Field recording mics

So, I'm interested in going out to record noises of subways and AC compressors, and whatnot. I have a decent portable mini-disc recorder which I think will do just fine for recording things, but I don't have any mics that'll do the job.

I'm looking for a small, portable mic. Nothing like an SM58 with XLR, nothing that needs a preamp. Maybe battery powered? Stereo would be nice. The minidisc has 1/8" in. I do not have much money.

I saw vsnares using this one, in a rig which would be remarkably similar to mine, if I had the same minidisc recorder. What is this mic? Is it expensive?

  Dr. Elemeno von Hat X: PhD said:

So, I'm interested in going out to record noises of subways and AC compressors, and whatnot. I have a decent portable mini-disc recorder which I think will do just fine for recording things, but I don't have any mics that'll do the job.

 

I'm looking for a small, portable mic. Nothing like an SM58 with XLR, nothing that needs a preamp. Maybe battery powered? Stereo would be nice. The minidisc has 1/8" in. I do not have much money.

 

I saw vsnares using this one, in a rig which would be remarkably similar to mine, if I had the same minidisc recorder. What is this mic? Is it expensive?

if you want a good quality but cheap mic that has an 1/8th inch connection.... The best one ive found for the money is the Stereo Sony ECM-MS907. I bought two of them on ebay the other month for $70 each. They make look kind of weak but they are capable of some very high quality recordings. All of the sounds and field recordings on my Lying on the Floor album were done with this microphone. IMO there isnt much point in getting a great or more expensive mic (than this one) with a minidisc recorder due to the mp3-like compression used upon recording. It requires one AA battery instead of a preamp. If you think you want something better i can also recommend but i think in that case you're going to want to get a portable flash marantz

recorder.

edit: just saw that vsnares picture, that mic is probably the crappiest stereo mic ive laid my hands on. you can find em at almost any audio store including Best Buy. Im sure you can easily buy one try it out and if it sucks get full cash refund. If i were you i'd try that first if you are low on funds, if not definitly b uy the ECM-MS907.

ECM-MS907 -

Sony used to do some nice mics for field recording. In fact I'm sure there used to be a stereo jobby specifically for MDs. Can't remember the model number though.

Edit: you beat me to it with a more informed reply

im not absolutely sure but i think aaron is holding this - |

or it could be this

both are very low quality. Sony makes a $160 version of the top one, but i cannot vouch for it.

thanks guys.

the minidisc uses compression? i thought that was only netMD, which mine doesn't do.

audio technica AT825

all minidiscs use some sort of space saving compression. Newer ones have gotten better sounding but on top of the mp3-like compression a lot of new minidiscs have an auto limiter/dynamic compressor built on so you can never overdrive. I have used ones where you cannot turn this feature off making most recordings sound like a squashed piece of shit (regardless of the lossy mp3 like filtering)

oh, totally, i hate that limiter/compressor with a passion. i already have it off.

i know i can record at a lower quality onto my minidiscs, but i thought i had the quality cranked? i get 80 minutes to an 80 minute minidisc, etc.

  Dr. Elemeno von Hat X: PhD said:

oh, totally, i hate that limiter/compressor with a passion. i already have it off.

 

i know i can record at a lower quality onto my minidiscs, but i thought i had the quality cranked? i get 80 minutes to an 80 minute minidisc, etc.

the quality of newer minidisc recorders is quite good, when i got my first one (in like 1997) it sounded very much like a 128 kbps MP3. Recording anything with a lot of noise content (waterfalls, cars driving by, ocean waves) sounded like absolute asshole. I think by now the technology is much improved and part of the concept of Gescom minidisc was to explore and push the boundries of the ATRAC (or is it atac) compression scheme. All minidiscs are compressed using that format as far as i know, if something has changed i am an old fart who isnt keeping updated on things