Mic for line-in

[Audringje]

Dear all,

I've got a Sony MZ-N510 minidisc recorder which I'd like to use for voice recordings (singing). Now I need to buy a microphone but the player only has a Line-in (optical) connection, no Mic-in. I was told I would need a pre-amp, which would cost another 90 euros... Does anyone know if there's another (more budget) solution? Would a mic with its own power source raise the input level sufficiently to get more or less decent recording quality?

Thanks & all best!

Meissie

Edited August 27, 2007 by Meissie

[Strungup]

Dear all,

I've got a Sony MZ-N510 minidisc recorder which I'd like to use for voice recordings (singing). Now I need to buy a microphone but the player only has a Line-in (optical) connection, no Mic-in. I was told I would need a pre-amp, which would cost another 90 euros... Does anyone know if there's another (more budget) solution? Would a mic with its own power source raise the input level sufficiently to get more or less decent recording quality?

Thanks & all best!

Meissie

You would need a preamp , No the Mic would not have enough output .

http://www.rolls.com/products/mp13.php ( mono not stereo , so you would need to have a little adapter for Mono to Stereo )

http://www.rolls.com/products/mx34.php ( Stereo , with 1/8 " in's and outs for MD ) (I want this one myself but there arent any Rolls dealers here)

http://www.rolls.com/products/mx54.php ( Used to have the previous version of this one , very usefull )

http://www.rolls.com/products/mx56.php ( this one would be for singing along with a CD or something else , your MD can be connected to the Phone output CD Player, Piano , Radio etc to the back )

Edited August 27, 2007 by Guitarfxr

[A440]

Sorry to say it, but the most economical solution is probably to find another minidisc recorder with a Mic-in jack, which means the preamp is built in.

If you are content with not being able to upload your recordings to the computer--the only way to copy them is to record them again out of the headphone jack of the minidisc recorder--then you have many choices in models that are as old as the one you have.

You will need to find them used, on places like eBay, and apply common sense about whether to trust the seller. Look for a clear photograph and look to see if paint around the buttons is worn off to give you an idea of how much wear the unit has had.

This page lists all the models:

http://www.minidisc.org/equipment_browser.html

I have had good results myself when I owned the MZ-N707 and the MZ-R700.

To upload directly to a PC (Windows only, not Mac), the cheapest option with a mic jack is the MZ-NH700, now about $200 U.S.

http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553219

There is also a new recorder available--not minidisc, flash-drive--for $200 U.S., the Samson Zoom H2. Because it is so new, just available in the past two weeks, I have not seen any user reviews yet, but it has built-in microphones and promises a lot. See if you can find reviews in the next few weeks as people buy them and start to play with them.

If it lives up to its promises, it will be of equal or better recording quality to MD and far easier to use with a computer. But Samson's previous Zoom recorder, the H4, was a disappointment to many reviewers, so don't jump on it without more information.

[Audringje]

Thanks, both of you. The Zoom H2 looks great, I think I'll wait for it (too bad we're in Europe, this'll take even longer...).

[Strungup]

Thanks, both of you. The Zoom H2 looks great, I think I'll wait for it (too bad we're in Europe, this'll take even longer...).

I should be receiving my H2 sometime this week or next , I will post a basic review of what I think of the machine Vs MD so if you wish you can wait for the review of an Audio Engineer , (that would be me) or the reviews of stores the just want to sell something .(My h2 has been on reserve since it was announced)

The premps I listed are of Audiophile quality most battery powered and will give pro results . Especially with the MD

Edited August 28, 2007 by Guitarfxr

[Audringje]

Thank you, can't wait to hear what you think of it. And, speaking off the record: what an incredibly sexy thing... I do hope it lives up to the expectations.

Edited August 28, 2007 by Meissie