Will Hi-md Recorder Power Electret Mic Capsules?

[daniel_cello]

Hi,

I have been using MD since my first Sharp MS701 back in '97 upgrading every once in a while and I think I may want to upgrade again soon, to get Hi-MD capability.

To know if they are usable for me I really would like to know if anyone has first hand experience using, for instance Panasonic wm-60ay, mic capsules without an additional battery box for recording on the MZ-RH10, MZ-RH910, or MZ-NH-900? I have successfully used the mics on the MZ-R900 so I figure it should be ok, but I really need to know before I buy.

The mics are really super small and give a good result, but they need a power feed to function correctly. When used with the R900 the unit itself puts out power on the mic input. I basically wonder if that is still the case.

btw, the capsules are the same that are used in DIY stealth mics and, I believe, the low cost mics from core sound etc.

From the core sound website:

"The Low Cost microphones require a bias voltage (also called "plug-in power") of between 1.5 and 10 Volts DC, supplied by the recorder or mixing panel via the same cable that carries the audio signal."

My mics are the Panasonic capsules directly soldered to the connecting wire.

Hope someone can confirm that it still works, since I really would like the possibility to record uncompressed WAV from mics and having the data imported to the PC for making CDs of the finished results.

Thanks,

/Daniel

[The Low Volta]

To know if they are usable for me I really would like to know if anyone has first hand experience using, for instance Panasonic wm-60ay, mic capsules without an additional battery box for recording on the MZ-RH10, MZ-RH910, or MZ-NH-900? I have successfully used the mics on the MZ-R900 so I figure it should be ok, but I really need to know before I buy.

←

The models you list all have a 'mic in'-port, which will power the mics (I use a Sony mono mic for my interviews with plug in power from my NH900). You should be aware that the incoming signal will pass through the mic pre-amp in the MD, which isn't the best there is. For speech it is quite alright, but it clips quite easily with loud sources and bass and can be noisy when recording very silent sounds. Turning AGC off and setting manual levels already helps a bit.

So if you want to record (louder) music, a battery box (for line in-use) or an attenuator (for mic in-use) could come in handy...

greetings, Volta

[daniel_cello]

You should be aware that the incoming signal will pass through the mic pre-amp in the MD, which isn't the best there is. For speech it is quite alright, but it clips quite easily with loud sources and bass and can be noisy when recording very silent sounds. Turning AGC off and setting manual levels already helps a bit.

So if you want to record (louder) music, a battery box (for line in-use) or an attenuator (for mic in-use) could come in handy...

Many thanks for the super-fast reply Low Volta! After I posted I realized that I could check the schematics in the service manuals to look for evidence of plug-in power and all of them have it, just like you said.

I always turn off AGC and I try to set the level for quite a bit of headroom, depending on what I am recording and to my ears I get good results with the R900 and these mics when recording rock groups as well as choir and solo instruments. The capsules can take very loud sounds before clipping, so it's more a question of setting the correct level and avoiding the AGC effect.

I try to avoid a battery box (what, me taping without permission? No, never... )

Cheers,

/Daniel