Who knows Sound? Audio Technica AT831b Lav mics + Fostex FR-2LE?

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Story1kanobw

Member
Anyone ever try the Audio Technica AT831b lav mic set. In the youtube examples, voices sounded electrical, not natural. But I'm going to test them connected by XLR cables to my Fostex FR-2LE audio field recorder. Would the connection to the field recorder make a difference in the quality of sound?

*The mics retail for $297 each. They're on craigslist for sale at $100 each. Anyone know of good lav mics (natural sound) at a comparable price? I also know that I won't be able to balance sound on my fostex (could do it in post), so I might also get the Shure FP2 field mixer - allows 4 channels as opposed to the Fostex 2 channel.*

Anyone familiar with the Shure FP2 field mixer? These are the specs I got off the craigslist ad for the lav mics, just in case it makes sense to anyone (feel free to skip over it).*


Five (5) Audio Technica AT831b Microphones - Excellent Condition - Complete in cases - ***$100.00 each*** (Suggested retail - $279.00 ea.)

An integral 80 Hz high-pass filter provides easy switching from a flat frequency response to a low-end roll-off. It operates on battery or phantom power.*

Clip-on lavalier mic also excels in acoustic guitar applications*
Provides crisp, full-sounding voice and instrument pickup*
Operates on battery or phantom power*
6' (1.8 m) cable permanently attached to mic, TA3F connector at power module*


SPECIFICATIONS*
ELEMENT Fixed-charge back plate, permanently polarized condenser*
POLAR PATTERN Cardioid*
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 40-18,000 Hz*
LOW FREQUENCY ROLL-OFF 80 Hz, 18 dB/octave*
OPEN CIRCUIT SENSITIVITY Phantom: -44 dB (6.3 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa*
Battery: -46 dB (5.0 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa*
IMPEDANCE Phantom: 200 ohms*
Battery: 270 ohms*
MAXIMUM INPUT SOUND LEVEL Phantom: 135 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.*
Battery: 121 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.*
DYNAMIC RANGE (typical) Phantom: 106 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL*
Battery: 92 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL*
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO 65 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa*
PHANTOM POWER REQUIREMENTS 11-52V DC, 2 mA typical*
BATTERY TYPE 1.5V AA/UM3*
BATTERY CURRENT / LIFE 0.4 mA / 1200 hours typical (alkaline)*
SWITCH Off, on-flat, on-roll-off*
WEIGHT (MICROPHONE) 0.1 oz (2.8 g)*
WEIGHT (POWER MODULE) 4.9 oz (139 g)*
DIMENSIONS (MICROPHONE) 0.98" (25.0 mm) long,*
0.40" (10.2 mm) diameter*
DIMENSIONS (POWER MODULE) 3.31" (84.0 mm) H x*
2.48" (63.0 mm) W x*
0.87" (22.0 mm) D*
OUTPUT CONNECTOR (POWER MODULE) Integral 3-pin XLRM-type*
CABLE 6' (1.8 m) long (permanently attached to microphone), 0.10" (2.6 mm) diameter, 2-conductor, shielded cable with TA3F-type connector*
 
Story1,

Experience over equipment will always trump. If you have a decent audio guy on set, they will make the difference. Not the gear. Hand 50 grand worth of gear to someone who does not know how to use it properly.....the end result won't be any better than a high school Youtube 3 min video.

I understand what you are asking. But it's like asking "I bought these groceries.....can I make a dish that a Five Star chef would be proud of?" The answer will always be a qualified yes, if you know how to properly prepare the dish. A master chef can work wonders with Spam, a novice chef can mess up boiling water.

Audio ain't any different than that. Let's talk about how you are going to use the equipment in question. What experience do you have in audio?

Keep in mind "gear-magic" is purely a myth. It's how you use the gear that really makes the difference.
 
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Oh, and just an FYI, anytime I see this:
Five (5) Audio Technica AT831b Microphones - Excellent Condition - Complete in cases - ***$100.00 each*** (Suggested retail - $279.00 ea.)
Click to expand...
I have the tendency to turn around and walk away. Usually something that discounted in audio is either counterfeit or a scam, unless I know the seller personally.
 
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