New To This..

[mip]

Hi

I'm totally new to liverecordings. I about to start with an acoustic concert early next month. I have recently bought an Sony MZ-NH700 player and now I want tips on which mic I should buy. I have looked at these: SOUND PROFESSIONALS BMC-2 and SONY ECM-DS70P. Which should you have choosen? and can you help me with wich levels to use with my equipment?

Thank you very much.

Whats is an attenuator ? ( I'm swedish so my english isn't that good)

Edited July 7, 2005 by mip

[The Low Volta]

- Sony mics often are limited in frequency range and this one is no exception (100-15000HZ) while the SP one is 20-20000HZ...

- the Sony one is unidirectional which could be handy, but more meant for

Uni-directional Stereo focuses on L and R channel sound originating in front of the microphone while minimizing surrounding sounds, and is an excellent choice for recording vocalists and solo or ensemble instrument performances

- the Sony is fixed... I mean you can't separate the two mic elements for a better stereo picture

- the Sony plugs in directly to the recorder so als records the machine's noises unless you get a extension cord

-... (and many many more similar things...)

So my opinion: get the SP-BCM-2 mics, you can't really get better stuff for that kind of money

greetings, Volta

[mip]

Hey

Thanks for your respons. I think I will order some SP-BMC-2 right away.

I still wanna know what an attenuator is ?? and how would you have your levels with this equipment?

[The Low Volta]

an attenuator (at least when referred to in regards to live recording) is some sort of a resistor that lowers the signal from mic to MD so that the internal pre-amp(lifyer) doesn't clip (distort) with loud noises... mostly they use some sort of a headphone volume control cable for that (just look at A440's avatar picture) and Soundpros offer the same thing but actually named attenuator (for a slightly higher price $7)

always try to use manual levels, and what levels are concerned (as I do not have the same equipment) I can't really give decent advice on that, I would say, test it first with some concerts or something that do not really matter...

greetings, Volta

[A440]

BMC-2's are good little mics, and you'll be amazed at the fidelity. Place them about six inches apart like your ears: facing forward if you're planning to listen through your stereo, pointed left and right if you're going to listen through headphones.

If you are recording an acoustic concert--not loud, amplified music--try this for starters. This is not a one-size-fits all solution, so adjust to your recording situation when you're there, but this is where I would begin.

Go to Menu/REC SET and make sure REC MODE is Hi-SP. (If you want the highest fidelity, use PCM, but you will need a 1GB Hi-MD disc, and that will only hold 94 minutes).

Change MIC Sens to Sens Low. This is mic senstivity--the BMC-2's are already quite sensitive so you need to keep it low for anything but the quietest sounds.

Those settings will stay in the MD unless you change them.

Then when you are about to record, plug the mic into mic-in and push Record and Pause simultaneously. The time display of 0:00 will start blinking. Go Menu/REC SET to REC VOLUME and change it to Manual. It will probably read 13/30. Raise that to 18/30 or 19/30 by pushing the center pointing stick (ENT>) to the right; pushing it to the left will lower the level. You can also change recording volume by turning the big jog wheel. Then, when you want to start recording push the Pause button again to un-pause and start recording.

You need to do that each time--the MD will go back to automatic level control each time you press Stop to finish a recording.

When the music starts, look at the level meter. (If it's dark you may need a little flashlight--white, not a color.) There are two dashes, and ideally you want the level to stay between them. If you can, try this during an opening act and see if the level is too high. You can adjust the manual volume lower or higher as you record (also in Pause if you want). If the level is up to the right-hand dash, it's overloading, so lower the volume. It's best if you find a level that leaves room for the loudest parts of the music to peak below the right-hand dash. But you will hear every adjustment you make, so try to find a good level and leave it there.

Loud, amplified music with sharp attacks from bass or drums can overload the built-in preamp connected to the Mic-in jack. If you are going to be recording loud rock, the easiest method is with an attenuator, which basically a volume control to turn the level down.

The cheapest kind is sold as a Headphone Volume Control at electronics stores, like the Radio Shack one pictured to the left or the Maplin VC-1 in England. I don't know what's available in Sweden.

Mic-->Attenuator (with its volume turned all the way UP, because it is already cutting the signal)-->Mic-In can usually capture LOUD music without overloading. But don't use one unless the music is loud.

[mip]

Awesome.

Thanks for the tips guys. What an awesome forum with very helpful people.

[mip]

Hi

Now I have my new SOUND PROFESSIONALS BMC-2 in hand. I have 2 questions. First I ordered with clips and is it possible to remove the Windscreens without breaking it? and is the mics marked with left and right? I can for sure not see it. Maybe it isn't important which of the mics which goes left or right ?

Thanks

[A440]

Were the windscreens already on the mics? They're just soft sponge-rubber caps--hold the hard little gumdrop-shaped mic and gently pull or twist them off. Don't tug on the wires.

Try not to put the windscreens on and off the mics more often than you need to, because they'll stretch out of shape. When I use them--only at outdoor, windy shows--I put a very small piece of double-stick tape on the side (not the top) of the mic so that the windscreen won't get knocked off.

Right and left aren't marked, but if you put on your headphones (assuming they're marked), put it on REC/PAUSE and tap one of the mics, that will tell you which one.

I have attached the clips I use, which only hold the mics at one angle, so that the right microphone points right when clipped to my shirt collar, ditto for the left. If your clips rotate you might want to mark the mic or the clip; you could put a little piece of (red for right?) tape on the clip for the right one.

Happy recording.