Field recording

[danny.guitar]

I want to start doing binaural/field recording using a mini disc recorder, that uses the headphone microphones that go into your ears.

Can anyone recommend me a recorder/headset?

I have no experience with mini disc recorders or anything like that so I don't know what I'm doing.

 

[TheTrickster]

Check out Microphone Madness: http://www.microphonemadness.com/

I got one of their tiny stereo mics (they got binaurals, too) to plug into my mp3 player, and it sounds absolutely splendid - and that mic was cheap!

Forget the minidisc, it's hell to import back to your DAW (most likely line out, in real-time!). They're also clunky, got less battery life, and self-noise issues.

If you want good recordings in mp3, try an iriver mp3 player (i got the old IFP799 which works just fab). In 192kpbs, I can record almost 12 hours on a single AA battery (1 gig player). It also goes up to 320kbps. Or, something like iriver h10 hd mp3 player with the custom rockbox software let's you record wav files.

Good luck!

 

[danny.guitar]

Thanks for the link.

I'd like to be able to record WAV files and not MP3...at least at CD quality (16-bit/44.1).

I won't need a bunch of space on it either. Hopefully I can find something that won't make me go bankrupt.

I also found these headphone mics on that site you gave me, tell me what you think:

http://www.microphonemadness.com/products/mmtrunathook.htm

I would get them with the standard capsules as opposed to the Sennheiser ones.

 

[TheTrickster]

I've no doubts that the mic you choose will sound great.

Btw. what will you record? Concerts or general sounds?

btw: found this: DIY microphone!

 

[danny.guitar]

Awesome link.

I'd love to try that but I don't have a soldering iron or any soldering experience. I've been wanting to for awhile now though.

But for the meantime I was just thinking of getting those headphone-microphones that I posted, and then a digital recorder to go with it.

I'll just be recording general stuff and maybe guitar just to see what it sounds like.

Do you know of any good WAV digital recorders off-hand that won't break the bank? I don't need a lot of features, just recording in WAV and then maybe a digital/SPDIF output or USB or whatever to transfer it to my computer.

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[danny.guitar]

What do you think of this one?

Sony MZRH910 Hi-MD Walkman Personal Audio Player
http://www.parkaveelectronics.com/product.asp?itemid=SONMZRH910&l=Froogle

 

[bennychico11]

what's your budget??

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/H4

let's you use your own mics too

 

[danny.guitar]

what's your budget??

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/H4

let's you use your own mics too

That looks good, cheapest one I've seen so far. That is about as much as I can afford to spend on this. Hopefully there is one out there a little cheaper without all the things I don't need.

I just need one that records in 44.1/16-bit. Don't want to use MP3s...

The headphone mics i'm getting have one 1/8" stereo jack.

So I don't need any XLR or 1/4" inputs. Just a line-in jack.

 

[hairylarry]

Zoom H4 vs Hi-MD

Hi,

There is a review of the Zoom H4 in this months Tape-Op magazine. This is a very interesting recorder that has a lot of uses. It's an audio interface as well as a field recorder. Can record higher bitrates then Hi-MD.

Nonetheless I'm looking for a Hi-MD recorder. Be sure you get a NH-700 or later with the USB transfer. These will record CD quality .wav files as well as mp3 files.

The reason I am looking at a Hi-MD recorder is because I want to use it as a scratch pad as well as a field recorder. Everything recorded to hard drive or flash has to be backed up. With a mini disc you only have to transfer tracks to your computer if you want to do something with them. The Hi-MD media is it's own backup. When I use it as a songwriter's scratchpad I can just label and date my work discs and not have to copy them to a computer and write them to CD or DVD backup.

Still with the way SD flash RAM is dropping in price this may soon be a moot issue. A 1 Gig MD is $7 and right now you can get a gig of SD Falsh for about $20.

Also Hi-MD is single supplier and SD is forever. I am sure at some time SD cards will be relics of another era but I see their life stretching on into the future at ever decreasing prices.

And then there's the fact that Sony ran a root kit in their audio CDs. Also using a Hi-MD locks me into maintaining a machine so I can listen to my ideas even after I get another portable recorder.

As you can see I have been agonizing over this for a while. All other input into the Hi-MD vs Flash vs Hard Drive field recorders is appreciated.

After all, I've never used this stuff. Just research, research, research. I've gone from open reel to proprietary cartridges to cassette to four track cassette to DAT (not mine) to lugging a computer around to my Fostex VF160 for field recording. The easiest to use in the above list is cassette recorder so life hasn't gotten easier.

Better in many ways but not easier.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

 

[danny.guitar]

I decided I'm going to wait to get the recorder, but I'm still going to get the headphone mics.

I'm going to record with them on the computer until I can afford the recorder.

What would be the best way to hook them up into my DAW? I use a DMP3 to an M-Audio 2496.

Again, these are the headphone mics I'm getting:
http://www.microphonemadness.com/products/mmtrunathook.htm

 

[TheTrickster]

Check out irivers higher end mp3 players, like the H10/H20/Hxxx (up to 20-30 gigs) that will enable you to record directly to wav 16/44.1 using the free rockbox firmware. File transfer is hassle-free (usb cable). That Zoom thing is way overpriced, as are MDs.

The reason I "promote" iriver (not affiliated in any way!) is that most of their players got good recording options right out of the box (line/ext.mic, setting line/ext levels, etc.) - even the lower end ones, like my ifp-799 - compared to other brands.

Other than that there's the Edirol R1/R4 that records in 24bit (too expensive still, imo.)

That mic looks like a good choice, and you should get great results by using your preamp.

 

[hairylarry]

iriver questions

Trickster,

I appreciate you turning me on to this. I had always thought of the iriver as an mp3 recorder. I was completely unaware of the Rockbox firmware. A small 20 gig harddrive recorder is certainly desirable for field recording as well as for a songwriters scratch pad.

The H10 spec says it requires a cradle for line in. I haven't found anything about this cradle. Do you have any info or a link to explain this?

I am thinking about buying used or refurbished on ebay. Thoughts on this?

The H320 looks like the best thing going used. I am hoping it has line in without needing a cradle. Reading the Rockbox manual makes me think this is right. ???

The H120 is the other model that looks like it might work. They kind of all jumble together for me. Is there a real advantage to one model over another? Is there a model I haven't mentioned that you think I should look into?

I appreciate your help.

If you know of some good links or sites where these issues are discussed that would be cool.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

 

[danny.guitar]

Does anyone know how I would hook these microphones up to my PC DAW?

Either into the 2496 or DMP3.

I e-mailed MicrophoneMadness but they haven't responded yet but it's Sunday so I may not get a reply back until next week.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Does anyone know how I would hook these microphones up to my PC DAW?

Either into the 2496 or DMP3.

Danny,

From the web description of those mics:

"Comes standard gold plated 90 degree 1/8" stereo plug for even greater flexibility.
...can be easily plugged into any Minidisc, Dat or analog recorder that supplies a bias voltage of between 1.5 to 10 volts D.C. (also known as plug in power) at the microphone input jack...
Note: If your recorder does not provide a bias voltage or if you want to feed your recorders line inputs to avoid overloading your recorder's mic pre-amplifier, you can use one of our Battery Modules (check out our Battery-Module Section)."

Bottom line, those mics are't really designed for audio interface, they're really meant to be used with a portable recorder. But you do have two options, neither of which is superlative:

1.) Get one of their "battery modules" that allows you to convert the mic out to line level. Then run the output from there into either the RCA line inputs on your 2496 or the 1/4" instrument ins on the DMP-3. Either way you'd have to get converter cables that convert the stereo 1/8" out on the battery module to dual mono RCA or dual mono 1/4" (TS) on the other end.

2.) Try skipping the battery module and run the mic out directly to the mic ins on the DMP-3, and hope that the level ranges will be compatable. This hookup would require a cable that adapted from the stereo 1/8" plug on the mics to dual mono 1/4" (TS), and then throw adapters on the end of that to adapt from 1/4" TS to XLR to plug into the DMP.

G.

 

[danny.guitar]

Thanks Glenn.

I think I may try the battery module into the 2496 with the cable.

Do you think I would get an acceptable volume level out of that?

And since the battery module outputs line-level, do you think I could maybe hook it up into the "Direct/Instrument In" jacks on the DMP3? I think they accept line level.

Which one would you do?

I like the idea of the DMP3 because I can control gain in case the level isn't that good.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Do you think I would get an acceptable volume level out of that?

Having no experience with those mikes or that company, I couldn't say...other than if their battery module does indeed put out line level as promised, then yeah your levels should be fine. As to the quality of the equipment or signal beyond that, I have no idea.

And since the battery module outputs line-level, do you think I could maybe hook it up into the "Direct/Instrument In" jacks on the DMP3? I think they accept line level.

Already answered in the last post .

Which one would you do?

I'd try it both ways and see which way performed better.

G.

 

[TheTrickster]

Try the iriver enthusiast forums at http://www.misticriver.net/

Rockbox forums: http://forums.rockbox.org/

According to wikipedia, the following iriver models are supported

H100 series (H100/H110/H115/H120/H140, aka iHP-100/110/115/120/140)
H300 series (H320/H340)
H10 series (H10 5, 6, and 20GB)

AFAIK the battery module is only needed to increase the dB range, in order to record really loud stuff (concerts) without risking distortion.

Anyhow, with my little stereo mic, I record via line-in when recording my band's rehearsals, and switch to ext-mic (powered, same input) via software when I want to record speech or general sound effects. No battery module needed.

Hope it works out for you!

Cheers

 

[ofajen]

While you're at it, you might also want to take a look at the M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 recorder. There are also some other options as far as mikes. Check out The Sound Professionals, Sonic Studios and Core Sound.

Cheers,

Otto

 

[danny.guitar]

Thanks for the replies. I'm probably going to get something like the M-Audio portable recorder when I can afford it. But right now I can't. So I need to hook it up to the PC.

I guess I'll just buy the mics + battery module with the right cables and hope it works.

I e-mailed MicrophoneMadness and they haven't replied. Has anyone ordered from them before?

 

[mshilarious]

If you want to drive these headphone mics with phantom power from your PC input, you could do a DIY circuit inside an XLR adaptor (or a larger box). You could use one of my published circuits or the circuits here:

http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/microphone_powering.html

I'd have to think that is cheaper than the battery box, and it would get you balanced output.