mic for N520

[peekay]

Hi

I'm new to all this minidisk stuff and need help

I Have a net md mz-n520 type s recorder and a sony microphone however when I connect the mic to the line in socket (no mic socket on this recorder) it does not work. however when connected to the mic soket of a friends md (model not known) it works perfectly.

can anyone tell me if the line in is supposed to take a mic, is a special mic required, or am I just blowing in the wind trying to do live recordings on this md

All help greatly appreciated

Paul

[eriktous]

The signal coming from a mic isn't strong enough to be used through line-in. You'll need something to amplify it.

[A440]

Recording loud amplified music, like a rock concert, you can use a battery module like this one into line-in.

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

Recording quieter sounds, like speech, you would need a preamp, and for that kind of money you might as well get a Hi-MD recorder with a mic jack (which means there's a built-in preamp) as well as a line-in jack. Your friend's MD probably has a mic jack (marked in red) as well as a line-in jack.

Most portable preamps are over $100 by themselves, and it means carrying an extra box bigger than the MD unit.

You can get a new Hi-MD (NH700) with a mic jack, PCM (CD-quality) recording and digital uploading for $150 plus shipping from Minidisco. I've got no connection with them, but that's probably the lowest price (outside eBay) that you'll see for a Hi-MD with a mic jack.

http://www.minidisco.com/portables.html

Your current model records only in compressed modes (though SP is very good) and won't upload the recordings to your PC for editing, burning, etc.--you would have to record them in realtime out of the headphone jack. Hi-MD uploads.

Edited February 11, 2006 by A440