Topic: RHi compare with H-140,which one less noise recording?

[yst]

Hi:

I have used Iriver h-140 to record teachings,but dissapointed that have to raise the rockbox gain to 45.5 ,and listen back need to raise the volume to highest,in order to listening.(using line in and the ext mic provided by Iriver)
Then because the gain is so high,the recording get noisy ,and not comfortable to listen to.
My question is would preamp:this onehttp://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?category=search&item=SP-PASM-2&type=store
can give me more quiet results,I am afraid it will also amplify the noise at the same time.

I record the teachings and the talkers is very softly spoken and voice is very very low,and I do not have a chance to sit the rows nearest to him,therefore I need preamp.

But is buying Sony RH1 would give me better signal to noise ratio than the preamp?Have you has the comparison to the iriver 140 in combination with preamp than RH1 without preamp?

Because both is expansive,I need serious compare the quality before taking action.
As long as which one can record low volume signal with the least noise,I will decide to buy it

I want to ensure SOny Rh1 can do quiet sound recording without add much noise,is it true?That because if it is also noisy and need external preamp capturing low voice,I think I better stay with H-140 .Does its internal preamp better than the one in H-140(which easily become noisy when in quiet environment taping).

Thanks in advance

[flintstone]

I've got a Sony MZ-NH700 HI-MD recorder and an iRiver H-120.
The Sony preamps are noticeably quieter when you have to
record with the preamp volume turned up.

Here's a link to an article that measures the self-noise produced
by the Sony HI-MD machine.  The author estimates that the
MZ-NH700 (the cheapest HI-MD recorder available) preamp
noise is around -116 dBu.  That's low enough to be below the
noise floor of all but the very best mics. 

http://www.wildlife-sound.org/equipment/himd/himdmyths_meas.html

And here's a link to a Quicktime movie comparing the noise levels
of the Sony MZ-NH900 HI-MD recorder with the M-Audio Microtrack 2496
and the Sound Devices 722. 

http://tinyurl.com/894ke


HI-MD has its shortcomings (for example, HI-MD disc only holds
94 minutes of audio, and HI-MD records WAV only at 16/44.1 ),
but the HI-MD machines sound good, particularly considering the
low price.


Flintstone

[yst]

 
Thanks for your reply,I will be happy to buy a Hi-md!

[divamum]

Get yourself a different mic instead of a preamp -  the external mic that comes with the iRiver isn't terribly good.  I can run my rockboxed iRiver w/CMC8s on about 13 and get good spoken (lecture) recordings in a moderate room fairly close; in a bigger space I guess I'd double that and run at maybe 25+, but I doubt as high as 45.



 

[yst]

Hi divamum:

Which mic do you have,
Does your mic this one:?

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=SP-CMC-8&type=store&template=specifications
Signal To Noise Ratio                    65dB
Open Circuit Sensitivity   -40dB

But I find another mic very cheaper than yours,and have a good open c sensitivity:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=SP-BMC-3&type=store&template=specifications
Signal To Noise Ratio     62dB
Open Circuit Sensitivity -35dB

Don't know which one is more importatn,s/n ratio or open circuit sensitivity,
maybe other factors affecting the quiet recording volume and noise level,but I do not have the knowledge to choose.

Does this mic can give me sensitive and quiet recording?

If it can ,may be I just purchase this mic,no need to buy the expensive preamp!


The mic use plug-in-power,does it mean that it use the recorder own power?If this is the case,would it cause the already limited battery life of recording more shorten,I really afraid of this,as I need rather long battery time(about 8 hours ) to record.THen do I need to choose the option like:battery or phantom power ?I am the first time to buy mic,and do not have any knowledge about these,and how the difference between them.Did they different in recording quiet sound ,then which power is needed .

Thanks you very much.