Freesound Forums

Hello,
I recently bought a shotgun mic in order to have a complement to the sometimes too "ambienty" sound of the zoom h2 internal mics, mainly for picking distant and low-level sound sources in field recordings. The first recordings that I made reveal that the level of the microphone connected to the zoom is unacceptably low, I guess because of the low quality preamps of the zoom; so I cannot use it for my purposes. Presently, it's not in my plans to buy another portable recorder (I'm actually very happy with the internal 4 mics of the zoom) but I would like to have the possibility of use it with external microphones.
So my first question is: can somebody recommend me a portable preamp that I could use to improve the quality of the mic input of the zoom? I was thinking about something similar to the soundman's preamp (really small and effective)... but I didn't find something similar and able to use with other mics.

My second question is: I tested the external rode mic in my old minidisc recorder and it worked much better. Then I was asking me if there would be possible and unproblematic to use the minidisc to record with the external microphone at the same time of recording with the zoom internal mics and have a 3 channel recording after putting together both md and soundman recordings... Is it reasonably possibe to have a unique recording through this rather rudimentary procedure?

Thank you very much for your ideas...

Al.

Fist question

http://www.felmicamps.co.uk/index.html

I like the battery preamp a lot, used with a Zoom H2 via line-in. Unfortunately it is sold out at present. They do have others as well.

As to the second question I shouldn't think it would be too problematic if the recordings were slated at the beginning. I might give it a go myself if my minidisc recorder still works. If I do I will report back.

Thank you very much, these preamps are exactly what I was looking for; the one you mention is sold out, but actually the cable-like preamps without battery should also do the job in the mic input of the zoom with the extra 20db. Great, thank you.

Al

You're welcome.

Nady DMP 2 is quite cheap and good solution

some more:
http://www.naiant.com/studiostore/microphoneamplifiers.html
blind test Naiant littlebox vs. Grace Lunatec V3:
http://www.taperssection.com/index.php?topic=124895.0