What do you recommend for bootlegs? (MD and mic)

[kimbahpnam]

I have no experience w/ MDs, but my friend used one at a recent gig I did so I was quite intrigued and would like one myself. This question applies for concert recordings, something that can pick up vocals, guitar, bass and drums well. Any recommendations?

[A440]

You need a Hi-MD and a microphone. There are no units with built-in mics--a good thing, since built-in mics are usually inadequate.

What's most widely available is the MZ-RH910 and the MZ-RH10. They're the same unit except that the RH10 has a fancier display. Any Hi-MD except ones with a D in the model number or the RH710 (no mic jack) will work. Here's the full list.

http://www.minidisc.org/himd_table.html

Units made before Hi-MD (called NetMD or, before that, just MD) would record but would not upload the recordings to your PC. Hi-MD units also record in better quality.

To upload from Hi-MD, you need a Windows PC or another $100 to get the only Mac-compatible Hi-MD units, MZ-100 or MZ-M10.

As long as it has a mic jack, the recording capability is the same. You'll need a MD unit, an outboard microphone and either an attenuator or a battery module, which prevent loud music from overloading the unit.

My basic setup:

MZ-NHF800 (a 2004 model, good but now hard to find)(You could search Ebay for the NH700 or NHF800, essentially the same unit with an added radio in the NHF800 remote).

Sound Professionals BMC-2 microphones with clips

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-BMC-2

Radio Shack Volume Control Cable (a cheap attenuator, $6.99)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...rentPage=search

and/or

Microphone Madness battery module

http://www.microphonemadness.com/products/mmcbmminminc.htm

You can hear the results in the Live Recordings gallery.

Edited January 31, 2006 by A440