MZ-NH700 bundle from Mini Disc Access

[andsaviorself]

I've been researching mds and I think that I'm going to wind up purchasing the NH700. I'm going to be using it for recording live shows (both loud and acoustic) and it seems to be right for the job since I will be able to transfer it easily to my computer as well. now that I've decided on what recorder I want, I need to find a mic. I can only find the NH700 on minidiscaccess.com and the recorder itself is going for $190 and then there's the bundle for $240. does anyone know how the included microphone is? (here)

the link for the bundle

if you guys think that I should get it for $190 and find my own mic, which would you suggest? I don't want to spend more than $300 total.

thanks!

[greenmachine]

Mono mics sound good for close miking (speech, etc.). If you record from a distance, there will be a good amount of ambient noise, room acoustics present on the recording, which will sound far more natural with stereo mics, particularly if not one-point, but spaced.

[andsaviorself]

is the included mic a mono mic?

I'll be recording from a distance and will need to be stealthy i.e. clip the mic(s) onto my glasses. when I was going to get the r700 (before I realized you can't transfer it to a pc), I was looking at these. they sound like just what I need, but those aren't for the nh700

this is my first time even looking into any sort of mic, so I'm still a bit confused.

[KJ_Palmer]

The mic included in the NH700 bundle is a stereo mic, though probably won't give as much stereo separation as those binaural mics you were looking at. It seems to be a fairly good, general purpose mic though.

[greenmachine]

The mic included in the NH700 bundle is a stereo mic, though probably won't give as much stereo separation as those binaural mics you were looking at. It seems to be a fairly good, general purpose mic though.

Actually it seems to be a mono mic with a stereo plug so that the signal gets distributed to both channels instead of just the left one.

The linked CS mic should give you much better results, though there are even less expensive alternatives. For recording loud sounds, the sound quality will benefit from using the mics at the line-in via a battery box. Otherwise, when recording loud sounds via the mic-in, the preamp might overload and produce distortion.

[Superbaldguy]

Not to put a fly in your ointment, but the NH700 dos not have on-the-fly recoding adjustments - you said you are doing live shows - you have to PAUSE the unit before you make changes. This is one of the shortcomings of a budget MDR. However, the NH700 is a decently-made recorder and I am glad I got one of these from MiniDisc Access before they all disappear. (I've had mine about a year or so)

[greenmachine]

Not to put a fly in your ointment, but the NH700 dos not have on-the-fly recoding adjustments - you said you are doing live shows - you have to PAUSE the unit before you make changes. This is one of the shortcomings of a budget MDR. However, the NH700 is a decently-made recorder and I am glad I got one of these from MiniDisc Access before they all disappear. (I've had mine about a year or so)

Actually you can change levels on the fly as with any other Hi-MD recorder if you put the recorder in manual level mode before starting the recording. If it's a good idea to change levels during a recording is a different question.

[andsaviorself]

Actually it seems to be a mono mic with a stereo plug so that the signal gets distributed to both channels instead of just the left one.

The linked CS mic should give you much better results, though there are even less expensive alternatives. For recording loud sounds, the sound quality will benefit from using the mics at the line-in via a battery box. Otherwise, when recording loud sounds via the mic-in, the preamp might overload and produce distortion.

thanks. so you're saying that those CS mics would work with the nh700?

someone also had suggested these. but with a $50 battery box, that's going to be a lot.

is the battery box always necessary for loud sounds? from reading about the CS mics it doesn't seem as if you need a battery box.

I'm just trying to keep this all under $300 and it's getting incredibly hard.

I guess I just need some suggestions for certain mics that I should check out because I'm not doing a good job searching for specs.

[A440]

Mics can be very confusing, but you're on the right track. I do a whole lot of recording with the MZ-NH700, SoundPros BMC-2 and the Classic Mini battery module from Microphone Madness, and the results are good.

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

You'd need the battery module for the Core Sound mics, too. The mic input of the NH700 can't handle low bass in anything that's even slightly amplified, so you need to go through Line-in, and for Line-in you need the battery module.

The Sound Pros mics are a little bit smaller and stealthier than the Core Sound mics, and less expensive. Glasses would be one place to clip them, though I generally use shirt lapels. A dark shirt helps camouflage them.

And about the on-the-fly adjustments: You can definitely do them. You have to set the unit to Manual Volume through menus while in REC-PAUSE, but once you do that you can change them. However, as greenmachine suggests, every time you change them you'll hear it. You should always use Manual, because Auto isn't good for music--it can't handle drums. But once you set the level in Manual you should leave it alone unless things suddenly get much louder.

Edited July 18, 2007 by A440

[andsaviorself]

Mics can be very confusing, but you're on the right track. I do a whole lot of recording with the MZ-NH700, SoundPros BMC-2 and the Classic Mini battery module from Microphone Madness, and the results are good.

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

You'd need the battery module for the Core Sound mics, too. The mic input of the NH700 can't handle low bass in anything that's even slightly amplified, so you need to go through Line-in, and for Line-in you need the battery module.

The Sound Pros mics are a little bit smaller and stealthier than the Core Sound mics, and less expensive. Glasses would be one place to clip them, though I generally use shirt lapels. A dark shirt helps camouflage them.

And about the on-the-fly adjustments: You can definitely do them. You have to set the unit to Manual Volume through menus while in REC-PAUSE, but once you do that you can change them. However, as greenmachine suggests, every time you change them you'll hear it. You should always use Manual, because Auto isn't good for music--it can't handle drums. But once you set the level in Manual you should leave it alone unless things suddenly get much louder.

thanks, that was helpful. I think I might just go with the sound pro BMC-2 mics for $40. I wish that I could save on shipping and get these all at one place, but I guess I can't.

I wasn't even aware that I need to get the battery module until I came on this forum. so I'm glad I did.

btw, are there any other known places to still get the NH700 other than MiniDiscAccess and eBay?

[A440]

Sound Professionals makes battery boxes too, though I don't know how significant the savings would be on shipping.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/...tegory/310/mics

The MZ-NH700 was never really released in the US, which got the MZ-NHF800 instead (same unit plus a remote with an FM radio--the same remote works with the NH700). Most of the new NH700 units that are still around are Australian ones that Sony Australia dumped to retailers at clearance prices. You might Google around for the NHF800, but it probably won't be any cheaper.

If you are really determined to save money, and are only going to be recording amplified sources--not quieter things like speech--you might also get away with the MZ-NH600 from Minidisc Access. It only records Line-in, but I have found that I do virtually all my recording through Line-in. If the person is close I can even get away with speech recording with the BMC-2 and battery module, though I wouldn't want to use it for a lecture.

Note that Sony made both the MZ-NH600, which has a line-in jack, and the MZ-NH600D--D for Downloader, because it only has a USB input, no live recording. Some Ebay sellers "accidentally" forget that they are selling the MZ-NH600D rather than MZ-NH600, so I would recommend getting the MZ-NH600 only from a reputable seller.

[BIGHMW]

But, if you truly want remote control capability, and the option and piece of mind of using a mic instead, get the NH700 instead from MiniDisc Access, hten you will be able to use the optional RM-MC40ELK remote in conjunction with it for most uses, so you don't wear out the jog dial on the NH700 unit itself, like I did on my main one. And don't forget, the option, as A440 mentioned, of using the RM-MC39LT AM/FM/TV/WB remote with it, available through Sony DAPC at this link:

http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/ecom/acce...ortable%20Audio

It says it works with the NHF800, but a many here on this board have found out, it should also work with the NH700 as well.

[andsaviorself]

I think that I'm just going to buy them seperately because the battery from Mic Madness is cheaper.

btw, does anyone know if these (http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1389947) are rewritable? or are all mini discs?

I have no idea

[BIGHMW]

All minidiscs and Hi-MDs are rewriteable, so fear not and just use the power of The Source, as Guitarfxr would say, for it is a powerful one.

[A440]

When you get discs, I'd suggest getting a familiar brand--Sony, TDK, Denon, Fuji--instead of a no-name.

People have had bad luck with Hi-Space and Memorex. I don't know anything about Savit.

Basic minidiscs--labeled 74-minute and 80-minute--will work with a Hi-MD. However, you might as well enjoy the full capacity of Hi-MD. A 1GB Hi-MD disc will hold almost 8 hours of Hi-SP recordings, which are good for most purposes including music, or 90 minutes of CD-quality PCM.

An 80-minute minidisc will hold about 2 hours 20 minutes of Hi-SP--your basic concert--but only 27 minutes of PCM.

You can keep uploading, then erasing and re-recording on the same disc.

The best price on discs I know of is here.

http://www.tapewarehouse.com

But it's tricky to find them. You need to click Browse and then:

Category: Digital Audio

Product Line: Mini-Disc Audio

Item: SCM HMD1G HI-MD DISC [#2724264569]

They are real Sony 1GB Hi-MD discs. I have bought a bunch of them. I think the reason they're still available is that no one can find them in the catalog.

Edited July 19, 2007 by A440

[andsaviorself]

When you get discs, I'd suggest getting a familiar brand--Sony, TDK, Denon, Fuji--instead of a no-name.

People have had bad luck with Hi-Space and Memorex. I don't know anything about Savit.

Basic minidiscs--labeled 74-minute and 80-minute--will work with a Hi-MD. However, you might as well enjoy the full capacity of Hi-MD. A 1GB Hi-MD disc will hold almost 8 hours of Hi-SP recordings, which are good for most purposes including music, or 90 minutes of CD-quality PCM.

An 80-minute minidisc will hold about 2 hours 20 minutes of Hi-SP--your basic concert--but only 27 minutes of PCM.

You can keep uploading, then erasing and re-recording on the same disc.

The best price on discs I know of is here.

http://www.tapewarehouse.com

But it's tricky to find them. You need to click Browse and then:

Category: Digital Audio

Product Line: Mini-Disc Audio

Item: SCM HMD1G HI-MD DISC [#2724264569]

They are real Sony 1GB Hi-MD discs. I have bought a bunch of them. I think the reason they're still available is that no one can find them in the catalog.

the 1GB sounds like a good idea to me. would one be good enough for now? or should I just get 2? I won't be recording shows every week or anything.

also, when I record one show onto the disc, can I continue recording another show at another time on the same disc? or would I have to transfer it to my computer and rewrite over what I've previously recorded?

I'm sorry for all of the questions. I'm just trying to make sure that I make the right decision because I'm not very knowledgeable with these things yet. I really appreciate all of the help, though.

[greenmachine]

the 1GB sounds like a good idea to me. would one be good enough for now? or should I just get 2? I won't be recording shows every week or anything.

also, when I record one show onto the disc, can I continue recording another show at another time on the same disc? or would I have to transfer it to my computer and rewrite over what I've previously recorded?

I'm sorry for all of the questions. I'm just trying to make sure that I make the right decision because I'm not very knowledgeable with these things yet. I really appreciate all of the help, though.

If you ever want to record in the highest quality PCM, 94 minutes can be a tad short for a long show, so having at least two 1GB discs would be useful. Your recorder will continue a new recording as a new track without overwriting the existing ones by default. The available recording time will be shorter by the sum of the existing tracks. You can have different mode recordings - PCM (1411 kbps), Hi-SP (256 kbps) and Hi-LP (64 kbps) together on one disc. With PCM mode, I would suggest beginning with a blank disc for a new recording if you don't know the exact length of the show. After the content has been uploaded, converted and archived (see here), the disc can be blanked and reused.

[A440]

If you can wait a few weeks, a very promising alternative to minidisc is supposed to appear: the Zoom H2. It has built-in mics--though you'd have to leave the recorder visible--as well as a plug for a stereo mic, like MD.

It also has direct drag-and-drop of recordings rather than the annoyance of SonicStage.

It will be selling for about $200.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Pr...datafeed.ZOO+H2

Since they're not out yet, there aren't any user reviews. The previous Samson recorder, the Zoom H4, got very mixed reviews, but looked like a considerably different device.

If it turns out to be cheesy, you'd be gambling that Minidisc Access would have run out of NH700s while you waited. On the other hand, if the H2 does live up to its advance announcements, the H2 might well be a simpler and better solution for you since you're not particularly tech-oriented. Sorry to throw another alternative your way, but it may be worth checking out.

On the other hand, if you do need something immediately, the NH700 is a little workhorse and will do what you need despite the inconvenience of SonicStage. I'd get at least 2 1GB discs to start--you might as well get more than one with the shipping costs--and then get into the habit of uploading and converting the music, and burning it onto CDs soon after the concert. A disc probably comes with the NH700, but it's always good to have a spare.