

[Nilbog]

check out www.soundprofessionals.com
They have some really good mics, mic/preamp packages, etc. and decent prices.

-Nilbog