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I have an Archos AV420 and some of my uploads here have been created using its internal mic, which picks up too much hard drive noise to be really useful for anything more than trivial sampling. I'd like to get an external mic that would avoid that noise, plus would be nicer to handle for street interviews and other field recording.

After reading the reviews of the Archos stereo microphone (search Amazon.com for B000096B00 to see what I mean), and not being particularly happy with Archos anyway, I'd like to find an alternative. It needs to be portable, preamped, with a 1/8" mini plug. Ideally it'll be in roughly the same price range of $35-50 (USD), but I can go a little higher for better sound -- but I can't justify hundreds of dollars.

Any recommendations?

I think you will not be happy with such a mic. Especially for field recording you need a device with a high signal to noise rate. This cannot be covered with an 40$ one. I also use an Archos but the preamp and mic are much more expensive than the recording device itself ! I know it is less handy but the mics and the preamp are the most importand components. This is my field recording stuff:

http://www.erdie.de/arm1.jpg
http://www.erdie.de/arm2.jpg

If you need some cheaper stuff look for an back-electret microphone. For preamp, i do not have an idea for a ceap solution with works with batteries.

Erdie

Erdie
I think you will not be happy with such a mic. Especially for field recording you need a device with a high signal to noise rate. This cannot be covered with an 40$ one. I also use an Archos but the preamp and mic are much more expensive than the recording device itself ! I know it is less handy but the mics and the preamp are the most importand components. This is my field recording stuff:

http://www.erdie.de/arm1.jpg
http://www.erdie.de/arm2.jpg

If you need some cheaper stuff look for an back-electret microphone. For preamp, i do not have an idea for a ceap solution with works with batteries.

Erdie

I agree with Erdie, if you want something you should consider spending a little more. I would suggest the Core Sound Low Cost Binaural Microphones (75 $ ). I've had one unit like that for 10 years and it is very interesting, not too noisy and very light weight. It has some limitations in the high end but for the price, they are great I recently bought what they call the High End Binaurals (made of DPA 4060 capsules), they are superb, but there is a big price to pay... But, The low cost ones are sold around 75 dollars, you can add a small battery box along and it helps when you have a recorder that does'nt have great preamps...

You can talk directly to the founder, Len Moskovitz, he can make the right suggestion for you and your tight budget, go to
www.core-sound.com for more informations

feel free...