LINE IN on SONY MZ-N510CK: Will A Microphone Work? Which?

[Guest Anonymous]

I am a new MD user, who is seeking to make voice recordings, such as interviews, using a SONY MiniDisc Recorder.

Some users have indicated that in certain cases, the LINE IN input on an MD gives better results than a MIC IN input.

What if any microphone will work with the LINE IN on the SONY MD MZ-N510CK? (This model has NO Microphone jack, only an Optical LINE IN;

I have succeeded in recording music to the MD using the LINE IN from a turntable, but cannot record using a microphone.)

Will a powered microphone work on an Optical LINE IN, or is it simply necessary to have an MD recorder with a Microphone jack as opposed

to LINE IN?

SONY advertises microphones as being useful for MiniDisc: ECM-MS907

(a one-point stereo mike powered by an AA battery); and the ECM-ZS90 (a tabletop microphone with adjustable directionality). Will either of these SONY microphones work with the Optical LINE IN on the above MD Recorder, or on the Optical LINE IN of some other MiniDisc Recorder model?

Doubtless this is a classic newbie FAQ: but any help would be appreciated, and I am sure would be useful to more than one

new MD user. Thank you!

Andrew McDonnell

[mAjEsTiC]

a powered mic will work only if u connect it to ur unit's LINE IN (red one)...OPTIC IN (white one) is reserved for that of digital recordings via TosLink cable...the ECM-MS907 will work on ur unit's LINE IN (red jack) and not the OPTIC IN (white jack)...

[Guest Anonymous]

Thank you to mAjEsTiC for your prompt reply. Regrettably, the MZ-N510CK model in question has ONLY the white jack you describe, and no red one, or any other input line (besides USB).

This white jack is clearly labeled "LINE IN (OPTICAL)."

I have read that a microphone supplied with some kind of pre-amp may remedy the issue, but this might defeat the purpose of the portability of the small-sized MD set-up. Are there any lightweight or portable mikes with pre-amps that might work here?

It increasingly seems like another MD model might be needed, and I see that units from Sharp more commonly offer microphone jacks than Sony models; however, this might not be helpful for users in the USA.

mAjEsTiC, of course, is in Australia, where, as elsewhere in the Pacific Rim area, there might be other makes widely available, such as Sharp. In the United States, other makers like Sharp or Aiwa seem to have receded from the scene, making Sony the sole vendor, and the MD technology a de facto proprietary standard for American buyers.

American MD buyers looking to record interviews, dictation, instrumental performances or field events might be advised to ensure that they get a (more expensive) unit with a distinct MICROPHONE input; LINE IN (OPTICAL) would not seem to suffice. Sony should make the MICROPHONE input available more cheaply, or on more MD models, than at present.

Again, thanks to mAjEsTiC for his prompt and helpful answer!

[mAjEsTiC]

oh yeh oops...my mistake the powered mic can be inputted in the LINE IN of that recorder...bah i think i was half asleep when i typed that out....sorry...

there are quite a few small sony powered mics designed for portability so i suggest u pop down to a local store who stock up on sony parts and take a look (try taking a look at the ECMT145 or the ECMZS90 mics from sony)

i do agree with you that sharp units do seem ever increasingly quite popular due to the mic input on even the cheapest of their models (if i can recall correctly i.e.) and i am sure you can import one in from japan from an internet site such as (url=www.japan-direct.com)Japan Direct(/url)...these ppl r very reliable and also carry a warranty (but you have to ship the unit back to them if this happens)...

[Mark Nicholson]

The minidisc recorder you mentioned does not have a mic input so I'm guessing that you will probably need to get a separate mic preamp. The problem with that is that you will need to spend about US$180 for the preamp. You can get a Sony MD recorder with its own built-in preamp for about US$200.

On the other hand, my experience--and yours might be different--is that my external preamp is way cleaner than the mic preamp in my Sharp MD-MT770 though it cannot produce as loud a recording. Another advantage of the external preamp is that it can give better power to small electret microphones which will further improve your recording.

And then there is bass roll-off....

[Guest Anonymous]

I have a similar model to yours (mine is a MZNF610), and it has only a line in(optical).

As confirmed previously, you can record using a microphone, but only a powered microphone. I would recommend using a 9V-powered one for improved volume, as my AA-powered one does not record at a high volume.

[raygun]

Also, not sure if everyone realizes this, but although the N510's line-in says "optical" on it, the input does in fact take both analog AND optical input cables (read the manual!).

[paul henry]

who makes a good external preamp and can you set it up for two mics, instead of just one

[Guest Anonymous]

Let's get back to basics. For Line In you need a mic and something to power it because Line In is expecting a powered signal. But it doesn't have to be too expensive.

You don't need an optical input--Line In will accept either optical or a regular miniplug.

Skip the Sony ECM 907, which is bulky and has limited bass response--only down to 100hz--and get one of the amazing inexpensive little mics from Sound Professionals or Microphone Madness that capture 20-20,000 hz. The standard ones are fine.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/...0&template=mics

If you want something cheaper, there's a one-point stereo mic (two mics in one oblong case) that's often on Ebay as "Stereo Lapel Microphone for Minidisc" and called Audigy in the description (no relation to the Creative Labs soundcard). Very nice for voice recording, decent for music too.

You don't need an expensive preamp to power it unless you need very high fidelity. You can get excellent recordings with the cheaper battery box from one of the same vendors, about $40-$60.

Paul Henry, the Sound Pro mics (and battery boxes) come in stereo pairs that you can separate, so if you're doing an interview one person's on the left channel and one on the right. The input into the MD is a stereo jack, so that's probably the best you can do with two mics.

[Guest Anonymous]

I have the same MD and recently purchased a MIC and pre-amp from visivox technologies, www.visivoxtechnologies.com .

I made the first live recording of our band last night and was completely blown away with the quality of the recording, as was everyone else who heard it. I paid $110 for both. Give Jon Enoch (visivox) a call and see what he recommends, he was very helpfull. Now I just have to figure out how to download it to my PC

Dave

[Guest Anonymous]

Realtime recording (not download) to PC with track marks and titles:

http://christian.klukas.bei.t-online.de/fi...md/winNetMD.htm

[hennerz]

right, i'm getting a n505 sony minidisc, and apparently it's not got a mic input, which i only just found out....doh!

but i've got a stereo sony mic, ms908c very much like the ms907. according to the previous posts, it SHOULD work with the 505 through the line in. is this correct, has anyone actually succeeded in recording using this mic in this minidisc player? i only ask because the mic in question only seems to work on the mic input on my computer and doesn't make a sound via my line in.

also, could you clear up exactly what hacking a 505 will do? i'm confused, will it help me to record via a mic?

Cheers in advance folks,

H

www.stuntsmusic.co.uk

[mAjEsTiC]

if it doesn't work with your LINE IN via the computer's soundcard then it means that the mic isn't powered and it won't work on your MD unit either...what u need is an external power box to fix this up...i'm not too sure if the "hack" can give u a powered mic input as i've never had to havk any of my units yet...

[A440]

The hack won't give you a mic input--there's no preamp in the MZ-N505 hardware.

You'll simply have to test that mic to see if one battery provides enough power. If not, a battery box with 9V is the solution.