med@astrovax.UUCP (Mark Dickinson) (04/25/85)
Firstly, many thanks to everyone who responded to my query about recording portables with Dolby-C. The Sony WM-D6C seems to be the hands-down winner (if not the only available model) and I have begun looking into buying one. There are a few places in New York that seem to sell them for $199, although availability may be a bit of a problem. So, on to the next problem. I'll be neading a microphone to go with this unit. Two friends of mine use Aiwa CM-30 stereo condenser mikes with their Aiwa walkman-sized recorders. I have heard tapes that they have made and the sound quality seems excellent. Both of them attribute this to the mike, and not to the recorders, which they feel are good but not great units. Other than this CM-30, I have had little other contact with smallish stereo microphones or their users. Does anyone (particularly you WM-D6C owners) have any suggestions, advice, or strong feelings about microphones for mobile recording on small portables? I know that Sony makes a variety of microphones that are said to be suitable for the D6C -- does anyone know anything about them? I am flexible about prices, although I would of course like to get as good a mike for as low a price as I can. Once again, thanks for the help and information. Mark Dickinson
rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (04/26/85)
[] I have the Sony ECM-939T single point stereo mike that was sort of intended for the WM-D6. I DO NOT recommend it. It is clean but has no bass, falling off at 6 db/octave or more from about 200+ hz if I recall. I bought two Radio Shack 33-1056A condenser mikes of the tie clip variety. RS does not make any fantastic claims for them, but I have made several recordings which sound pretty good. One was made at a piano recital where I clipped one to each shoulder of my wool sport jacket. The effect was great just sitting in a rear-ish seat. Imagine what would have happened, though, if I had dozed off during the performance! I think so much of this combination that I am taking it with me this summer on a trip to England. the WM-D6 fits neatly into a side pocket of my camera bag and the bag itself is about as thick as my head is wide. So, an RS mike clipped each side of the pocket is spaced about optimally for binaural recording. The bag in between simulates the head. I expect fantastic results. Well, I hope for them. -- "It's the thought, if any, that counts!" Dick Grantges hound!rfg
herbie@watdcsu.UUCP (Herb Chong [DCS]) (04/28/85)
In article <581@astrovax.UUCP> med@astrovax.UUCP (Mark Dickinson) writes: >Does anyone (particularly you WM-D6C owners) have any suggestions, advice, >or strong feelings about microphones for mobile recording on small portables? >I know that Sony makes a variety of microphones that are said to be suitable for >the D6C -- does anyone know anything about them? I am flexible about prices, >although I would of course like to get as good a mike for as low a price as >I can. if you're into binaural recording, the headphones the come with the WM-R15 have microphones that are builtin to the headsets. the D6C supplies the required power to run the electret elements. my dealer was unable to tell me if they are available separately or not or how much they will cost. i think the model number is MDR-W70. i would expect limited frequency response of maybe 50-14k. these will not work on a WM-D6 because there is no power supply from the microphone connection. Herb Chong... I'm user-friendly -- I don't byte, I nybble.... UUCP: {decvax|utzoo|ihnp4|allegra|clyde}!watmath!water!watdcsu!herbie CSNET: herbie%watdcsu@waterloo.csnet ARPA: herbie%watdcsu%waterloo.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa NETNORTH, BITNET, EARN: herbie@watdcs, herbie@watdcsu
dca@edison.UUCP (David C. Albrecht) (04/29/85)
> I know that Sony makes a variety of microphones that are said to be suitable for > the D6C -- does anyone know anything about them? I am flexible about prices, > although I would of course like to get as good a mike for as low a price as > I can. > Hi, its me again. Sony has no less than three mikes to go with the WM-D6. Sigh!, I feel like I'm advertising J&R (1-800-221-8180) but anyway these will give you some general prices. There is a small one-point stereo microphone specifically designed for the Sony Walkmans uses back electret mic elements and plugs directly to the mic jack (no cord) the ECM-101 34.95, also the ECM-102 39.95 (I have no idea what the difference is). For real fancy there is the Mid-Side ECM-929LT for 59.95 which they claim produces true stereo imaging with Mid-Side matrix ciruitry by electronically mixing singals from the mid and side microphone capsules (the mic looks reminescent of a handgun). Similar but more mike looking is the ECM-939LT another Mid-Side mike for 79.95. J&R sells the WM-D6C without the headphones but with the AC adaptor and the ECM-939LT Mid-side mike for 389.95. David Albrecht General Electric
pmr@drutx.UUCP (Rastocny) (05/02/85)
[] I'm surprised that nobody's mentioned the Crown/Radio Shack PZM ($40 with power supply module). I've been using a pair of these since last November with some surprising results. +s: * Excellent bandwidth (20Hz-18KHz) and pattern (hemisphere), * Low cost ($40 each, plus two 6V camera batteries $4 each) * Good dynamic range (I've yet to overload them) * No mic stands required * Small and unobtrusive (Where's the mics? Those things on the floor? You've got to be kidding! :-) -s: * Require at least 25 square feet of hard surface to operate properly * Placement prone to environmental obstacles (church pews, chairs, etc.) * Come with fixed-length (hard-wired) 18' cables * If raised off of the floor, must be placed against a 5'x5' board (definitely a hassle and ugly to boot) Of course, there are a few things you could do to coax these otherwise noisy mics to life: 1) replace the aluminum electrolytic DC blocking capacitor in the supply module with a metalized polyprop., 2) shield the entire supply module (read rebuild it in a metal box, preferably with a good regulator), 3) operate them at 12 Volts instead of 1.5 (a MUST!), 4) replace the transformer, and 5) replace the mic cable. Like I said, I'm getting some amazing results for a total investment of under $100. They are a hassle on carpets and in cramped quarters like small churches, but I'm learning to work with them and they sound great. Some day I'll have a pair of Schoeps, but for now... Yours for higher fidelity, Phil Rastocny AT&T-ISL ihnp4!drutx!pmr
rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (05/02/85)
[] uh-huh. I have a pair of RS PZM's too. I didn't rebuild the power supplies or replace the cable with monster cable. I used them once in a problem live recording of a luncheon with excellent results. Taped to the wall, they became thwe proverbial "fly on the wall." However, the next time I tried to use them an A-B with my trusty old Sony electrets said, "Blah to RS." So I haven't used them since. While you were at it, why didn't you change out the element? !-) -- "It's the thought, if any, that counts!" Dick Grantges hound!rfg
tron@fluke.UUCP (Peter Barbee) (05/02/85)
In article <1106@hound.UUCP> rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) writes: >[] >the bag itself is about as thick as my head is wide. >... >The bag in between simulates the head. Is this a dynamic or a static simulation? |-) Peter B