Freesound Forums

Okay, I've had a crappy minidisc recorder and a 50 euro microphone for ages now and I've decided I can't live with it any more. I mainly want to record sounds outdoors, both ambience and also upclose sounds of bugs, branches etc... nature related sounds in general is my main focus for the moment. but most likely I also want to steal some sounds when I walk around downtown and things like that.

this is what I'm having in mind:

* Fostex FR-2 LE
* one Sennheiser K6, ME66 shotgun capsule + MZW66PRO windscreen (for mono upclose sounds?)
* one pair of Soundman OKM II (for stereo ambience stuff?)

I'm on a budget, this has ended up somewhere approx 1200 euro's, which is the absolute maximum I can consider... I'd prefer less than this, as a cost. but I feel that if I'm going to get a sort of expensive recorder I don't want to spoil it with a crappy microphone etc.

I'm not good at microphones and things like this in general, I'm more of a synth-guy originally so this is out of my range - am I on the right path with my thoughts?

thanks

This recorder is interesting, but since it's due in April not much is known about it. Also, the OKMs might be hard to use in this recorder as they need 6v plug-in power and a minijack socket. About the ME66, supercardioids are designed to record at a some distance, so probably not the best choice for close-up miking (you would get a more natural frequency response with a cardioid or an omni). Hope this helps.

Regards
EDIT Forgot to mention: the only valid rule I have come to know as regards recording is 'spend most in your mic'. So don't worry if you don't have a pro recorder, as long as you use a nice mic
/EDIT

Also mikes, esp the higher end ones, tend to hold value pretty good.

yeah but the FR-2 LE has line in too, which should qualify for use with the OKM II + A6 adapter no?

yeah, but I want to record sounds from a distance, my thought was that I maybe could use the OKM's for near recording of sounds + ambience.. and K6 + ME66 for like, recording sounds from a distance like you say.. birds, frogs in a pond etc...

but yeah, I'd really like going down a bit in price even though I can afford this more or less. but I heard the preamps in the FR-2 LE should be quite nice (same as FR-2) so that'd be nice to have preamp etc + everything in the same unit. I guess it's almost the same price too than to buy new minidisc, good preamp and so on.
(FR-2 costs 599 euro from where I'm ordering it from)

all suggestions are welcome, mic-wise, recorder-wise etc.

thanks for your replies guys

I am also thinking about the FR-02LE as soon as it is available here. Seems to be interesting.

-Erdie

yeah it seems really nice to me, and as I'm planning to go more sample based with my tracks - why not spend the money on a decent recorder. it's the microphone issue(s) that is my main headache... what you guys go for?

Well, one of the best microphones I think are the Soundman OKM II.

To use them with the FR-02LE there is a soulution:

(Taken from the Soundman site

"The PPA (Phantom Power Adapter) is used to connect the OKM to 48 volt phantom powered studio mixers and pre-amps. It provides an optimum voltage for the OKMs, and transformer isolated balanced mic level inputs. The improvement in signal to noise is significant when compared to the A3 (<8dB). Headroom is also slightly improved.

The unit requires no battery, but uses the mixer/pre-amp's 48V to power the circuitry that provides the bias voltage for the microphones. The mics are isolated from the 48V by two mini audio transformers."

I think, that it is a brilliant choice

Inchadney

Erdie
I am also thinking about the FR-02LE as soon as it is available here. Seems to be interesting.

-Erdie

anyway, I always try to buy products that work... and exist ! :wink: (release was apparently delayed a number of times). But yes, it's promising.

As for the OKM, they are nice (I own a pair), although freesounder Digifish has very good opinion of Sound Professionals binaurals: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,79660.0.html

cheers

okay, so you're suggesting that I should only go for a pair of OKM II's + a recorder? will that do for my needs? can I use them as a usual omni mic when plugging them out of my ears or something like that? I recall reading something like this. and are they sensitive enough for sampling more slient sounds? (bugs etc).... I'd prefer not to have to pay for a K6 + capsule as it's alot of $.

so using the OKM II with the FR2-LE would require the phantompower adapter? this is something worth taking into the consideration too as it's a bit pricey (the adapter alone). As I've understood, the FR2-LE has a line minijack too, wouldn't it be enough with the AA6 (orwhatever it's called) + the OKM II's? but then, maybe some other cheaper recorder would be smarter as I won't use the XLR's on the recorder anyway... or maybe I will in the future?

argh, I'm going nuts.

The Sound Professionals in ear mics are good. I have a pair of the hign sensitivity ones and as long as you've got enough power going to them, they work fine. I jus use a 9v battery box with little bass roll off filters. Just don't turn your head quickly or have a loud person next to you. Also, quite stealthy too. I too am waiting for the FR2 LE and have been using a HI MD for a couple of years now with a RODE NT4. I like the mic and the only complaint is that it's stuck at 90 degrees but for the price I really shouldn't complain. It can power itself and yo can plug it right into the MD with the extra 5 pin to 1/8 cable it comes with.

Anyone else have experience woth the NT4??

frdrkh
okay, so you're suggesting that I should only go for a pair of OKM II's + a recorder? will that do for my needs? can I use them as a usual omni mic when plugging them out of my ears or something like that? I recall reading something like this. and are they sensitive enough for sampling more slient sounds? (bugs etc).... I'd prefer not to have to pay for a K6 + capsule as it's alot of $.

so using the OKM II with the FR2-LE would require the phantompower adapter? this is something worth taking into the consideration too as it's a bit pricey (the adapter alone). As I've understood, the FR2-LE has a line minijack too, wouldn't it be enough with the AA6 (orwhatever it's called) + the OKM II's? but then, maybe some other cheaper recorder would be smarter as I won't use the XLR's on the recorder anyway... or maybe I will in the future?

argh, I'm going nuts.

Na, there are lots os decissions awaiting so don't go nuts ... yet

Serious, I think you should forget about finding a single, perfect combination for all purposes. If you get hooked with recording inavoidably you'll end filling drawers with recorders, several mics, etcetera. Simply put no equipment can suit all possible situations. For example, I mostly record nature sounds, but every now and then I like taping live music so...

A good starting rig can be a pair of (OKM or SP) binaurals pluged into a minidisc, a used iRiver H120 or H140 (search eBay), or even one of the recently appeared solid-state recorders (e.g. edirol R09, Microtrac, Zoom H4, whatever). This combination is wonderful to record hot sources such as music or other man-produced sounds. Not even very expensive pro equipment can bet the ratio fun/money you get from this. IMO.

Yes, you can put the binaurals on a table, or fix them to your cloths and use like a stereo pair. Just note that they are omnis, while single point stero mics more commonly use cardiod capsules that help to improve the stereo image. That given by omnis is less precise, *and* you cannot space them more than a few cm.

About recording soft sources in nature... this is a real P.I.T.A. (you have been warned!) You spend piles of cash: expensive windshields, expensive mics (sensitive, low self-noise, robust) and expensive amplification (silent preamp). Of course you need a recorder too, but this is probably the more affordable link in the chain. The new Fostex you mentioned could be handy if it has a silent preamp, so I'm one of the many curious on how well it will perform (allow for a couple months after release to discover that). Soooo... me too, I will also get one if it proves a decent all-in-one box My advice: do *not* wait for it, get some other recorder and start recording!

About the ME66, it's silent, very sensitive... and my main mic so all I can say is I love it But note this is *not* an expensive mic, just moderately priced and a good start. And because can be battery-operated is backward compatible with the consumer-level recorders I listed above (yes, you can plug the ME66 directly into a MD, isn't nice?).

Finally, if you ever wanted to record soft sources in stereo... ok, I'll spare you the description as indeed this is sort of a torture for your mind and finances..

Hope this helps with your decissions. Take care.

regards

okay, I've followed your suggestions. I got myself Hi-Md, Sony MZ-NH700 - 70 euro's

now, for microphone, preamps, whatever... what should I go for?

OKM, SP... do I need somethings else? Do I need the A3 adapter for OKM's?
and do I need something for the SP's?

and if intend to use XLR mic with this MD, what is your recommended choice?
(preamp etc.etc.)

what I'm trying to say is:

which is best suited for my recorder, now when I've choosen this recorder (I know suggestions has been up already but.. maybe something more specific now?)

someone wrote that the SP high-sensitive needs 9volt to work as it should, does this require me to get a battery pack too? etc.etc.etc

and does anyone know if there's any retailers in europe selling sound professional gear?
I've tried googling a bit without luck

frdrkh
what I'm trying to say is:

which is best suited for my recorder, now when I've choosen this recorder (I know suggestions has been up already but.. maybe something more specific now?)

someone wrote that the SP high-sensitive needs 9volt to work as it should, does this require me to get a battery pack too? etc.etc.etc

Your MD provides a small voltage which can power both OKM and SP binaurals. Battery packs increase voltage and in so doing allow recording hotter sources (eg live music), so it's for you to decide if you get one or not. Same applies to the OKM adapter, as this is basically a battery pack.

About using XLR connectors ('pro' mics) on your MD... actually you can't. That is, unless you get a self-powered mic (eg Senn K6, Sony MS-907, Rode NT4, etc). The main reason being that most pro mics use 12-48 V phantom power, which is way higher than the 3-4 V supplied by a minidisc.

As for you last question, European retailers: there is a bunch of them, just google around a bit and they will jump at you (I won't advertise any here, send me a PM if you wish)

yeah I know, but I was refering to retailers that has Sound Professional gear, but it seems you have to order directly from them

so recording quiet sounds (bugs etc) will be better off without the adapter, maybe the signal is clearer through the line-in though using the A3, what do you guys think? I got the money, so...