Who can suggest a relatively inexpensive but OK quality-wise microphone for recording stuff live to MD or to a good portable tape deck?
I have an old Sony stereo condenser, but the dadgum thing won’t work.
Thanks.
Stuart
Rode NT3s work well for me. They’re Australian made so the exchange rate is in your favour compared to other comparable condenser mikes. Someone will probably recommend Shure '57s or '58s but my experience is that they’re great for stage (where you don’t want bleeding) and for recording really thumping or bellowing sounds—drum and screamy vocals—but not so hot for recording whistles.
Wombat is correct. We use Shure Beta 57’s in concert for all whistles. They work very well, but are lifeless in the studio. Wombat’s Rode NT3 is an excellent microphone, at a street price of around $150. A nice touch is to record using a modern version of what you you now have, a one point stereophonic mic. Recording with these at a distance of about 2 feet gives a nice full sound stage, something missing from a single mic. Manufacturers that come to mind are Sony and Audio-Technica. Contact Sweetwater at 1-800-222-4700. Speak to Morrison.
Radio Shack has a 2 point stereophonic mic at a low price.
Best.
Bill
I’m pretty sure Rode now have a stereo pair of mikes but, as I haven’t tried them, I’d better not comment. Other than to alert you to their existence of course.
It’s not studio quality but several folks make small mics designed for plugging into video cameras. They usually are self-powered with a watch battery and run about $30 or so. Radio Shack carries them, so does Circuit City.
The other option for MD that I use for concerts and lessons is a box with built in mics from soundprofessionals.com. With the battery power boost, I can get almost CD quality of concerts or rehearsals and it’s mostly foolproof. For folks with Sony MDs where you can’t change recording level while still recording, the optional volume control is handy.
On 2002-11-24 20:49, sturob wrote:
Who can suggest a relatively inexpensive but OK quality-wise microphone for recording stuff live to MD or to a good portable tape deck?I have an old Sony stereo condenser, but the dadgum thing won’t work.
Thanks.
Stuart
Define inexpensive… means very different things to different people. How much do you want to spend?
Richard
How much do I want to spend. That’s a toughie.
How’s this for an answer. I wasn’t terribly put off by the idea of spending $150 for a R0DE mike . . . but I was excited at the prospect of spending $30 for a not-so-bad mike.
So, $0<(what I’ll spend)<$151ish. 
Stuart
You can’t just plug a big Shure mic into a Minidisc player. It won’t fit the plug and it won’t be properly powered. Try http://www.minidisco.com for mics made specifically for use with mindisc recorders.
Best,
Chris
I am really happy with the Sony ECM-MS907, originally suggested by avanutria. Great bang for the buck, and perfect for mini disc or computer. Although usually listed at around $100, you can get it for $70 at etronics.com (when I bought it last month, I picked the slowest shipping, there was no charge for shipping and it arrived within 24 hours. Cool.)
The Sony Mike isn’t a bad mike for that application. If you want a general purpose mike, there are many good choices, but they depend on the sound you’re looking for.
I personally (in your price range) like the MXL 1006 (about $80 online), which is a large diaphragm Condensor. Some people hate this mike, but based upon results I quite like it. The MXL 2001P is also nice ($100).
The Rode recommended is a solid mike (don’t own one though have played with one); the inevitably-recommended SM57 or Beta 57 isn’t bad, but isn’t my first choice (would tend to agree with Wombat - good live mike, but doesn’t really capture the nuances of a whistle well). The next step up is (IMHO) an AKG C535EB, but they’re getting up there in price (around $240). Very “hard” sound, but a good reproduction nevertheless. I sometimes use it off-axis, plus an on-axis MXL and mix the results, which works very well. This may well be total overkil for you though.
Choosing mikes is like choosing whistles - ask ten people and you get ten opinions. My only thoughts are:
o Decide if you just want a mike for the Minidisc player or if you may end up using it more generally in a mixer or live (if you do, a mike with an XLR connector is better)
o Try and find a place where you can try the mikes - different mikes have different tonal palettes.
o Don’t fall for the more money = better recording trap. No point having a perfect mike that is limited by the rest of your gear.
Just my thoughts, hope this was some help.
Richard
The SONY 907 is a good mic for the money, but I really don’t think you want to spend that much. The RODE and the SHURE mics are great, but way too big for your purposes.
Go to Radio Shack and look at the electrets. Electrets are small, cheap and terrific-sounding! Radio Shack has a stereo electret for $30. It’s the 33-3028 (page 213 in the catalogue). The mono version is 33-3013 for $25. Those are “tie-tac” mics. For a good “pencil” mic turn the page for 33-3014. I use an older version of that one with my minidisc. Also check out the 33-3031, the “computer desktop” mic, which comes with its own stand. That’s the one I use at sessions.
And by the way - I’ll bet that your SONY condenser will work just fine IF YOU CHANGE THE BATTERY.
While you’re at Radio Shack, get a 274-372 (page 193), which is a right-angle mono/stereo mini plug. That way you don’t have a heavy mic plug dangling off the MD waiting to be broken off.
By the way, finding what you want at Circuit City will be a waste of time, unless your store is stocked differently than mine. (from mine?) They are clueless on portable recording mics. A great place to get home and portable Minidisc recorders, though.
I have been following this thread because I want a mic to plug into my computer. I currently use a Shure which goes into a 1/4 adapter, which goes into a dinky stereo adapter which then goes into this USB thing (like a hockey puck). All this because the G4s have great electronics but no traditional sound inputs like sound cards offer. its a clunky setup and the other Weekender hates trippin over the mic stand and cord-age.
Sounds like Bloomfields choice would work for just recording whistle for Forum pals etc??? Is that right? If I want to add guitar simultaneously, the website showed stereo ones with two. Any recommendations for those little ones on stands for the desk?
Hay Stuart,
I just did a intensive search for a mike on the internet yesterday and came up with the Sony ECM-MS907 too! I read good revues on internet. For $69 not a bad deal.
My Mom wants to know what I want for Christmas, and I don’t think she want to buy another whistle this year… Jon
P.S. Does anyone know how to upload to a computer from a MD-SR60 recorder?
Jon, I think you can’t upload: you have to record onto the computer. Use a male-to-male 1/8 inch cable.
'enders: I use the 907 with it’s own little stand for my computer, and also use iMic b/c i get better results than I do with the computer mic-in. I was in a recording studio and was talking to the sound engineer, he told me the 907 was a great mike. I’m just telling you, but know nothing, of course.
Oh, and I only lurk, anyway.
\
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-11-27 02:56 ]
And, hey, welcome Elliot!
Nice to have you.
Hi Folks,
This is slightly OT but it might be useful to anyone searching “Microphones” in the archives. Check out Lunasa’s website http://www.lunasa.ie On the promoters link they have details of their stage plan and required sound equipment, mic’s etc.
Cheers, Mac
On 2002-11-25 16:56, Bloomfield wrote:
I am really happy with the Sony ECM-MS907, originally suggested by avanutria. Great bang for the buck, and perfect for mini disc or computer. Although usually listed at around $100, you can get it for $70 at etronics.com (when I bought it last month, I picked the slowest shipping, there was no charge for shipping and it arrived within 24 hours. Cool.)http://www.etronics.com/search1.ASP?txtsearch=sony+907
Have your tried to use this mike with a microcassette recorder, if so how did it work.
I haven’t tried it. But I am sure it would work well. It was designed specifically for little digital gadgets like mini disk players (Ava uses it for hers and is very happy), but I see no reason why it shouldn’t do well on an analog recording device.
Thanks Bloo! Im asking Santa for one.
I usually just record with a cheap mic on a Karaoke-type mixing machine and ping-pong the tapes. If you don’t really care about studio-quality sound, this works just fine.
One thing you may want to do if you are recording to a computer and don’t have a DAT device is to input your mic into a combo amp, disconnect one of the speaker wires, run a cable from the preamp output to the computer, and turn up the volume. Unpowered mics do not have a strong enough output to be picked up by most sound editor software.