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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2007 17:54:36 GMT
I want to start doing a bit of very basic home recording, I intend to use a zoom PS02 palm top that I have owned for a few years but have hardly had out of the box. I need some advice on mikes. My local shop advised me that a superlux condenser mike at around £65 would be an excellent buy BUT it needs ghost power and so would not be suited to the PS02. The Shure 57 (75? I cant remember which) was also highly recommended. This apparently will work.
I can change my recorder if I want but do I need to do so? The recording that I want to do is purely for personal use, mainly so that I can monitor my playing, although I hope to take off a little further from there.
Any comments or tips please gentlemen ( and of course ladies)
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Post by Bill Stig on Jun 16, 2007 20:11:49 GMT
Hi tommo, I do not know the Zoom PSO2, but I know that the PSO4 has a built in mic, which works well. A Sure SM57 or SM58 would be ideal for the job and can also double up as a stage mic. Your Zoom recorder will be fine for personal use. My brother in law has a zoom and has had pretty good results.
Bill
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2007 20:28:41 GMT
Bill
Thanks for the response, the PS02 is a great little bit of kit although now about 4 or 5 years out of date, it is Zooms 4 track digital with the usual whistles and bells attached, I have however found the in built mike a little remote for recording acoustic, can you explain ghost power to me, I assume that is something akin to being powered by the recorder rather than an external source but would appreciate your wisdom. What about the difference between condenser mikes, ribbons and the rest, I assume from your response that for my purpose it wouldn't make any difference?
Tommo
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Post by Bill Stig on Jun 17, 2007 11:53:09 GMT
Hi Tommo, Phantom or "ghost" power is usually sourced from a mixing desk or mic preamp. A mic preamp is something that brings your mic up to a working level for your recorder or the power amps on a PA - your Zoom will have a built in preamp but obviously doesn't have phantom power. This is used to power condenser mics and some DI boxes. You can buy boxes that will supply phantom power. A condenser mic is very sensitive and has a higher frequency response than a dynamic mic such as the SM57 and therefore, in theory, more accurate. More expensive condensers are very good but there are a lot of cheap Chinese made makes around that probably won't sound as good as an SM57. Some condenser mics such as the AKG C1000 will work with a battery but are quite bulky. It is important to take into account the poler pattern of a condenser mic: directional - good rejection of other sound sources but prone to increase of bass when used close up. omni directional - more natural sound, but can sound bad when used in a bad sounding room. Figure of Eight - good sound rejection from the sides ( even better than directional) which is good for recording and singing, stopping the vocal spill entering the guitar mic . Dynamic or moving coil mics, require no phantom power and don't have the high frequencies that condensers possess. However, they do work within a very usable band and have a sound that is suitable for most purposes. Many top engineers use SM57s for electric and acoustic guitars and are very popular for micing drums. SM58s are primarily used as stage vocal mics, a little warmer sounding and not quite as directional as a 57 ( although they are still directional), however I often still use them on guitars over the more traditional SM57. Ribbon mics are very good, ,but very expensive and very fragile. They don't require phantom power and, unlike dynamic mics, can even be destroyed if phantom power is accidentally left on. Ribbon mics are currently making a bit of a come back - the Russian manufacturer Oktavia make an affordable one that's had some good reviews. I don't think, however, they would be suitable as they need a lot of gain from the preamp which I doubt if your Zoom could supply without a lot of noise. I've tried to keep this as basic as possible. There are plenty of books out about home recording for the beginner and I also suggest you have a look at the Sound on Sound web site - there's tons of info there: www.soundonsound.com/Hope this helps. Bill
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2007 16:22:10 GMT
Thanks Bill
Thats the first time that I have actually understood a little about the differences, I shall go for the 57 and see how we get on from there, I will also have a look for a suitable "Home recording for idiot level" and see what I can learn there as well.
Cheers
Pete
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Post by robn on Jun 17, 2007 17:55:37 GMT
Hi Pete, Get a little pre-amp if you are going to get an SM57. Something like this will do the job www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-100-pr/8400You possibly wont need one for you Zoom PS02 but you will for most impedance matching applications with an SM57, to get the best results from the mic. I've got a couple of those cheap Tube Ultragains - they are very flexible. Another great bit of kit that is FREE is Audacity home recording software. audacity.sourceforge.net/ It's pretty intuitive to use. You can multi-track and download to MP3 (you need another free bit of software to do that - the link is on the Audacity web site). You can also upload MP3 to Audacity. So you could upload from your Zoom and edit the tracks as well as store them on your PC. SM57 + pre-amp and some cables is less than £130. If you have a laptop or PC you can download Audacity and you have a very cheap home recording system! The bottom clip on my MySpace site (Classical Lap Steel) was recorded in my living room with an SM57 - Tube Ultragain - plugged into standard laptop sound card and recorded on Audacity. profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=137882556Robn
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2007 20:28:22 GMT
Robn
Thanks for your input, I can't see why your other half makes you go down to the sea front to play, it sounds great to me..
I think that I will go with the shure mic. and see how far I want to develop my recording sound and technique, I may decide to change my recording device as well. At the moment I only play blues and ragtime finger style using a Martin OM35 and a couple of other acoustics but I am currently in the market for something metalic, I am deciding whether to go with one of Pete Woodmans Regal upgrades or to try an Amistar, whichever option I go for I still want to record so the question will remain regarding mic's. Its certainly looking like the shure will get the nod.
REgards]
Pete
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