Subject:Record in the field equipment suggestions?

Posted by: Zaax

Date:12/15/2005 3:52:15 AM

I would like to do recordings of environmental sounds in stereo with a laptop in the field with Sound Forge Studio.

Can anyone out there make suggestions as to what equipment (microphones, etc) would work well for under $200.00?

I know that my question is kind of vague but I am just now starting to investigate this.

Thanks
Zack S

Subject:RE: Record in the field equipment suggestions

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:12/15/2005 6:59:07 AM

$200 may be a bit unrealistic unless you want to go very low end. Your laptop's audio input is most likely a mono mic in. You'll probably need an external mixer connected to the USB port. There are some cheap ones starting in the $150 to $200 range, but they're not great. Then you'll need mics and cables on top of that.

Subject:RE: Record in the field equipment suggestions

Reply by: Zaax

Date:12/15/2005 7:41:21 AM

I have been curious about the mic input. Of course the manual says nothing in the specs.

How about the $350 range? Can you suggest a PCM audio card, microphone and cables?

Thanks
Zack S

Subject:RE: Record in the field equipment suggestions

Reply by: metrazol

Date:12/15/2005 11:16:20 AM

$350 is a little better... but won't get you past an interface for the laptop.
I recommend you just straight out buy or rent a location sound package. If it's just one or two days, rental is affordable. Maybe a nice field recorder like the PD4 or PD6, or even one of the real simple ones. Toss in a mic for an extra $25 a day, comes with cables and a charged battery no less!
Even buying an inexpensive recorder could be an option. You'll get better quality than off the laptop's sound card for a lot less money. Sony's older MiniDisc walkmen work really well, haven't played with the new NetMD ones. For a couple hundred dollars, you'd be set with a recorder, another couple for a mic, and voila!

Subject:RE: Record in the field equipment suggestions

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:12/15/2005 1:44:54 PM

I'd suggest a 2 channel USB A/D ( USB-powered) with mic pre's, and a quality SDC mic or two. If stereo cardiod desired, then the RODE NT4 is up there somewhere, and runs fine off internal 9V battery.

For natural sound maybe omni patten mics would sound better (the NT5 now has alternate capsules available, and then the is Earthworks and a host of other brands popular for that sort of aplication.

M-Audio , Presonus, and many others, up to Apogee at the higher end have appropriate converter devices.

geoff

Subject:RE: Record in the field equipment suggestions

Reply by: pemagnet

Date:12/23/2005 9:54:34 AM

I'm gonna get crucified for saying this but I would suggest you try out a pair of the Nady SCM900 mics (cheap chinese LDC condensor). Musicians Friend is selling them for $39 each (no mic clip included unfortunately) right now and they may work really well for you. Add to that a dual XLR input USB interface (with phantom power) as suggested previously and you may have exactly what you need for under $200.