Topic: upgrade to my stealth rig???

[Gr8ful98]

I have a basic stealth rig, consists of:

Oade Binaural Mics(twist tied into a hat)>9v batt box>JB3

What would you suggest as an upgrade, or make life easier?

[blastroknow]

an iriver h120 instead of the jb3?

smaller, better meters, Rockbox

[run_run_run]

maybe some cards, AT-853s?

[Gr8ful98]

found an iriver 120 used for $189.95, is that a fair price?

does it have an internal a/d converter, so I can go mics>batt box>iriver

what is a rockbox?
where's a good place to look at AT-853s?

Are there any small recorders that provide power to mics? like an all in one stealth box?

Probably a silly questions, but can I mod my 120 gig ipod to be a recorder?
Mics>batt box>ipod???

[blastroknow]

found an iriver 120 used for $189.95, is that a fair price?

does it have an internal a/d converter, so I can go mics>batt box>iriver

what is a rockbox?

$100 - $125 is a good price for an h120 - $189 too high!

It works perfect with your mics/batt box nothing else needed.

Rockbox is firmware that runs on the iriver and is geared for recording applications www.rockbox.org

[run_run_run]

just peep the yard sale

[Gr8ful98]

I'm sold on the Church 9100 pre amp, but mics...

ca-14 mics

or AT933 (CMC-8) hypers

or mod AT853 mic

Also...if I'm replacing my JB3, would y'all recommend a MAudio Microtrack or R09?

[su6oxone]

So I'm thinking:

ca-14 mics and 9100 preamp

or AT933 (CMC-8) hypers

or mod AT853 mic

I'm sold on the Church ST-9100 preamp...but mics???

Found the above mics available in yard sale, or through Chris @ Church Audio

any thoughts?

I've owned or tried the CA-11 and AT853 and can say that they are nice mics.  The others are more expensive mics from those two brands, and all are considered to be good compact mics.  Personally, if you also want a 9100 I would go for the CA-11 or CA-14 package deal with the 9100, or find some in YS.  The AT mics are good too, but a bit pricier, but have all types of caps available (although 943/933 doesn't have subcardioid caps at all and the 853 are only available used).  For that range, consider also the microphone madness HLSC-1 mics if you can find some used.

[Gr8ful98]

CA-11 vs. CA-14?

Maudio microtrack vs. R09?

[Brian Skalinder]

IMO, no one can make a reasonable recommendation without your first answering a few questions:

• What do you mean by "make life easier" and / or what do you find a hassle with your current gear?
• What's your budget?
• Do you prefer to stack tape, or capture ambient recordings?
• What do you find lacking in your current recordings?

[Gr8ful98]

Thanks...guess I'm all over the place & not to the point.

To answer these questions:

What do you mean by "make life easier" and / or what do you find a hassle with your current gear?
   -Make life easier, I want something smaller/easier to carry or hide than the JB3.
What's your budget?
   -$200-$400
Do you prefer to stack tape, or capture ambient recordings?
   -I don't know what stack tape vs. ambient recordings means. I like to tape bands.
What do you find lacking in your current recordings?
   -Quality sound
 
 
 

[illconditioned]

Thanks...guess I'm all over the place & not to the point.

To answer these questions:

What do you mean by "make life easier" and / or what do you find a hassle with your current gear?
   -Make life easier, I want something smaller/easier to carry or hide than the JB3.
What's your budget?
   -$200-$400
Do you prefer to stack tape, or capture ambient recordings?
   -I don't know what stack tape vs. ambient recordings means. I like to tape bands.
What do you find lacking in your current recordings?
   -Quality sound

I would buy the Edirol R09 in the YS.  This is $220, and you'll probably keep it for a while.

This will greatly improve your sound, since the NJB3 analog in is not very good.  I would not use analog in on the iRiver either.  They are not good, especially for (low-level) mic signals.

I would try that for a while and then regroup to pick a better set of mics.  A good choice would be either AT853 or Church's CA-11 cardioids.  If you want omni, go for Chris' CAFFS ($150-200, depending).

  Richard

[beeco]

I'll second the R-09 (or R-09HR) as a solid recommendation.  Can't believe how much I like my new deck, and it was only a little over $300 with the Live.com cash back thing on eBay.

And the CA-14/ST9100 rig from Church is freakin amazing.  I'm using the combo for both low-profile and open taping. 

Don't get rid of those Oade mics, though.  Those are great little omnis.

[fleish]

I second the AT853 as a quality, great-sounding stealth mic

[Brian Skalinder]

Smaller / easier to carry, hide, use than the JB3:  R-09.
Budget of $200-400:  R-09 or mics.
Improve sound quality:  R-09 or mics.

Based on the above, I agree with some of my fellow TSers.  R-09 is the way to go for the moment, as it fits all three points - usability, budget, improved quality.  Upgrading your mics will also have a positive impact on sound quality - perhaps more significant than switching to an R-09 - but usability will still be an issue, and the JB3 will still limit the quality to a degree, as well.

Stack taping = standing very close to the PA stack and recording as much direct signal as possible while minimizing the sound of the room
Ambient recording = standing farther back in the room, preferably in the "sweet spot" where it sounds best

The reason I asked about stack v. ambient:  omnis are quite good for stack taping, but sometimes suffer for ambient recording due to crowd noise, poor venue acoustics, less than ideal location, etc.  (That said, they can really sound great for ambient recording in the right crowd / venue / location.)  Cardioids, on the other hand, can help mitigate crowd / venue acoustics / location challenges.  So it might be worth considering a pair of stealth cardioid mics as a next step in the upgrade path.