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Author Topic: Recorders  (Read 21531 times)

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eyore

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #30 on: July 12, 2008, 05:51:41 PM »

Yes, if you want to hear it regardless if it's the induction mic or ordinary mic you are using.
My minidisc recorder has a bar that shows the recording level but it isn't very accurate so, if the recorder will allow it, it's best to listen to it while recording (or, at least, to set the level).
Once you have set it, you wouldn't need to monitor it any more, would you?
I forgot the headphones last year and ended up with several LOUD and distorted recordings and trying to compensate, several very quiet ones :-[.
I rather like the idea of replacing the headphone speakers with mics to make a binaural recording mic though.
The separation (same as between ears) does make a difference from what I have heard of those here.
I don't think I can do that in time for this year though :(
Gosh, that's induction mic, stereo mic, binaural headphone mic, headphones, recorder, discs and recorder to pack (and battery pack if you make one).
I reckon you can pick out a Mousebits member by the size of their backpacks ;D
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kirky

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #31 on: July 12, 2008, 07:34:15 PM »

Yes, I would also highly suggest listening with real headphones to what you are recording, or like said, to set the levels.  Honestly though, once you set a few attractions, you probably figure out that the levels are for the most part the same between attractions.  At least for the live recordings.

I also suggest the battery box when doing live recordings.  It will give you a much broader range or sound levels before you start distorting.  If you want a little challenge, try recording Dinosaur without a battery box using a binaural microphone.  Chances are you'll distort like crazy at the end during the intense (and VERY LOUD) dinosaur roar.  You may also pick up some wind noise they pump in for effect.  I've gotten around the distortion by using the battery box (I actually set my levels and don't touch them the entire attraction) but still working on a decent wind screen for my home made mics.  I think part of the problem is lack of some shock absorber around the capsule and then of course over the pickup.  I've got an idea though!

I don't even attempt a live recording anymore without a battery box.  Check out my Magic Monday v2 Consolidated Release torrent if you want to hear some of my stereo recordings.  Listen to them with headphones on as well.  Those were all done with my home made mic and home made battery box.

Eyore, don't forget some sort of extension device, some glue dots, and elastic bands (green preferrably).  I think my next set of modifications will be to colorize my induction pickups (WHITE and GREEN).

What model recorder are you using?  The minidisc lineup is confusing as hell, so tips to others on the model might be useful. 
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SeaCastle

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #32 on: July 12, 2008, 08:58:07 PM »

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/GA-HDR2
^I'm looking in to this one. But for now I have the standard Radio Shack $99 one. And for right now I'm more focused on induction recordings than anything else. Thanks very, very, very, much for the tips.
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kirky

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #33 on: July 12, 2008, 09:03:29 PM »

I'd be curious to hear the quality of any recording you get.  That looks pretty sweet, and the price is nice!!!  I'm always looking for a spare device for recording.
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SeaCastle

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #34 on: July 12, 2008, 09:27:59 PM »

I'd be curious to hear the quality of any recording you get.  That looks pretty sweet, and the price is nice!!!  I'm always looking for a spare device for recording.

It's odd...when I bought my telephone pickups I bought two of them because I thought I needed them. It turns out that the recorders only have one mono mic input, but this one has two, left and right, so it would save me the trouble of copying over the channels, in theory. ;D
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eyore

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #35 on: July 12, 2008, 09:58:42 PM »

If you have two induction pickups - which are mono  (or  mono mics) and you just want the 2 channel recording, Radio Shack should have a little thing that could make less work. It's a Y connector  mono to stereo adapter (I presume they will have them in the US and elsewhere).
It takes 2 mono sources and inputs each one to the two channels so you get stereo (which is the same as having a stereo mic but no rewiring etc required (Oh boy, just had a vision of riding with one mic taped behind each ear making a binaural recording). It won't make an induction recording stereo as they are mono anyway, I think (unless there are any speakers with two inside the box - which I doubt)
They sell a similar adapter for just mono to stereo (use only one mic or pickup) and that splits the signal equally between the two channels - of course, not stereo.
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eyore

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #36 on: July 12, 2008, 10:39:58 PM »

<Snip>

What model recorder are you using?  The minidisc lineup is confusing as hell, so tips to others on the model might be useful. 

I have a Sharp MD-MT280E(S)
(picture attached- hopefully)
It's really small 3 1/2" x 3" x 1" and probably does a lot that I don't know about (I'm very poor at actually reading through manuals).
In the UK, the discs are getting hard to find now though!
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kirky

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Re: Recorders
« Reply #37 on: July 13, 2008, 12:30:16 AM »

Save a little cash, and the possibility of some unwanted static noise and forget about the mono to stereo Y cable thing.

For the most part, any induction recordings you will want to get are single speakers.  That means mono.  You can always copy the left channel to the right channel in post processing if you really insist on a stereo recording, however I'd save disk space and the trouble and just leave it mono.

There are only a few places where a stereo recording would really be necessary.  Places like Song of the Rainforest, Sounds Dangerous, maybe even the new Haunted Mansion.  I'm sure there are a few others.  Something like Dinosaur, well, you're not going to get to each of the speakers, some are actually shakers from what I understand, so a live recording is probably as good of a recording as you're going to get.  Especially since the on-board audio is already in circulation as source I believe.

Yeah, I haven't checked onminidisc here in a while either.  I should get a few boxes I think.  Maybe 20 or so, I usually don't like to delete what I record, but I think I might need to.  Who knows how long my RH-1 will last anyway.
« Last Edit: July 13, 2008, 01:04:11 AM by kirky »
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