Ambient microphone

S

sawlrafter

Carbonite Member
Hello guys,

I just purchased a nice Marantz PMD 201 Portable cassette recorder. I need it to record some ambient , and mainly outdoors sounds. However, can you recomend a good inexpensive microphone.
Thank you so much!

sal.
I
 
Want cheap cheap cheap cheap? Check out radio shacks omni lav mics. They will impress more than you would think. Personally if im recording ambient stuff its either a stereo mic like the AT825 or the Sony ECM-MS957 or an omni mixed with a cardioid or shotgun. Alternatively you could go mono and use a good shotgun mic. An omni like the AT8010 will give you a more "open" sound. As I said a proper mix between the omni and a directional mic will give the best results.
 
I've had a Shure VP-88 stereo mic (mid-side) for about 11 years now, and it has been my favorite for stereo field recording. It sounds great and it's uber-quiet.
 
I think the 825 is OK and very easy to use. I haven't heard the new one AT has, but I'm guessing it's better.

The VP88, btw, for me and some others, was also easy to use but noisier as you increased the side capsules to get a wider spread.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
tyreeford said:
The VP88, btw, for me and some others, was also easy to use but noisier as you increased the side capsules to get a wider spread.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I have never encountered noise from mine, even on the high spread. But I rarely run it on battery and use phantom instead.

Of course, the OP was also looking at a mic for a cassette recorder...
 
C2V

What's your real name anyway?

VP88: try it on yours. when you go wide, the gain on the smaller side capsule get turned up. Because those capsules are small, they have more selfnoise. That why the wide pattern is noisier.

I reviewed the VP88 along time back and I think the review is still up in my online archive. Nice mic, given its limitations.

CASSETTE! Oh, my. You're right! STOP THE PRESS. Ambi on a cassette. The VP 88 has XLR connectors.

Below from B&H. This is a MONO machine. Maybe the OP is trolling us.

Regards,

Ty Ford

The PMD201 is a small, light weight, mono two head cassette deck for a wide variety of professional speech applications, including reporting and journalism. The unit is equipped with a shoulder strap for maximum portability and the transport mechanism is equipped with a dual flywheel capstan to maintain stable tape speed while on the move. Accurate Pause and Cue/Review transport controls assist in locating recorded programme material.

Half-speed recording and playback capabilities enable extended recording with minimal loss of quality. Power for the PMD201 is provided by either conventional dry cells, or an optional rechargeable battery pack, with three alkaline D-cells providing 51/2 hours recording. Switchable, manual or automatic level settings include either optional limiter overload protection or Automatic Level Control, while Ambient Noise Control filtering provides higher intelligibility of speech frequencies with respect to background noise levels. A large VU meter provides high visibility and accurate signal level indication. Input is selectable between the internal condenser microphone and mic or line level external source (via RCA/phono connector).

Monitoring options from the PMD201 include an integrated speaker, headphone out (with separate level control), line level phono output, or external mini-jack speaker connection.

Key Features

• 2 Head, Mono
• Headphones out (6.3 mm/1/4" jack)
• Low battery LED indication
• Normal and half speed recording and playback
• Mini jack MIC input (3.5mm) i.s.o 6.3mm/1/4"
• Pitch control 20%
• Automatic and Manual record level (switchable)
• Cue and Review
• Ambient Noise Control
• Mono recording 6.3 mm/1/4" jack mic input
• Rec Level Limiter (switchable)
• Automatic record level
• Tape types I, II or IV (Fe, CrO2 or Metal)
• Microphone attenuation (0dB, -10dB, -20dB)
• Line out phono
• 2.5mm Remote Start/Stop jack
• Line in RCA/phono
• External Speaker Jack
• Built in condenser microphone
• Built in loudspeaker
• DA36T adaptor and Shoulder Strap included
• Volume and tone control
 
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