Going live with hi MD and then listening long thereafter

[ratbagradio]

As I've noted in this forum previously I began exploring Sony MD -- MZN-H700 -- as a recording medium for podcasting. Contrary to what so many of my podcasting colleagues tried to tell me I found the MD with the latest version of Sonic Stage to be an excellent medium for recording and uploading the audio to my pc.

Since I prefer to RECORD AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER -- all the rigmarole, hardware and problem solving that goes with workstation recording doesn't interest me. As far as I'm concerned it's me, a mic and my MD generating content. Simple, direct,without any problems... such as the many that are presented by the computer interface (sound floor being the most evident).And it has automatic gain control! Who needs a mixer!

I own a iRiver 785 Mp3 recorder/player but after being exposed to the sound quality on offer from the MD format -- really, there's no question about my preference in way of recoding rig.

Since I had to go away camping for the past two weeks, I knew I would not be able to get to a computer so I loaded about 30 hours of podcasts onto mini discs and worked my way through the lot without a moment's complication--and the sound was much better than what I get from my iRiver. It was a touch inconvenient in that syncing the audio to the MD took much longer than I'm used to -- mp3 on the pc to mp3 on the device -- but I find that the setup on the MD makes for a much easier exploration of the directory for each disk.

You see, I bought the MD for recording and never thought I'd actually use it as a listening device.

But with the new year ahead I've got my recording rig together:

• Visivox SCM-Broadcast-PRO
• Sony MD -- MZN-H700
• Sony ECM DS30P - microphone

The Visivox gives me a dual mic setup and I can use either mic independent of the other on my MD recorder. I record interviews live or as phone conversations using a speaker phone; I record lectures, talks, rallies and other out door gatherings as part of news reporting -- so I'm working up my rig for the best portability and relevance.

Does anyone else record with news gathering/reportage in mind? I'm keen to be pointed in the direction of microphones I should explore as I can use the Sony ECM close in (such as when I'm speaking)and I'm exploring the use of the Visivox for talks/lectures and out and about sound grabs by using one of the mics in the pair. For person to person interviews and phone ones I get to use the two mics in the Visivox SCM-Broadcast-PRO setup to good effect. When working in close I cut down ambient sound by relying on the SONY ECM --such as those times when I'm walking and talking and interviewing while walking...(yep! it happens so often!).

But now that I am one: what do they call a miniDiscer?

Visivox SCM-Broadcast-PRO

Sony ECM DS30P - microphone