sound on mini-disc at DVinfo.net

Patrick Coker · May 10th, 2002, 11:53 AM

Hey there people!
I am getting ready to film my first piece and I have to find an inexpensive way to do sound. Has anyone ever tried a mini disc recorder with a boom mike?

Don Palomaki · May 10th, 2002, 03:46 PM

Should work. I've used them with stand mounted mics. Will fit in the sound person's shirt pocket - no need for a large fanny pack recorder.

Patrick Coker · May 10th, 2002, 04:09 PM

thanks a lot Don. will let u know how it works out.

Don Palomaki · May 11th, 2002, 05:22 AM

If buying a minidisc recorder, check to see whether or not it gives the recording controls; e.g., level adjustment while recording and a VU meter of sorts, that you need. Check www.minidisc.org for more than you ever wanted to know about MiniDiscs.

Ford Minton · May 14th, 2002, 02:29 PM

Doesn't Mini Disc employ pretty serious compression as compared to DAT or using the XL1 onboard. I wonder if that compression would pose a concern as far as quality at some point during post?

Patrick Coker · May 14th, 2002, 04:37 PM

I don't know, I will have to check it out. I think I might just do both- thru the xl1s and mini disc, just in case.

Don Palomaki · May 14th, 2002, 07:42 PM

Very few people can hear the differnce between a MiniDISC copy (at 5:1 compression) and a CD original - it takes a very golden ear. MiniDISC is based of 44.1 k sample rate (vise 48 kHz for DAT) and 16-bit sampling followed by the 5:1 compresion.

It MiniDisc not as good as DAT, but it is more than adequate for most video purposes, short of very serious, professional music recording in a studio environment. And it costs a lot less!

There are professional MiniDISC recorders available as well, at corresponding price points.

Patrick Coker · May 14th, 2002, 08:16 PM

Do you know of a mike that works good with a mini disc recorder? this is for dialogue.

Steve Savanyu · May 15th, 2002, 07:52 AM

Audio Technica has a model AT822 Stereo (One-point) mic that is terminated with an 1/8" mini plug. The mic is powered by a AA battery. I have used this mic with a small Sony minidisc recorder for capturing voice overs and other sound in the field. Note, that if you decide to extend the cable that comes with the mic by using a standard XLRM-XLRF mic cord, don't go beyond 20' as the output of the AT 822 is not balanced.

For my Marantz PD650 Professional Minidisc recorder (It has XLR mic inputs), I use an AT825 stereo mic. This one has a five pin XLR connector that fans out to 2 regular 3 pin XLR's. This mic can operate on phantom power or an internal AA battery.

Hope this helps.

Don Palomaki · May 15th, 2002, 05:28 PM

In addition to the AT-822, check the Sony ECM-MS957 single point stereo for around $200 or the 907 for a lot less (and not as good a mic). The AT may be the better mic overall.

Patrick Coker · May 16th, 2002, 10:10 PM

So, I am using a Sony MZ-G750 mini disc recorder is that the best mike (the AT-822 )and is that recorder good enough or do I need to upgrade?

Steve Savanyu · May 17th, 2002, 06:56 AM

I don't know which Sony model that is. The AT-822 will work with most any device that uses an 1/8" stereo mic input jack. (Including the XL1s)

A good mic will always improve audio quality.

Cheers

Ford Minton · June 6th, 2002, 10:10 PM

sort of a related question.
When using a DAT or a Minidisc, would one use a field mixer like a Wendt X2?

see:
http://www.wendtinc.net/x2specs.htm

K. Forman · June 7th, 2002, 06:44 AM

Many of you have already heard about my Korg. It is a 12 track hard disk recorder, with a built in mixer, and accepts 1/4" or xlr mics. It has a 4 gig hd, which will hold like 18 hrs on one track at 44khz quality. I feed all of my audio into it, and use it in most situations. It does require power, so have some cords ready.

However, it will NOT fit in a pocket.
Keith

Patrick Coker · June 7th, 2002, 02:27 PM

how big is the korg?

May 10th, 2002, 11:53 AM	#1
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	sound on mini-disc Hey there people! I am getting ready to film my first piece and I have to find an inexpensive way to do sound. Has anyone ever tried a mini disc recorder with a boom mike? __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

May 10th, 2002, 04:09 PM	#3
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	thanks a lot Don. will let u know how it works out. __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

May 14th, 2002, 04:37 PM	#6
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	I don't know, I will have to check it out. I think I might just do both- thru the xl1s and mini disc, just in case. __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

May 14th, 2002, 08:16 PM	#8
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	Do you know of a mike that works good with a mini disc recorder? this is for dialogue. __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

May 15th, 2002, 07:52 AM	#9
Steve Savanyu Boss Hog Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hudson, Ohio Posts: 51	Audio Technica has a model AT822 Stereo (One-point) mic that is terminated with an 1/8" mini plug. The mic is powered by a AA battery. I have used this mic with a small Sony minidisc recorder for capturing voice overs and other sound in the field. Note, that if you decide to extend the cable that comes with the mic by using a standard XLRM-XLRF mic cord, don't go beyond 20' as the output of the AT 822 is not balanced. For my Marantz PD650 Professional Minidisc recorder (It has XLR mic inputs), I use an AT825 stereo mic. This one has a five pin XLR connector that fans out to 2 regular 3 pin XLR's. This mic can operate on phantom power or an internal AA battery. Hope this helps. __________________ "Film is Art; Theatre is Life; Television is Furniture!"

May 10th, 2002, 03:46 PM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Should work. I've used them with stand mounted mics. Will fit in the sound person's shirt pocket - no need for a large fanny pack recorder.

May 11th, 2002, 05:22 AM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	If buying a minidisc recorder, check to see whether or not it gives the recording controls; e.g., level adjustment while recording and a VU meter of sorts, that you need. Check www.minidisc.org for more than you ever wanted to know about MiniDiscs.

May 14th, 2002, 02:29 PM	#5
Ford Minton Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San francisco Posts: 54	Doesn't Mini Disc employ pretty serious compression as compared to DAT or using the XL1 onboard. I wonder if that compression would pose a concern as far as quality at some point during post?

May 14th, 2002, 07:42 PM	#7
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Very few people can hear the differnce between a MiniDISC copy (at 5:1 compression) and a CD original - it takes a very golden ear. MiniDISC is based of 44.1 k sample rate (vise 48 kHz for DAT) and 16-bit sampling followed by the 5:1 compresion. It MiniDisc not as good as DAT, but it is more than adequate for most video purposes, short of very serious, professional music recording in a studio environment. And it costs a lot less! There are professional MiniDISC recorders available as well, at corresponding price points.

May 15th, 2002, 05:28 PM	#10
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	In addition to the AT-822, check the Sony ECM-MS957 single point stereo for around $200 or the 907 for a lot less (and not as good a mic). The AT may be the better mic overall.

May 16th, 2002, 10:10 PM	#11
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	So, I am using a Sony MZ-G750 mini disc recorder is that the best mike (the AT-822 )and is that recorder good enough or do I need to upgrade? __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

May 17th, 2002, 06:56 AM	#12
Steve Savanyu Boss Hog Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hudson, Ohio Posts: 51	I don't know which Sony model that is. The AT-822 will work with most any device that uses an 1/8" stereo mic input jack. (Including the XL1s) A good mic will always improve audio quality. Cheers __________________ "Film is Art; Theatre is Life; Television is Furniture!"

June 6th, 2002, 10:10 PM	#13
Ford Minton Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San francisco Posts: 54	sort of a related question. When using a DAT or a Minidisc, would one use a field mixer like a Wendt X2? see: http://www.wendtinc.net/x2specs.htm

June 7th, 2002, 06:44 AM	#14
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Many of you have already heard about my Korg. It is a 12 track hard disk recorder, with a built in mixer, and accepts 1/4" or xlr mics. It has a 4 gig hd, which will hold like 18 hrs on one track at 44khz quality. I feed all of my audio into it, and use it in most situations. It does require power, so have some cords ready. However, it will NOT fit in a pocket. Keith

June 7th, 2002, 02:27 PM	#15
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	how big is the korg? __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!