Topic: Comparison between the Edirol R1, Microtrack and PDAudio systems & various mics

[mschiff]

I have posted a (large - 36 meg) file that has five mp3 files encoded at 256K. It is a high school jazz band (big band). It has trumpets, trombones, saxaphones, bass, drums and guitar. The files include the following:

R1 with internal mics
R1 with Rode NT4 mic into line-in
Microtrack with DPA4060 mic into Mic2496 preamp
PDAudio system (PDAudio CF card with HP2215 IPAQ & Mic2496 preamp) with DPA 4060 mics
PDAudio system (as above) with Studio Projects C4 mics using omni caps

These were recorded on two different occasions with the same band and same song. I tried to get the levels equal so that would not be a factor. There was a larger audience at one of the performances, hence more background noise, but try not to let that be a factor.

Let me know if you can guess which is which, and pick the one you like best.

File is at http://www.cdsol.com/cdsol/downloads/compare.zip

-- Martin

[aberg]

What is this really a comparison of? The recorders were using different mics... I'm not sure what sort of conclusions can be drawn from this. Just my opinion....

[mschiff]

Andrew,

I've seen lots of questions here and elsewhere about these combinations. It gives someone a chance to hear what they can do. Also, you can compare the Microtrack and PDAudio with the same mics and preamp, and  the PDAudio with two different mics that are used and recommended here a lot. You can also compare the R1 with internal and external mics.

Seems to me that should be useful.

-- Martin

[aberg]

Ah ok, sorry... it's late and I read it too quickly.

[neutrino]

Andrew,

I've seen lots of questions here and elsewhere about these combinations. It gives someone a chance to hear what they can do. Also, you can compare the Microtrack and PDAudio with the same mics and preamp, and  the PDAudio with two different mics that are used and recommended here a lot. You can also compare the R1 with internal and external mics.

Seems to me that should be useful.

-- Martin

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you were using the optical or coaxial output of your Mic2496 there would be no worthy comparison between the MicroTrack and the PDAudio, they would simply be acting as "bit buckets".
dB-

[flintstone]

I'm guessing that the Microtrack and 4060 mics were
used one night, and the PDA with 4060 mics was used
the next.  With a different crowd and possibly different
mic placement, the recordings would sound different.

Thanks to Martin for sharing the files with us.  Please
let us know soon which file represents which pair of
mics and recorder.   

Did you digitize using a higher sample rate for the Microtrack
and PDA recorders?  Or did you set all recorders at the
24/44.1 rate that the R-1 uses?

What software did you use for the PDA recorder?

Flintstone

[mschiff]

Neutrino,

You are correct about the bit bucket issue. However, there does seem to be small differences. I was using them to back up each other, so I thought I would compare. If nothing else, it is assurance that the Microtrack IS a good bit bucket.

-- Martin

[mschiff]

Flintstone,

All recorders were set to 24/44.1. I will post the key to the files tomorrow.

The mics were placed almost identically both nights, the same distance from the band. I was sitting in the front row on both occasions, and the jazz band was on the floor to my left. The Edirol R1 when used with internal mics was just placed on a small table in front of me.

I used Gidluck's Live2496 on the PDA. Gordon's support is second to none.

-- Martin

[mschiff]

Here is the key to the recordings.

Jazz 1 - Edirol R1 internal mics
Jazz 2 - Microtrack Mic2496 4060
Jazz 3 - Live 2496 Mic2496 4060
Jazz 4 - Live 2496 Mic2496 SP C4 omni
Jazz 5 - Edirol R1 Rode NT4

-- Martin