Tech: MINI DISK MICS

Subject: Mini Disk Mics
From: selby
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 01:15 PM

My son for his second anual pilgramage to Durham for the Folkworks Summer School has bought himself a minidisc recorder, he now needs a Mic having been around York today we can't seem to find one. Where can we get one? which is a good one? Keith

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: selby
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 01:16 PM

I didn't mean to shout I forgot caps lock was on :-o Keith

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 01:33 PM

I love my MD recorder... But I have no experience plugging a mic into it... I mostly run it "line out" from the soundboard at gigs...

But I'm sure ghosting around Sonys website, or the... hang on a sec... I got a good link I think...

*sounds of shuffling paper*

Ya... try Minidisc.Org especially the gear pages... I'd imagine there's some good leads there!

;-)

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 02:05 PM

I have a Sony ECM-DS70P mic which works fine, but it wasn't cheap. You normally need a mic that will take power from the MiniDisc unit (plug-in power). It depends on what sort of quality you're looking for.

The main problem of recording from an audience is that you're picking up everything, comments from people around you, or an excellent recording of them eating crisps! If you can get a line out that's great, or get your mic as close to sound source as you can.

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From:
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 02:51 PM

I currently use a Sony - ECM-S5. We have discussed Microphones and recorders a few times. A search through the Forum will turn up some information:
Here's a few of those threads

Purchasing a Mini-Recorder
Omnidirectional Microphones
Help: Omnidirectional Microphones
Let's Talk Micrphones

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: GUEST,P Bellamy
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 02:57 PM

I bought a very good (and cheap) stereo mike for my mini disk player from (I seem to recall) J Birkett, 1 The Strait, Lincoln telephone no. 01522 520767. They do deliver and the mike is a tie-clip type but is very clear and receptive. I believe it cost around £25.It would be worth giving them a call.

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: IvanB
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 04:36 PM

I use a Sony ECM-MS907 and I like it, but it's fairly expensive and, I think, overkill for most situations where I use the recorder. Les has it right re: getting great recordings of conversations going on around you or people eating, crumpling wrappers, etc. One nice thing about the ECM-MS907 is that it has two settings, one for 90 degree coverage and one for 120. If I can get close enough to the performer(s) and use the 90 degree setting, I can usually cut out much of the extraneous sound. But I still mainly use the recorder to record music that I'd like to learn for myself, so the quality only needs be good enough for me to get the tune.

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: Ferrara
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 04:41 PM

George S, thank you thank you for the list of earlier threads! I have been looking for them, couldn't get the thread search to work and recently was considering starting a thread just to ask for those links!!! *four smiles*

Have to go read them all, before I can ask any of the questions that are in my mind....

Rita F

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: treewind
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 06:20 PM

The Sony mic is good for stereo and a bit overkill price-wise.

You can get cheap stereo electret mics for about a tenner at the sort of shop or market stall that sells cheap electronic goods and they should work pretty well. Don't expect great stereo separation!

If you want real underkill and cheap, don't mind mono and are handy with a soldering iron, get an electret mic insert from Maplin or similar components supplier, a couple of feet of screened cable and a stereo 3.5mm jack plug and connect the signal pin of the mic to both L and R (tip and ring) on the jack and ground to ground via screen.

Total cost about 3 pounds.

Brilliant for recording live sessions and concerts, and if you put the MD recorder into mono record mode it will do 2.5 hours on one disc. I have made several. (a couple for myself, others for friends)

Anahata

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From:
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 08:27 PM

You're quite welcome. There are others. What I supplied is only a small portion of what is available.

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 11:57 PM

You should be able to order on on line from the Sony Store at www.sony.com

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 04:45 AM

I have a cheap stereo electret mic which cost about £20 from Henry's Radio in Edgeware Rd, London. It's a tie-clip mike, but I've made a stand/holder from a telescopic arial which is useful in sessions where I want it higher up or nearer the performer. I get fairly good quality and separation from it.

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: Mikey joe
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 05:10 AM

I highly recommend the Vvance lapel stereo microphone courtesy of www.richersounds.com or any of there high street stores. At £30 you can't really go wrong.

Mj

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 05:37 AM

We use a Vivanco stereo typeclip microphone (sorry, I can't remember to model at present). We have used it at home for recording, and in singarounds. It is not directional, but it's response is excellent (perhaps even too good sometimes). Cost £30 - £40.

Brian

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: selby
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 02:05 PM

To guest P Bellamy we took your advice the mic arrived today we are highly satisfied thank you. To anyone that is intrested in a mic for a minidisc this one is ace and cheap Keith

Subject: RE: Help: MINI DISK MICS
From: John Routledge
Date: 22 Jul 02 - 02:18 PM

Another happy purchaser (last week) of a Vivanco EM216 - From either Richer Sounds for £29.95p or John Lewis Parnership for £29.75p.

It is Omni-directional Tie clip type with a mono/stereo switch.