Getting best out of MZ-N710 and ECM-MS907 in live recordings

[Guest Anonymous]

Hello,

I would be very grateful for tips on how to best set up and connect my Sony MZ-710 MiniDisc recorder and Sony ECM-MS907 mike while recording life performances (it can be club gigs, some background music played by an unknown group in a small and noisy restaurant or bar, but also church masses - singing - and other sounds in large halls).

In a number of live recording tips on both this and other forums I found tips (concerning Sony's earlier models) saying that a mike should be connected to MD's LINE-IN socket. The MZ-N710 has its own power MIC-IN socket, should I not rather be using this one? If I connect to LINE instead of MIC, I suppose it won't be posible to use the mike without a battery?

Moreover, the tips suggested setting recording level to manual (is it only the case when I connect the mike to the LINE-IN socket, or also when I connect to MIC-IN?) and NEVER to automatic? Is this really the case - also with the ECM-MS907? Somehow I find it cumbersome and annoying having to set up the level manually while actually recording my material (in most cases there will be no formal rehearsals before which I could record to check the settings).

Also, the MZ-N710 allows for two setups of the mike's sensitivity: low and high, which one should I use?

And finally, how about holding the mike? Where is the best place to put my mike: high up, near the stage, further down the room? Also, when I hold the mike with my hand, I hear a noise each time I move the mike etc. Would the supplied mike "stand" which I could hold (instead of holding the mike directly) be of any help?

I would be very grateful for your replies which you can send not just to this forum, but also - should you wish perhaps to add more detail etc - to one of my e-mail accounts:

rafiki_yako@poczta.onet.pl

bobilewicz@yahoo.co.uk

wojciech.bobilewicz@pl.pwc.com

Best regards

Wojti

PS - I have no acount here so no sense in sending me Private Messages.

W.-

[sudden]

First of I have only bad experience when it comes to live recording with Sony MDs. So bad I got a second hand Sharp (MT99) and my god what a difference, Sharp design is everyting that Sony isn't, userfriendly. Now I only use my MZ-N707 as NetMD recorder only.

However the MZ-N710 have some important improvements that just might make it usefull. Such as mic sensitivity switch and on the fly adjust. A real new low is the weak output amp it got, only 1.2mW per channel. The 707 had 5mW and my Sharp 10mW. Literally you can hear the difference.

Sony ECM-MS907 mic have internal battery, when using that plug into line in. When battery out use mic in, mic sensitivity on low. Why you should use manual rec level is during a recording session volume can be very low and extremly high. All those ups and downs make the automatic control go lika a jo-jo. Very annoying. Better to use manual and a bit to low so that peaks don't distort and afterwards this can be maximized when transfering to PC and remastering.

The mic should be placed high up. On you head is best but not allways or never practical. Remember that making live recordings is "cumbersome and annoying", specialy if you are doing a stelthy recording. I have a much smaller mic and clip it onto my shirt, standing still it works fine for me. With a larger mic as yours hodling it is probobly the best soultion.

Bottom line is trial and error, turn up your stereo and test recording with different settings such as mic+battery to line in and only mic to mic in. Go to the pub when a band is preforming and test manual vs automatic rec level and so on.

[sliderules]

Hi there I am new here and was wondering if anyone can make a recommendation as the best MD and mic unit to purchase in order to record my "live" band (bass, drums, amped guitar) in a 16 x 20 room. We play bluesy jazzy fusion type material and would like to let the recorder run while we record and then listen to play back on my PA system and eventually tranfer them to regular CDR's. Thanks to all. Peace, Slide

my email is swsmgd@hotmail.com

[sudden]

Well if you are only recording in your own studio you can use a mini mix deck with inputs from main mix deck and a mic. Plug this into line in on MD. In this way you get best sound possible.

If you also wanna record stelthy a small neat mic are what you want. Sony makes some great mics, see this page:

Sony Digital Mics

Two top mics are:

ECM-719

ECM-DS70P

Note that ECM-DS70P comes in variants, one with cord and one direct plug in. Get the cord one (avoid getting MD engine sound on your recordings). Now when you know what mic to get, finding it is another matter.

Btw, if you wanna record live on location get a Sharp unit. See second hand market as well, most MDLP from MT99 to present will do the trick. Only make sure it got mic in.