Hopefully posts in this thread will answer the following kinds of questions, for beginning and experienced "field recordists" alike:
What do you use for your field recordings?
What's the best and worst things about it?
What level of quality of recordings are you able to get with the equipment you use?
I'll start. I'm using an Edirol R1 compact flash recorder ($439) with a Sound Professionals t-mic ($49). I've found it to work really well for my needs. The quality of recordings is higher than minidisc; there are no moving parts so there is a much higher chance of reliability in stressful or humid situations; and the convenience of recording to compact flash, when it comes to backing up my recordings, can't be underestimated! A major time-saver!
I get about 3.5 hours of recording time on a set of rechargable AA batteries (I'm using speciality 2600maH batteries from a battery wholesaler - better performance than off the shelf components). The rig is portable...
What's wrong with the unit? Well, it doesn't have 48v phantom power, so your mic selection is rather limited. (Then again, no unit of this size could contain a properly implemented, quality 48v phantom providing preamp). The user interface is quite atrocious. But I do get my recordings, which is the most important thing...
Anyone else have field recording tips, techniques, gear information?
What do you use for your field recordings?
What's the best and worst things about it?
What level of quality of recordings are you able to get with the equipment you use?
I'll start. I'm using an Edirol R1 compact flash recorder ($439) with a Sound Professionals t-mic ($49). I've found it to work really well for my needs. The quality of recordings is higher than minidisc; there are no moving parts so there is a much higher chance of reliability in stressful or humid situations; and the convenience of recording to compact flash, when it comes to backing up my recordings, can't be underestimated! A major time-saver!
I get about 3.5 hours of recording time on a set of rechargable AA batteries (I'm using speciality 2600maH batteries from a battery wholesaler - better performance than off the shelf components). The rig is portable...
What's wrong with the unit? Well, it doesn't have 48v phantom power, so your mic selection is rather limited. (Then again, no unit of this size could contain a properly implemented, quality 48v phantom providing preamp). The user interface is quite atrocious. But I do get my recordings, which is the most important thing...
Anyone else have field recording tips, techniques, gear information?
posted by:
|
SF Bay Area
|
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Thu, March 23, 2006 - 10:00 AMI have used the good ole Tascam DA-P1 DAT recorder. This offers great sound, an easy interface, and phantom power. I have used both a stereo mic (for compactness) and a matched pair of condensors (for good concert sound). The disadvantage to this rig is bulk; it's pretty much in its own backpack with mics, cords, etc. Tho' I have used it in the "field" in the strict sense, I find it best for recording a fully organized performance where logistics can be arranged ahead of time. And, fact is, I'm more likely to haul a compact camcorder than my DAT rig.
Having dipped my toes into computer recording--Digital Performer--I have wondered about taking my Powerbook and a basic mic for basic field situations. With proper digital i/o, this would clearly yield a good recording, and with it in DP I could easily edit and polish later. Anyone try that? -
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Sun, March 26, 2006 - 1:21 AMIf you're not concerned about the obvious visual impact of yer recording rig, yeah, a laptop could be a good way to go. Particularly the newer dual-core computers with 5 hour battery life... you will still need an external mic preamp and maybe even an A/D converter, though, to get the best results (if you run off firewire it will eat up your 5-hour battery within 30 minutes). Add the batteries for those external devices and yer talking about quite a few kilos!
The DA-P1 is a classic field recording kit... the mic preamps are really good on that thing. I've had problems with DAT tapes going bad, though, and if you lose time code on a DAT, it's "all over."
-
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Tue, May 16, 2006 - 7:28 AMEven if you haven't got the high quality gear, it's still worth giving it a go.
I recorded Turkish singing with saz using a mini-disk and a tiny mic which cost about £30
( =$50).
It sounds great,
one of my favourite cds.
Of course there's a great advantage to having gear that just fits in the pocket so
that It can be carried with you just in case.
-
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Tue, May 16, 2006 - 12:26 PMOne of my fav field recording devices was the Sony WMD-6 cassette recorder - a bit of a "noise floor," but I made some really nice warm-sounding recordings of oud and gamelan for years with that thing. Ya can pick them up for super cheap on ebay these days...
The main thing that's always bothered me about minidiscs is not so much the sound quality (good enough for many purposes), but that I've lost way too many recordings cos the table of contents didn't write, or the battery cut out while recording. or the disc became corrupted.
For cheap mics, the Core Sound and Sound Professionals line of microphones offer really good performance - I got a $50 mic from them that sounds better than any of the Sony stereo mics! -
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Wed, May 17, 2006 - 4:30 AMWell some of those Sony mics sound a bit grim:-)
I was really lucky to pick up a Sennheiser MKE 66 for £26
( worth about 10x that)., very nice.
The Beyer Dynamic MCE72 looks good ( I'd have to have one if I didn't have the sennheiser already).
The thing I don't like about cassette is the unstable pitch.
I haven't had problems with MD failure, but still managed to record over a prized recording because the MD set it's record position to the beginning of the disc unexpectedly. Yeah, I know that's user error, but it wouldn't have happenned with cassette.
Thanks for the Core Sound and Sound Professionals recommendation.
-
-
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Tue, June 6, 2006 - 7:36 AMI'm a big fan of the Audio Technica AT822 mic - very clean and a nice sound.
One thing I do really like about the Sony MD is their soft-limiter, or whatever it is exactly they use to automatically set/limit the recording input level, but I'm getting tired of running into problems related to "moving parts", like disc-read errors and such. Otherwise, it's been a really nice solution. But, the flash recorders are bound to keep dropping in price, and increasing in storage capacity.
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Sun, September 9, 2007 - 10:22 PMHey Crew,
I'm buying a Korg MR-1000 for my fieldwork. Problem is, I'm not sure what mics to get. I want some dynamic mics. I'm looking at getting a Shure SM58 for a cardioid mic, but I still haven't found a reasonably price dynamic omni mic to get. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave -
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Mon, September 10, 2007 - 1:12 AMDon't think you'll find an omni dynamic.
The Behringer ECM8000 is an omni electret condenser ( doesn't need phantom power).
If you're looking to not spend too much it's the best omni I know.
SM58 is a wierd choice.
I guess you have some special reason for not wanting to just get a decent stereo mic.
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Mon, September 10, 2007 - 11:59 AMYou need to be very specific about your applications - are you doing stereo distant recordings, ambience recordings, mono close-miked instrument recordings, studio-like multi-track recordings (2 close mics), interviews...
But I think the Shure SM58, all around, is definitively your worse choice for perhaps every single application.
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Mon, September 10, 2007 - 4:42 PMOk let me ask what ya'll suggest then. The Shure was recommended to me by a few people because its a good and rugged mic.
What I'll be working with is collecting drum circle and chanting sounds basically.
Any suggestions?
Mind you, I'd prefer a dynamic mic as opposed to a condenser because they are less likely to break, but I'd really like to hear what you all suggest either way.
Thanks,
Dave -
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Tue, September 11, 2007 - 7:16 AMYep, SM58 can stand being bounced on the floor.
...and untrained vocalists practically eating them.
I'd say that the newer ones are ok for close up vocal micing at a gig,
which is what they are intended for.
In your position, I'd go for one of the stereo mics that Oudplayer recommended earlier in the thread,
and then neglect to either bounce it on the floor or donate it to a slobbery vocalist :-)
If you handle the mic carefully, and keep it boxed/covered while not in use I'm sure you'll be fine
Hope that helps
-
-
-
Re: Field recording tips, techniques, and equipment
Wed, September 12, 2007 - 9:12 PMi recently got a Zoom H4, and i'm looking forward to testing it out on a full band really soon. so far i've used it to record an accordion lesson and the sound was great... but i don't have a lot of empirical data yet. i got it based on many recommendations due to its quality, portability, and 4-track recording capabilities. i'll check back in once i have more to report! -
-
Zoom H4 - 2 thumbs up!
Sat, September 29, 2007 - 5:06 PMthis little machine makes amazing recordings. so far i've used it to tape one performance and several rehearsals. even at the lowest level of .wav, it sounds great. i haven't done much tweaking with the levels, but i suppose i could and it would sound even better. i haven't gotten into 4-track recording either, but that's a whole other world of possibilities, it seems. at any rate, i am really quite enthused about this thing so far. it's so portable, and the quality is really impressive. -
-
Re: Zoom H4 - 2 thumbs up!
Sun, September 30, 2007 - 12:03 AMI've heard good things about those... gotta round up a bit of cash to pick one up and try it out! Are you using the built-in mics?
-
-
