Looking For Mic for MZ-R37

[xgipper]

Hi

On the MZR37, can you use a 'non powered mic' in what the manual describes as 'powered mic' socket? I was considering getting an Audio Technica AT804 reporter's mic, but wouldn't want to blow it up! Or can anyone suggest a slightly less expensive mic for field interviewing type work?

Thanks

[A440]

The connector on the AT804 is XLR, used with professional equipment, when you need a stereo minijack for the MD. There are adapters, but the specs at the Audio-Technica site don't say whether that is an unbalanced mic, which is what you need.

The mic jacks on MD units provide 1.5 volts of what's called plug-in power. It's usually not enough to fry anything.

For radio interviews, you might want to look at the Sony ECM-MS907. It's a stereo directional mic that gives you two pickup patterns: 90 degrees for straight ahead or 120 degrees for a wider-angle straight ahead. It can also give you true mono, useful for radio mixing. It doesn't have much bass response, only going down to 100 Hz, so music would sound rather thin. But it would be good for voice. Although Amazon says it has an XLR connector, the photo on this site shows a stereo mini jack, and it's advertised as compatible with MD.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...&sku=150434

[xgipper]

Thanks for this. One more thing: the MZR37 says it doesn't have a mic sensitivity switch, but otherwise looks like a nice, rugged machine for doing some basic interviews, and readily available on the s/h market. The MZ-R55 does have mic sensitivity, but doesn't appear to be so durable or geared up for easy recording operation (I could be wrong!). From what I've read the audio technica mic is OK with a suitable cable for MD recording, but is this sensitivity thing likely to be a big deal with either the AD or the Sony mics?

Thanks in advance.

[A440]

Don't worry about sensitivity.

No sensitivity switch means high sensitivity, which is what you need for voice. Low sensitivity is useful for louder or amplified sounds--and it's not really that useful anyway, since anything really loud needs to be recorded Line-in.

When you're recording interviews, the MD units have auto gain control and will give you good clear voice recordings. MZ-R55 has the classic MD recording switch that you just slide--it's easy. This guy did a really exhaustive R55 page a long time ago.

http://listen.to/mz-r55

Do remember that these R units will be a decade old and probably used. They are universally said to be sturdy--I've never had one--but you'll want to be careful about the one you get.

[greenmachine]

No sensitivity switch means high sensitivity, which is what you need for voice. Low sensitivity is useful for louder or amplified sounds--and it's not really that useful anyway, since anything really loud needs to be recorded Line-in.

It depends on the sensitivity of your mic if the high or low sens. switch of the recorder suits you best for general purpose (not for recording very loud sounds -> line-in). The mentioned Sony mic is not that sensitive as far as i know, thus should work well with the high sens. switch (or a recorder without it). With a more sensitive mic you would probably be better off using the low sens. setting of the recorder most of the time, even for relatively quiet sounds like normal speech since a more sensitive mic requires less preamplification. By using too much preamplification you'll just increase the risk of introducing clipping.

[King Ghidora]

The Sony ECM-MS907 is not a sensitive mic. And it does have a miniplug instead of an XLR connector. But I wouldn't suggest using it as a handheld mic. You would get a considerable amount of handling noise. It's best to go with a mic that is designed to be handheld.

The AT804 is a balanced output mic according to the Users Manual so you would need an adapter or possibly a mixer like the XLR-Pro to make it work with the MD you have. Adapters of this type generally cost about $50 and the mixer is well over $100. If you're good with a soldering iron you might wire up your own adapter for around $15 using parts you might find on this web site. The user's manual at the link above has a layout of how the mic is wired so it would just be a matter of making the connections work.

IMO you would be much better off finding an unbalanced mic that will work as a handheld mic. There are many available but I have no idea which ones are particularly good. If anyone knows a good example I'd like to find out myself.

Edited February 14, 2007 by King Ghidora

[xgipper]

The Sony ECM-MS907 is not a sensitive mic. And it does have a miniplug instead of an XLR connector. But I wouldn't suggest using it as a handheld mic. You would get a considerable amount of handling noise. It's best to go with a mic that is designed to be handheld.

The AT804 is a balanced output mic according to the Users Manual so you would need an adapter or possibly a mixer like the XLR-Pro to make it work with the MD you have. Adapters of this type generally cost about $50 and the mixer is well over $100. If you're good with a soldering iron you might wire up your own adapter for around $15 using parts you might find on this web site. The user's manual at the link above has a layout of how the mic is wired so it would just be a matter of making the connections work.

Well in the end I picked up an MZ-R37 and AT804, and bought an adapter cable for £11.99 from Eastern Electronics. I have to say, great service and advice. The mic also works well via my little Spirit Notepad mixer. And the recording quality to the recorder, to my ear, is fab.

Thanks for all the tips.