Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)
I need some help in choosing some recording gear for my uses. Correct
me if I'm wrong but it all boils down to three things when buying
recording gear:
1. what your budget is, 2. what type of music you are recording and 3.
the level of portablility desired.
As far as that is concerned here are my requirements:
1. My budget is 1000 $ to 1500$ for stereo/binaural mics and a mic
preamp/a-d converter (to be used with NJB3 or laptop). The NJB3 will
see much more frequent use due to its portability.
2. I am recording almost exclusively classical singing. Venues ranging
from a practice room with piano to a full 2000 seat house with
orchestra. The audio quality must be good enough to make acceptable
demo CDs, yet not necessarily be full-out professional.
3. I need good portability because of frequent rehearsals and voice
lessons (about 5-6 times a week). I record my own shows about twice a
month, which is the frequency at which I am performing at this time.
I have a few questions (ok, maybe quite a few) for you guys. Don't be
scared to get too technical with me. I don't own anything fancy yet,
but I have been doing my homework!
I was thinking of getting a really good preamp/d-a converter that might
have the option of P48. I don't think I'll be using a NJB3 for ever
but I think that the preamp might last me longer. Along with the mic,
isn't that the component that would make a significant difference?
I've seen the apogee minime and grace v3 they look interesting but are
a little too expensive for my almost everyday use (and therefore a
problem in ease of use and portability) in lessons and rehearsals.
Would the Denecke pre/a-d or mic2496 be a better choice? Does they
cause problems when their signals are truncated from 20 or 24 bit to 16
bits, or is it just a reduction in quality and dynamic range?
Or maybe I'm totally off track and I would be ok just using the line
input on the NJB3. I've looked at the pre-mic combos sold on ebay from
visivox technologies and church audio. It's a totally different price
range and I'm not sure that they have the flexibility needed to adapt
to the huge dynamic range of classical music and opera. I was looking
at the reactive sounds boost box which has total gain control, instead
of level control on top of gain pads (which are found on most low-end
portable preamps). It's kind of a headache.
As for mics, what would you reccomend? I really like the design of the
rode NT-4 because it gives me the option to switch from 9v to p48. I
like having the option of doing recordings with my laptop and P48 for
superior results when needed.
Binaurals are also interesting. Some of the ones that caught my eye
are the Mic Madness 'sennheiser driven' in-ear binaurals or the sound
pros in-ear binaurals. There's an ocean of possibilities and it's
driving me slightly crazy. I'm looking for anything between 150$ to
500$. Would it be worth it to consider the strong bias of the 300khz
to 6000khz of singing formants in choosing a mic? As long as it's
worth the money and that it sounds better than my sony ms907 plugged
into my minidisc (which has stopped recording lately, thank god) I'll
be happy.
Thanks in advance for your greatly needed input.
Pascal Charbonneau
I need some help in choosing some recording gear for my uses. Correct
me if I'm wrong but it all boils down to three things when buying
recording gear:
1. what your budget is, 2. what type of music you are recording and 3.
the level of portablility desired.
As far as that is concerned here are my requirements:
1. My budget is 1000 $ to 1500$ for stereo/binaural mics and a mic
preamp/a-d converter (to be used with NJB3 or laptop). The NJB3 will
see much more frequent use due to its portability.
2. I am recording almost exclusively classical singing. Venues ranging
from a practice room with piano to a full 2000 seat house with
orchestra. The audio quality must be good enough to make acceptable
demo CDs, yet not necessarily be full-out professional.
3. I need good portability because of frequent rehearsals and voice
lessons (about 5-6 times a week). I record my own shows about twice a
month, which is the frequency at which I am performing at this time.
I have a few questions (ok, maybe quite a few) for you guys. Don't be
scared to get too technical with me. I don't own anything fancy yet,
but I have been doing my homework!
I was thinking of getting a really good preamp/d-a converter that might
have the option of P48. I don't think I'll be using a NJB3 for ever
but I think that the preamp might last me longer. Along with the mic,
isn't that the component that would make a significant difference?
I've seen the apogee minime and grace v3 they look interesting but are
a little too expensive for my almost everyday use (and therefore a
problem in ease of use and portability) in lessons and rehearsals.
Would the Denecke pre/a-d or mic2496 be a better choice? Does they
cause problems when their signals are truncated from 20 or 24 bit to 16
bits, or is it just a reduction in quality and dynamic range?
Or maybe I'm totally off track and I would be ok just using the line
input on the NJB3. I've looked at the pre-mic combos sold on ebay from
visivox technologies and church audio. It's a totally different price
range and I'm not sure that they have the flexibility needed to adapt
to the huge dynamic range of classical music and opera. I was looking
at the reactive sounds boost box which has total gain control, instead
of level control on top of gain pads (which are found on most low-end
portable preamps). It's kind of a headache.
As for mics, what would you reccomend? I really like the design of the
rode NT-4 because it gives me the option to switch from 9v to p48. I
like having the option of doing recordings with my laptop and P48 for
superior results when needed.
Binaurals are also interesting. Some of the ones that caught my eye
are the Mic Madness 'sennheiser driven' in-ear binaurals or the sound
pros in-ear binaurals. There's an ocean of possibilities and it's
driving me slightly crazy. I'm looking for anything between 150$ to
500$. Would it be worth it to consider the strong bias of the 300khz
to 6000khz of singing formants in choosing a mic? As long as it's
worth the money and that it sounds better than my sony ms907 plugged
into my minidisc (which has stopped recording lately, thank god) I'll
be happy.
Thanks in advance for your greatly needed input.
Pascal Charbonneau
/www.stealthmicrophones.com
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