Cant Decide Which Mic I Need

[HouB]

Hey

After reading everything on this forum, related to mic's, i really cant decide what i need.

I'd like to record live shows in a bar,club,arena,festival. So it will be loud sometimes. I also would like to record rehearsels and intervieuws.

-What should be best for me? Single point mic or Binaural mics?

-Do i need a battery module like juice box, a pre-amp, a radioshack extension cord or a combination?

I was thinking of buying the SP-BMC-2, in combination of a battery module.

but since my budget is higher (140€ for mic) i was wondering if there is something better like the Auris stereo mic from REACTIVESOUNDS or SP-BMC-12 from sound professionals,...?

thanks for the info so far!!

btw is this all compatible with my MZ-NH700?

Edited February 19, 2005 by HouB

[Featfan80]

I bought the SP-CMC-2A and have been very satisfied in my two recording sessions. I have not purchased a battery box yet as the two groups I will record most (at church) use electronic drums which have yet to really push the headroom. I'm still new to this game so I may end up with a batt. box at some point. Sound Professionals told me the matching box to my mics was around $60, which shouln't break the bank if the need arises..

[A440]

Those SP-BMC-12's look very tempting if you are primarily doing recording at concerts and rehearsals and want something small. They can handle 110 dB without a battery box, and that's a very loud concert already. I would suggest starting with them, and if your preamp overloads, then run them through a Radio Shack attenuator. If that doesn't sound good enough when you try it, then your next upgrade would be a battery box/preamp combination like the Boost Box or the Sound Professionals preamp.

You can also look at similar microphones at www.microphonemadness.com and www.reactivesounds.com . If you expect to get jostled a lot at concerts, the Auris from Reactive Sounds promises isolation from handling noise.

But before you take the plunge, you need to decide a few things.

Do you want mics small enough for stealth recording? Or can you use a larger mic or pair of mics that sits on a stand?

Are you going to be recording primarily in places where you want to shut out the sounds behind you? Then instead of binaurals you should get cardioids, which are directional (but susceptible to wind noise, by the way), like the ones FeatFan80 is using. Or do you want the full 360-degree ambience? Then get the binaurals, also known as omnis.

I like stereo separation for music, so I suggest a pair of mics rather than a one-point mic. But if you are primarily doing interviews, then a one-point mic is better. And if you are going to be mixing down your recordings to mono, then get a M/S (mid/side) combination mic.

If your budget is 140 euros, you have a choice of matchstick-sized mics, high-quality full-sized mics, and excellent cardioids. A Euro buys a lot in the US these days.

[HouB]

ok thx

Ill get myself the BCM-12 with a radioshack attenuator.

If i just hold the 2 mics together i assume thats the same effect of a single point mic. Ill primarily use it for concerts and rehearsels afterall so binaurels are the best choice for me i guess.

Ill add a sample of the show im going to record to livefrommd if thats alright.

[A440]

[if i just hold the 2 mics together i assume thats the same effect of a single point mic.]

Exactly. But if you're recording a concert, separate them by about 6 inches, like your ears, for much more satisfying stereo. Point them forward if you plan to play back through speakers, outward if you prefer headphones.

[guajiro74]

I've been running microphone maddness' high end cartioid mics into a church audio preamp/battery box (available at ebay) with very good results.

[A440]

Guajiro--

I've been curious about that Church Audio preamp for some time. Have you recorded loud sounds and quiet sounds with it? Are its settings (the switch for gain instead of an adjustable knob) flexible enough for you?

EDIT: Well, it looks like you did:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=8375

Perhaps Kurisu could also add it to the Accessories Browser, since it's such an affordable alternative to the other portable preamps.

[guajiro74]

Yeah, like my other post says I've been very happy w/ the Church Audio preamp. I think and adjustable knob would be much more convenient. Too, I haven't had a chance to use the +20 gain setting so I can't comment about how a recording would come out. Using the -20 setting in loud situations works well. Nothing overloads... i just have to boost the gain in post-production.

ricardo

Guajiro--

    I've been curious about that Church Audio preamp for some time. Have you recorded loud sounds and quiet sounds with it?  Are its settings (the switch for gain instead of an adjustable knob) flexible enough for you?

EDIT: Well, it looks like you did:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=8375

Perhaps Kurisu could also add it to the Accessories Browser, since it's such an affordable alternative to the other portable preamps.

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