Topic: How bad is the stereo T mic that comes with the Microtrack?

[raddygast]

Hi,

My application is to record voice (interview-type setup) with decent enough fidelity to analyse the speech. Not for acoustic analysis per se (not that good), but just so that I can play it back and listen to bits of it over and over again to make distinctions between slight variations in vowels, etc.

I guess what I need is good "range" for the human voice. I wanted to use a clip-on lav, or actually two (one for me, one for the interviewee).

I bought a cheap one at Radio Shack made by "Nexxtech" and it is horrible. I'm just posting it here because it pertains to the bundled mic that comes with the Microtrack.

The cheap lav I got sounds horribly muffled, tinny, distant compared to the "free" T mic that came with the unit. That thing sounds great to my ears (a little more self-noise, but much better, fuller sound and more range). It's good for voice at least.

The way I tested it is by holding the recorder about as far away from my mouth as a clip-on lav would be. In that situation it still sounded infinitely better.

So my question is -- is this a lavalier vs T-mic thing? Or am I just using really HORRIBLE lavs?

I am considering an Audio Technica AT831b cardioid lav -- but it's expensive, and still I would either need two, or I'd need to use a crappy radio shack lav for the interviewer's voice.

Is cardioid the way to go for clip-ons?

[pgoelz]

I don't currently own a MT but I did have one for a while when they first came out.  The T mic was OK.  Nothing special, but not bad either.  It is simply two omni capsules in a plug.  You can do as well with two small omni capsules from Radio Shack if you want to home brew one.  As to why your lav sounded so bad..... not sure.  I would have expected it to sound OK since it too should have been nothing ore than an omni capsurel in a holder.  But some mics I have seen don't implement that very well and end up with resonant spaces in the acoustical path. 

Paul

[chitaper]

The one that comes w/ the MT would be fine for speech, IMHO. I fooled around w/ it when I first got the MT, didn't record speech but did record my cat purring (and biting at the mic), you can listen to it here. (mp3 of a 24/96 recording)

[neutrino]

That is one LOUD purr!

[chitaper]

That is one LOUD purr!

He does purr very loud! I found him as a stray kitten, I don't ever take strays home but he would give that loud purr if I just looked at him. Now he thinks he is my god. 

[svenkid]

great pet sounds!

[rsimms3]

Where are the Beach Boys when you need them?

[cpatch]

If the mic isn't this one then it's an exact replica:

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-SPSM-1

(Update: Turns out it's an exact replica.)

Craig

[plucks]

He does purr very loud! I found him as a stray kitten, I don't ever take strays home but he would give that loud purr if I just looked at him. Now he thinks he is my god. 

my cat which was ferrel @ 1 week when we found her is the same way!! 

yeah the Tmic that comes with the 2496 is actually pretty great for recording ambient noises & speech