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Author Topic: Low noise recording without breaking the bank  (Read 8049 times)

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Offline dogmusic

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Re: Low noise recording without breaking the bank
« Reply #15 on: November 23, 2018, 08:54:19 AM »
I guess I made up my mind. I'll go for the Tascam
DR100mkiii and try out some DIY stuff with the EM172. Some soldering and crafting shouldn't be a problem.

Reading the table presented on https://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm , it seems the Tascam DR100 Mk II will overload easily with the Primo EM172 capsules. If the EM172 puts out -28 dBV at 94 dB, is that not 40 mV? 94 dB is not much if you are about to record outdoors. Maybe things change for the better while lowering the micpre gain? It is not tested by Avisoft. I am surprised how bad some of the recorders listed there measures. Sure, we want to see a dynamic range of 90 dB or more. In the case of the EM172, in theory it can do 105 dB. The EM173 can do more, 121 dB.

He’s talking about the Tascam DR100mk3, not the mk2.
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"That's metaphysically absurd, man! How can I know what you hear?" - Firesign Theatre

Offline Roger Gustavsson

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Re: Low noise recording without breaking the bank
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2018, 05:51:30 AM »
According to Avisoft the Tascam DR-100MK III is about the same as the Mk II.

Input Noise: -126dBu or -124dBu(A)
Input clippling: -53dBu or 1.8mV
Dynamic Range: 73dB

Offline dogmusic

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Re: Low noise recording without breaking the bank
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2018, 08:45:25 AM »
According to Avisoft the Tascam DR-100MK III is about the same as the Mk II.

Input Noise: -126dBu or -124dBu(A)
Input clippling: -53dBu or 1.8mV
Dynamic Range: 73dB

It's not been my experience with the mk3.
"The ear is much more than a mere appendage on the side of the head." - Catherine Parker Anthony, Structure and Function of the Human Body (1972)

"That's metaphysically absurd, man! How can I know what you hear?" - Firesign Theatre

Offline mjwin

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Re: Low noise recording without breaking the bank
« Reply #18 on: November 24, 2018, 07:32:39 PM »
I guess I made up my mind. I'll go for the Tascam
DR100mkiii and try out some DIY stuff with the EM172. Some soldering and crafting shouldn't be a problem.

Good choice. This is a great deck & hard to beat for sound quality. It will also open up the possibility of using XLR mics at a later date.

Just to clarify the point about recorder clipping levels:  the Avisoft "clipping level" column is specified at max recorder gain, which doesn't make it a particularly useful figure. (They do actually mention this in footnote 2 at the bottom of the table)

From the horse's mouth (Tascam DR100-III manual p50):

EXT IN jack (can provide plug-in power)
Connector:   
3.5mm (1/8”) stereo mini jack
When EXT MIC input source selected
Maximum input level:    -2.8 dBu (PAD on) <<<<< max input before clipping
Minimum input level:    -62.8 dBu (PAD off )
Input impedance: 50 kΩ or more

Which is a much more reasonable spec. In fact, at LOUD sound levels, the biggest cause for concern is clipping of the mic itself when run on the Tascam's 3V plug-in-power.   But there certainly won't be an issue when recording most ambient soundscapes!

Offline Roger Gustavsson

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Re: Low noise recording without breaking the bank
« Reply #19 on: November 25, 2018, 07:12:50 AM »
It is a pity that Avisoft is not giving us figures for gains below maximum. Seems to be done for a few devices but not all.

 

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