[studiorecorder] Re: Microphone recommendation

  • From: "Neal Ewers" <neal.ewers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <studiorecorder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:58:27 -0500

I will also put up a recording of the Shure Beta 58 A and the Sure sm 58. The
Beta is a hyper cardioid and the sm58 is a cardioid. I will not use the BP
however, because I don't have any cables that don't have the problems I have
alluded to.

Neal

-----Original Message-----
From: studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hamit Campos
Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2015 3:42 PM
To: studiorecorder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [studiorecorder] Re: Microphone recommendation

I'm one that would love to hear it please.

-----Original Message-----
From: studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kelly Pierce
Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2015 3:39 PM
To: studiorecorder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [studiorecorder] Re: Microphone recommendation

I bought my microphone from Bradley broadcast and Pro Audio. The Audio-Technica
AT8004 is one of their top selling microphones along with the Shures. At
online discounters, the microphone sells for $99 with no tax and free shipping.
Bradley broadcast sells mono XLR to mini cables along with the windscreens for
the AT8004. It is necessary to have a mono cable because the microphone is
stereo and the speaker will nearly always sound off center with a stereo cable.
The mono cable solves the unbalanced stereo problem. The microphone has
windscreens in I believe red, gray, white, orange, and green. I originally got
a gray windscreen for understatement, a professional look and not to freak out
the video guys who don t want distracting elements in their shot. I have since
obtained an orange windscreen to bring a little flair to the recording
experience and a white windscreen for an Apple and Steve Jobs look with the
black microphone.

If anyone wants to hear the recordings made with the AT804 on the BPP, let me
know on the list and I can post download links to this public audio. Folks can
hear for themselves how the microphone sounds with the cable from Bradley
Broadcast. Realize though that all of the recordings were made in large open
public spaces in front of audiences.

Kelly


On 4/18/15, Neal Ewers <neal.ewers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Or, if you want a cardioid microphone which will pick up less room
ambience, you could go with the Shure Beta 58A which I have and love.

The problem will be on any of these microphones to get the correct
cable to adapt from a XLR plug to a stereo or even mono mini jack. I
have looked high and low and have found cables, but when I use them,
there is always something slightly off in the bass response or some
other problem. It obviously can be done, but according to my research,
finding a cable like this already made which actually maintains the
same exact frequency of he original XLR is allusive.

Neal
-----Original Message-----
From: studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kelly Pierce
Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2015 7:00 AM
To: studiorecorder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [studiorecorder] Re: Microphone recommendation

About 10 years ago with the help of Tim Cummings in Boston, I became
an enthusiast of the Audio-Technica AT804 omnidirectional dynamic microphone.
It has great sensitivity and captures voices colorfully and in great
fullness. The microphone has been since discontinued and the AT8004
has replaced it. The major difference with the new model is that the
microphone is longer. It is a dynamic microphone so no power, battery
or amplifier is needed. The microphone is sensitive and can pick up
subtle changes in human voices. Given that it is more sensitive than
most other dynamic microphones, the AT804/8004 can be placed two to
three feet away from the speaker s mouth, avoiding capturing any
breathing or mouth noises. Even at this distance, the speaker s voice is
highly intimate and highly personal.

I have used this microphone with the BPP and the results have been
fantastic, given that I am recording in 16-bit audio with only 44.1k
samples. A couple of the recordings have been broadcast on radio with
the producer commenting on the quality of the recording. One of the
recordings I would not have made if it were not because of the
portability of the BPP. My other recorders are either somewhat fragile
or are bigger and heavier than the BPP. The microphone looks handsome
and it gains me instant respect with a politician s handlers.

As stated earlier, the internal microphone of the BPP has a distinct
noise floor. It is often not easy to bring any unit, including the
BPP, close to a speaker s mouth. People are more comfortable having a
microphone on a stand close to their face than having a recording unit
shoved at them. I have used the BPP internal microphone to record
classes and group experiences for the purposes of having a record of
the event and to take notes for a report or study. The recording was
for my personal use. The BPP was sitting on a table or hanging on my
neck. This was really convenient and much less intrusive than pulling
out a broadcast quality microphone with a long cord and working to get
good placement with a stand. I would not use the internal microphone
of the BPP to make recordings for future generations to be listened to
50 years or more in the future, as with historical interviews or oral
history recordings.

The microphone uses a XLR connection. It will be necessary to buy a
mono cable that is XLR on one end and has a mini plug on the other. I
would also recommend a windscreen.

Kelly





On 4/17/15, Neal Ewers <neal.ewers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the best internal
microphone. It is a bit noisy for my taste, when compared to even
things like the Edirol recorders, but if you are comparing it with
the other book players on the market, then yes, it is the best.

Can you get external microphones that are quieter? Yes, but the nice
thing about using the internal one is that you don't have to carry an
extra microphone around.



Neal





From: studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:studiorecorder-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Harry Brown
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2015 4:45 PM
To: studiorecorder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [studiorecorder] Re: Microphone recommendation



Hi Bryan,
I'm not rob, but you've got the best internal microphone in the world
of internal microphones on the bookport plus, and I would use the
internal microphone.
Harry

On 4/17/2015 12:23 PM, Bryan Bashin wrote:

Hi Rob and others,



A slightly off-topic question, but I hope you'll oblige. I have an
APH Bookport plus and want to use an external microphone for some
quality oral interviews. Might you suggest microphones which work
especially well with
the Bookport? Again, this will be for quality voice interviews in a
quiet
location.



Thanks so much,



Bryan

















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