Topic: New User Questions

[edtyre]

New Member

First post!

Only been recording shows for 3 months now. I am happy with my results
until i listen to some recordings made on much better equipment.

Here's what i have been using:
sp-cmc-8 > sp-spsb-6 > sony mz-m100/ or m1
eyglass mount just forward of ears

Recorded 25 shows with no problems at all, ranging from
small coffee shops to Wachovia Center...soft to extremely loud. (all stealth)

I want to improve my recording quality but still keep small. How much improvement
can i expect adding an AD-20? What else? Mics? Budget for upgrading right now= 1000.00

I know MD is a dirty word here, but i like the mz-m100 does PCM (90 min only) and has drag and drop
usb right into my macintosh.

Here's a few shows i just torrented that each have 4 sound samples attached.

Jethro Tull 10/11/05 Keswick Theater
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=64093

Rolling Stones 10/10/05 Wachovia Center
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=63802


thanks for any help

edtyre

[Wiggle]

Go with good mics. It's the smartest place to start when you want to improve your sound.

I should know... I have shitty ones.

[Weazel]

he has allready good mics.

[macacopowa]

i recommend to go with your 1000 bucks and move to Microtrack (350-399$), and 200$ for 4gb CF Card. Your cmc-8 are a very good mic,  and you can waiting with them  for when you can do openly records, . Do you have the phantom power option?
+T for welcome 

[edtyre]

i recommend to go with your 1000 bucks and move to Microtrack (350-399$), and 200$ for 4gb CF Card. Your cmc-8 are a very good mic,  and you can waiting with them  for when you can do openly records, . Do you have the phantom power option?
+T for welcome 

Thanks for the reply.

No i don't have the phantom power option.

What would i get switching to a microtrack other than not have to swap out disks
every 90 minutes?


edtyre

[macacopowa]

i recommend to go with your 1000 bucks and move to Microtrack (350-399$), and 200$ for 4gb CF Card. Your cmc-8 are a very good mic,  and you can waiting with them  for when you can do openly records, . Do you have the phantom power option?
+T for welcome 

Thanks for the reply.

No i don't have the phantom power option.

What would i get switching to a microtrack other than not have to swap out disks
every 90 minutes?


edtyre

a good digital recorder that can record 16-24 bits and 44.1-96khz, phantom power included and ad converter better than minidisc, and a lot of options with a very little size, ideal for stealthing and a good all in one, go to others posts of MT and you will see detailed. If i would have those 1000 i would do it! with no doubts. And you save bucks for do the phantom mod. It's my opinion, only i try to help 

[Brian Skalinder]

Mics have the single biggest impact on sound quality, so I'd swap out the mics first.  A question to start:

What pattern caps do you have for the SP-CMC-8...cardioid or omni?

If omni, I'd change to DPA 406x + DPA battery box - I think it'll improve your sound significantly.

If cardioid, well...there aren't a lot of mid-priced stealthable cardoids.  So, I'd hang tight for a bit, enjoy your current setup, and  save more cash to ultimately make a mic change to something like a Neumann active setup:  AK40 (caps) / LC3 (active cables) / KM100 (mic bodies) > Denecke PS-2 (phantom power) > line transformers (gain) > recorder.

But if you decide go the MT2496 route, definitely switch your mics over to phantom power.

[edtyre]

Mics have the single biggest impact on sound quality, so I'd swap out the mics first.  A question to start:

What pattern caps do you have for the SP-CMC-8...cardioid or omni?

If omni, I'd change to DPA 406x + DPA battery box - I think it'll improve your sound significantly.

If cardioid, well...there aren't a lot of mid-priced stealthable cardoids.  So, I'd hang tight for a bit, enjoy your current setup, and  save more cash to ultimately make a mic change to something like a Neumann active setup:  AK40 (caps) / LC3 (active cables) / KM100 (mic bodies) > Denecke PS-2 (phantom power) > line transformers (gain) > recorder.

But if you decide go the MT2496 route, definitely switch your mics over to phantom power.

Thanks Brian

I have the cardoids.

Here's what i might do:

Found used DPA-4061's w/BB (DPA) for good price
i'll try these for now and save towards a better set-up
including a MT and mics. And i'll be able to keep the HI-MD
and SP 8's for some comedy club recordings i am doing.

thanks for everyone's help

edtyre