Recording on MiniDisc: what microphone to use?

[Guest Anonymous]

Hello, everyone.

I am new to this group and I hope you will help me.

In connection with my African trip in September next year I intend to record some genuine Ethiopian music of different sorts as well as some interviews with people I would find interesting.

The former (music) will be recorded mostly as a background to my future slide-shows, but I am contemplating some more serious use, such as submitting the recording to some people interested in ethnic music for them to listen to some musicians I'd "discover".

The latter (interviews) is for my personal use, but - again - there is a likelyhood they may also be used in a documentary film that we intend to make.

To make a recording I plan to purchase a MiniDisc (don't ask me what make or model, I will make up my mind in some six months, although tips are very welcome! :wink: ).

What I would like to hear and know is what microphones I should use to make the best of my recordings in such a travel situation.

There will be church music during masses, where I won't be able to get close to the priests and on the other hand I will be somewhere amongst a crowd of church-goers (who also chant). There will be stage music, but sometimes it will be easy and sometimes difficult to get close to the stage and not to block the view to others.

There will also be an occasional situation where I may ask an individual musician (or a group of musicians) to perform for me on my request and where it will be easy to get close to the performer. Finally, there will be one-to-one interviews.

What microphone(s) shall I use? Bi-directional, omni-directional? What impedance and sensitivity? Stereo or mono? What recording mode should I use on the MD? Shall I use hand-held mics or use a special rod (don't know the technical term for it) to keep the mike high up or low down? Or maybe a clip microphone would do?

I wouldn't like to use crappy mikes but then again I don't have a fortune to spend on them.

Any ideas, please?

I would be more than grateful if you could also kindly reply to my e-mail address which is rafiki_yako@poczta.onet.pl

Best regards

Wojtek Bobilewicz

Warsaw, Poland