Light MD for field recording

[Smallan]

Hi, I'm filming a wedding soon and I want to record the vows on a MD recorder. I already have an MZ-R410 which i hook up to a shotgun mic and I've made a cheap transformer to go through. This works great BTW, I just gaff the recorder and transformer to the mic stand. For the vows however I want an MD with mic input which I can slip into the grooms pocket. I'm thinking an omni lapel mic, I've heard good things about Giant Squid mics. For the MD I'm looking on Ebay for an older model, maybe N710 or an R900. I just missed out on an N10 the other day which went for just over $100.00! I like the N10 because it's so light and thin. I don't want the recording aspect to be an inconvenience to the groom. PC uploading is not that important to me, I capture into Adobe Audition at present, and many of the other features on high end units aren't that important either.

Mic input, pref sensitivity switch.

Size matters, small in this case.

Battery life, long.

Hold switch

Inexpensive

Any input welcomed,

Thank you.

[A440]

MZ-R900 is small and very solid, and has a mic-sensitivity switch. You may want to invest in a new rechargeable gumstick battery--under $15 on Ebay, around $25 from stores--and you will definitely want to tape the battery latch shut so it doesn't open accidentally.

With any minidisc unit, keep the unit a few feet away from the mic--put the mic on a cord, and put the unit in a pants pocket rather than right behind the mic in a jacket pocket--or you'll hear it whirring.

The N10 has some custom parts, like a strange USB cable, and needs its cradle to recharge its battery. If you get one, make sure it has everything, not just the unit.

Speech is very easy for a mic to capture, so you have a lot of mic choices.

I have never used Giant Squid mics but the sound samples on their website sound awful. That's music, not speech, however, which should come through their mics just fine.

I have had excellent results with mics from http://www.soundprofessionals.com . I use the BMC-2 and they make an even smaller pair of stereo mics that look like they're the size of matchsticks. But you'll have to figure out how to attach those to the groom--you can get clips for the BMC-2. One of their clip-on lapel one-point mics should also work fine. Make sure you are getting a stereo mic, not a mono mic, or you'll only record on one channel.

[Smallan]

I have had excellent results with mics from http://www.soundprofessionals.com . I use the BMC-2 and they make an even smaller pair of stereo mics that look like they're the size of matchsticks. But you'll have to figure out how to attach those to the groom--you can get clips for the BMC-2. One of their clip-on lapel one-point mics should also work fine. Make sure you are getting a stereo mic, not a mono mic, or you'll only record on one channel.

That's very helpful, thanks.

I had a look at that site, lapel mics, but couldn't see BMC. I don't mind mono. I wired my cable to input the same signal to both channels on my R410, then I can record for twice as long if I need to.

Edited July 13, 2006 by Smallan

[greenmachine]

If you need to record for longer periods, Hi-MD might be for you - almost 8 hours on one disk in high quality Hi-SP or 34 (!) hours in Hi-LP, which should be acceptable for speech. Both modes are stereo recording modes.

[A440]

The BMC-2 and other BMCs are under stereo microphones at Sound Professionals--they're two separate mics on a cord.

For about $150, possibly a bit less on Ebay, you can get the MZ-NH700, a Hi-MD unit.

http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553220

It's not as thin because it has a bulge in the back for an AA battery. But as greenmachine points out, it will record much longer in compressed formats. It also records in higher fidelity (PCM) and it uploads, which you may not think you need at the moment but is far more convenient and provides better sound quality.

[Smallan]

OK, found those mics thanks. Sample sounds good. Have they recorded hi fi speakers playing a cd? I'm just checking if they ship to Australia.

I don't really need to record any longer than two hours. I was only mentioning the double record time as a bonus when wiring the input jack for mono i.e. a mono mic sending signal to both left and right channels of the recorder. That's what I do with my line input, I assume it would work the same on the mic input.

Would a Lectrosonics M-150 require a power module or transformer for MD input?

I see an nh700 starting at $99.00 on Ebay, I'll check and see what they sell for in stores here. An R900 for $50.00 looks appealing though.

Thanks for the help.

Later: The nh700 retails at $399.00 here and they're on sale for $149.00. That seems like really good value for a new Hi md, the downside for me being the extra weight and thickness.

Edited July 13, 2006 by Smallan

[A440]

Shipping mics to Australia from Sound Professionals might be prohibitive.

I suggest consulting greenmachine, who makes them.

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showt...mp;#entry103301

Here's his website:

http://www.geocities.com/greenmachine_audio/

Or send him a PM.

I'm not familiar with that Lectrosonics, but if it works in other mic jacks it should work in the MD's mic jack just as well.

A new Hi-MD for $149 Australian is a steal. And you would know it was new, instead of used like the R900 is bound to be.

[tekdroid]

A new Hi-MD for $149 Australian is a steal.

Especially with accessories bundled. Bargain of 2005/2006, IMO.

Another vote for the (dirt cheap) MZ-NH700 Hi-MD recorder and wedding vows recorded in linear PCM (as god intended, surelllyyy).

micro_sound on Ebay is yet another option for mics, too.