Topic: Sony ECM-719 in 2024

[clover182]

Hi!

So Im fairly new to taping (I have used a phone in both 2021, 2023 and 2024) and while there were variable results, Im looking to upgrade.
I plan to buy an old model Zoom H1 or a Tascam DR-05x and use this with a Sony ECM-719 which I bought not that long ago. Would I need to use a battery box?

The microphone has a bit on the back where you can put an LR44 battery though, would this be sufficient?

Thanks!

[RyanJ]

You wouldn't need to. But I suggest running plug in power on there if you can. Definitely helps!

[firemt66]

I've been using that mic for over a decade now so good I'm on my second. If you want to continue still using your phone sound professionals made a cable with three volts of power that plugs into your phone with that mic. I've been doing it since last summer works very well with the Germany field recorder app..

[goodcooker]

You can get a Sony MS907 for $30 and make recordings that are way better than that clip on 719.

I'm not trying to discourage you from doing what you can with what you have but a modest investment in a slightly better mic will bring much improvement. Even the built in mics on many recorders are better.

[C1977]

I've been using that mic for over a decade now so good I'm on my second. If you want to continue still using your phone sound professionals made a cable with three volts of power that plugs into your phone with that mic. I've been doing it since last summer works very well with the Germany field recorder app..

Hi, perhaps you can give some advice regarding this setup.
I intend to use my ECM-717 withe the LR44 battery. Field recorder app, Samsung S10 and  Movo UCMA 1 TRS to USB C cable to get stereo.
The mic sound better with the battery in.
Why should I use the sound proffesional cable?
Can you give some advice with the field recorder app settings to prevent clipping?
My current seettings are: In:RAW, Low Gain, Softclip off, and Limit off, boost off.
Fiel recorder app gives me no access to Automatic Gain Control setting an my Samsung phones.
Was still not able to test my setup.
Thanks!
C

[clover182]

I've been using that mic for over a decade now so good I'm on my second. If you want to continue still using your phone sound professionals made a cable with three volts of power that plugs into your phone with that mic. I've been doing it since last summer works very well with the Germany field recorder app..

Yeah theres some great recordings from it! Im looking to get an audio recorder but a phone does seem like a good shout. Is this the app you were mentioning: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.pfitzinger.rec&hl=en_GB&gl=US ?
I have just payed for it and installed it. It seems good although quite complex. Also, is there any way it can do 48/24 as opposed to 48/16?? Looking at the Sound Professionals power boxes, they seem very expensive unfortunately.

[clover182]

You can get a Sony MS907 for $30 and make recordings that are way better than that clip on 719.

I'm not trying to discourage you from doing what you can with what you have but a modest investment in a slightly better mic will bring much improvement. Even the built in mics on many recorders are better.

I have heard good things about the MS-907 but have also heard things about handling noise, if you move youre hand slightly while holding it the mic picks it up. I could do it though!

[firemt66]

I have a Samsung 22. I have settings on Raw, low gain, soft clip on, limit off, boost off unless I want a higher recording level and then I boost it up a little at a time usually not more than three or four. There's an option on the 22 Samsung that you can record in 48/24. The $20 Sound Professional Cable is good if your microphone does not have its own battery it provides three volts of power to your microphone. There is definitely more options on that app that for me I would never use too much detail. I am going to investigate that microphone that good cooker suggested if it's just as easy to use I might try it out

[robgronotte]

You can get a Sony MS907 for $30 and make recordings that are way better than that clip on 719.

I'm not trying to discourage you from doing what you can with what you have but a modest investment in a slightly better mic will bring much improvement. Even the built in mics on many recorders are better.

I have heard good things about the MS-907 but have also heard things about handling noise, if you move youre hand slightly while holding it the mic picks it up. I could do it though!

I can't imagine anyone wanting to hold a mic through an entire show. It's better to get out alive the crowd anyway. I never used this model, but years ago I used the similar ECM-909A inside of a hat. It worked great, don't remember hearing any noise from it.

[RyanJ]

The ECM-717 is a fantastic entry mic. I've heard some really good tapes with it used right.

[rocksuitcase]

These entry level Sony mics sure seem to punch above their cost. I was part of a group who used the old Sony ECM-990f in 1984 to record Jaco Pastorious and it is one of my finest tapes from the day.
I just looked for it and the write up I did is funny to me today:

Jaco Pastorius & the Word of Mouth Band
1984-02-19 
The Blue Note
Manhattan NY

Jerry Gonzalez trumpet, percusion
Melton Mustafa trumpet
Alex Foster tenor/alto saxophones
Mike Stern guitars
Jaco Pastorius basses, keyboard
Don Alias percusion
Kenwood Dennard drums
Manolo Badrena percussion
Steve Berrios percussion

Early show
d1t01. Three Women                                             :32    0:32
d1t02. Unknown title                                          6:21    6:54
d1t03. Blues For Louise > Dania                               9:34   16:28   
d1t04. JP solo -                                              5:08   21:36
d1t05. Soul Intro/The Chicken                                11:05   32:42     /
d1t06. JP solo >  #                                            9:42   42:25
d1t07. America the Beautiful                                  1:06   43:32     //
d1t08. band intros                                            0:56   44:28
d1t09. Invitation                                            12:56   57:24
d1t10. JP solo > Jams > Naima                                10:27   67:52
d1t11. JP solo >                                              0:52   68:45   
d1t12. Fannie Mae >                                           4:44   73:29
d1t13. JP solo >                                              7:11   80:22
d1t14. Teen Town >                                            5:01   85:23
d1t15. JP solo                                                0:27   85:50

MAUD CA: Sony ECM990f > Sony TCD6 25' from left stack
Transfer: ??
Processing: Audacity|cdwaveditor|TLH|foobar tagger

#   includes: N.Y.C. Groove #2 (0:34), Third Stone From the Sun(0:31)
==============================================
Show story:
This is one of my finest memories of the "old New York City". Especially of live music in the Village; this was my one and only time ever in the Blue Note. I was a 22 year old kid from Texas, about to graduate college, and had not experienced too many 2 drink minimum nightclub scenes yet. The tables are those 6 person, 3 to a side narrow bar style with hard back chairs. The waitresses were no nonsense types who barely cared WHAT you ordered as long as it was the 2 drinks apiece. and even for then, I am pretty sure the drinks were about $5 each, which would have placed the establishment as one of the mid to top dollar places, drink price wise, in the city at that time. John and I had been spending a lot of time together as he was showing me the ropes around the city and Long Island area. Mike Davis was with us and I believe this was his first time in NYC with us. This was a treat and I'm not certain who or how we got the tickets to see jazz and fusion legend Jaco Pastorius with his Word of Mouth Big Band. As a former bass and jazz trumpet player who gravitates toward the bassist in any band, this was quite the thrill for me.

We got ushered in after waiting on the street for at least an hour soaking in the sights of the Village. The table was narrow and the way the chairs were facing each other, you had to turn sideways in the chair to look at the band. We were set up stage right, directly on axis with the left speaker stack (placed on the stage, not ceiling mounted), and only about 25 feet from it. The keyboards were closest to us with Jaco about 30 feet away toward far stage left. John had the famed Sony ECM990f stereo mic and a small half head Sony TCD6 cassette recorder. He kept the mic in his sleeve and positioned himself to point at the stack. You can hear the result! 

Go for it with that ECM-719!!!   

[RyanJ]

They are really good for stack taping. The first recording I heard with the 717 was a Depeche Mode tape from Manchester 1998. Still one of my favorite recordings to revisit. https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1998-10-02_Nynex,_Manchester,_England,_UK/Source_1

Did a lot of great tapes with a D8/717 combo stack taping.

[C1977]

I have a Samsung 22. I have settings on Raw, low gain, soft clip on, limit off, boost off unless I want a higher recording level and then I boost it up a little at a time usually not more than three or four. There's an option on the 22 Samsung that you can record in 48/24. The $20 Sound Professional Cable is good if your microphone does not have its own battery it provides three volts of power to your microphone. There is definitely more options on that app that for me I would never use too much detail. I am going to investigate that microphone that good cooker suggested if it's just as easy to use I might try it out

I did my first recording withe the following setup:
Sony ECM-717>Movo UCMA-1 3,5mm TRS to USB-C>Field Recorder App 24bit 48khz>Samsung S10
Field Recorder Settings:
In:RAW
Boost:Off
Wav 48 native
Limit:Off
SoftClip On
24bit write
LowGain
EQ Bypass

It turned out nice!
The Movo UCMA-1 3,5mm TRS to USB-C is only capable of 16bit/48khz. The Flac files from the 24bit/48khz are nearly the same size as the Flac files after converting to 16bit/44,1 khz.
Think the 8bit more are not used.
I don't know if i should use the 24bit or 16bit sampling in Field Recorder in the future and record in 44,1khz or 48khz. Perhaps someone can give me an advice.
Is this lineage fine for torrenting? Traders litte helper says CDDA 100%.
After a lot of searching, I've found only on cable that states giving out 24bit/48khz at amazon us for 30€.
Will I benefit from this cable?
What cable do you use?

Thanks
C

[goodcooker]

^There are benefits to recording at higher sample rates and bit depths but for a microphone with limited dynamic range at a live performance using 16 bit 44.1kHz should be more than adequate.

[rocksuitcase]

c1977- god news!
I agree with goodcooker in that if it were my gear I would stay with 16 bit 44.1 kHz (given the limitations of the mic, etc)
Keep on keepin on using that gear