MZ NH700 accessories

[yoyomoe]

Hi everyone... I spent the weekend reading the forums and i have a newbie question for you.

I found a MZ NH700 unit for sale that I think is a good deal but the unit only comes with the remote... no usb cable, no ac adaptor. Can I replace these with stock off the shelf mini 2.0 usb and a 3V ac? Also any recommendations for cheap mics (<$100)... I plan to use it to record live music (rock/pop) in clubs and larger venues. tx.

[A440]

The USB cord from most PDAs or digital cameras--USB to mini-USB--will work just fine. I use different ones all the time.

A generic 3V adapter should also work, but to be sure, check the little symbols under DC IN 3V on the unit and make sure the polarity is correct. You don't really need an AC adapter for everyday use. Recording should always be done on battery, because the AC adapter adds buzz. When uploading, the unit is powered by the USB. I suppose you could use AC for playback at home, but alkaline batteries (or better rechargeables than the one supplied) last so long that the inconvenience isn't worth it, at least to me.

My basic recording kit is the Sound Professionals BMC-2 mics:

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

If you're in Europe, the way to go for inexpensive mics is our own greenmachine's mics:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=14388

But there are a lot of varieties of mics to choose from, as you will see at http://www.soundprofessionals.com I prefer omnidirectional (also called binaural) mics to cardioid (directional) mics, particularly in the low price range, because they sound more natural. Cheaper cardioids also lack bass response.

I use the BMC-2 with the Microphone Madness Classic Mini Battery Module:

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

You need the battery module with any amplified music so that you can record through the Line-in jack and not overload the preamp at the Mic-In jack.

[Sparky191]

I just use rechargables. Means you can always use the unit instead of having it tied up charging the battery. The charger from my old MD G750 works on my NH700. But I never use it.

I should have added a third option, "I want both"

[King Ghidora]

Mic selection depends largely on what you plan to record and how. Are you recording your friends garage band or are you recording a rock band with the recorder hidden in your pocket? I know you said you would be recording music but where? What you think you might do with a mic makes a difference.

There are many mics around that are good but some have great reputations so you are pretty sure to like them. Personally I prefer a little more expensive mic than the price you listed not because it costs more but because it sounds better. I'm not familiar with the mic mentioned by A440 personally but I know it has a great reputation. I have a Nady CM-2S which I think sounds pretty good and better than the sub-$100 mics I've heard. But it's a fairly big mic so it wouldn't be at all good for stealth recording. I use it to record a bluegrass band I work with.

You might try finding a few sound samples from various mics around the net. But keep in mind that a single sample is hard to go by. You really don't know equipment until you've lived with it a while. That's why I buy from Musician's Friend. They have a very liberal return policy (45 days with no questions asked) so you can try out what you're getting without having to keep it if you don't like it. But they don't have the mic suggested by A440 which is a popular mic so there are always things to think about.

[yoyomoe]

Thanks everyone... glad to hear that stock replacement accessories will do the trick (or really aren't required)...

I spent some time on the Sound Professional website (I'm in Canada) this weekend and thought the BMC-2 or the in ear model might be a good place to start as I think most of my recording will be stealth. I will check out Musician's Friend to see what they have as well.

[A440]

I've got a lot of BMC-2 recordings posted in my album in the Gallery (link at upper right). As far as I know, the BMC-2 and the TFB-2 are the same microphones in different mounts. Both are very stealthy. The BMC-2 are the size of a pencil eraser.

You can also look at things like Croakie mounts (for eyeglasses) at http://www.microphonemadness.com if you're really worried about getting caught, or get some extra-small deluxe mics from Sound Professionals or elsewhere and sew them into a baseball cap or something. But I have to say, I've been going to shows in New York City for years, waiting until the lights are low and clipping the BMC-2 to the collar of a dark shirt, and ushers either don't see or don't care.

King Ghidora is right that the more you are willing to spend the better the quality is--the BMC-2 are definitely starter mics, affordable and convenient but probably not the ultimate in sound quality. You might look through the Gallery albums for other choices. Many of the albums include information on mics and settings. KG is also right that trying the mics out is the best test of all. Sound Pros gives you 30 days, and any decent seller should have a return policy that gives you some time.

There's a Canadian company called Church Audio (www.church-audio.ca) that makes solid mics for minidisc, selling them on eBay. I have a good pair from them, but it's an older model they don't make any more. At the moment, I think they end up being more expensive and/or larger than the Sound Professionals mics, but you might take a look.

http://search.stores.ebay.ca/CHURCH-AUDIO_...2daudioQQsofpZ0