cityscape recording Mics

[Guest]

Hi All,

I've just bought my tickets for a few weeks in Europe at the end of the year and being the type of guy I am, I'm looking at doing some recording of location sounds while I'm there.

I'm still debating exactly what format I'm going to record to and via what pre's etc.
I have decided to go with a MS recording however.

So my question is what do people recommend I check out for mics? Before everyone says schoeps I have a feeling they’re going to be out of my price range, I've used some before and would love to be able to do that but... I don't think I could do Europe and buy them. So a poor man schoeps or something else interesting. Keeping in mind that I'll be backpacking, I'm trying to keep to a minimal size and weight.

Thanks
Tony

[Jason Dirckze]

Have you considered ORTF? It's hard to start talking about MS without mentioning Schoeps. DPA still don't make a fig.8 AFAIK.

You could get a couple of those new Sennheiser 8000 series cardiods, a DPA ORTF holder that should fit in a small Rycote windjammer, get a furry for it too.

As far as recorders go, I've just used a Marantz PMD620, super compact, records to SD cards up to 24/48K. You'd need a small mixer though, but something like the Sound Devices Mix pre would be perfect. It would be a killer compact set up without breaking the bank too much. $500 for the recorder, $600 for the SD Mix pre (if you buy from the US), the most expensive part will be the mics. A step up from there would be a Sound Devices 702. Still compact, great quality.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a MS shotgun mic, as it would fit into my rig perfectly, but I barely get the time to go off on my down time to record atmos etc, or I'm too tired from doing the run n gun thing.

Good luck!

Jase

[Chinagraf]

Hi, I did a long trip throughout Asia some years back and did a lot of recording as I went. I used a sony TCD7 dat and some dynamics. Had it in a bumbag. I also had a smaller pair of mics that just hung out of the bumbag under my tshirt for incognito recording. The thing that I found really handy is that it was small and inconspicuous (spelling?) so it wasn't an issue setting up or making people suss on me etc. It was also good that it wasn't highly visible so I wasn't a target for muggers, although I did get mugged in Amsterdam, but that's another story all together.
It wasn't a specific recording trip, it was a holiday with a bit of recording whenever the opportunity arose, so I was glad I didn't have a big serious rig with me and I still got a lot of really good recordings with the dynamics.
I don't know if any of those hard disk recorders with the built in mics are any good, but I'd check those sort of things out if it's a holiday and you don't want the worry of losing any good gear in your travels. And don't forget insurance.
Cheeers

[Guest]

Thanks guys

After reading through and talking to a few other people the idea of Discrete recording does seem very appealing. I am meant to be on holiday so minimal gear would be good. I was surfing around and found this little rig

http://www.core-sound.com/Mic2496/1.php
http://www.core-sound.com/bk/1.php

Very different idea from my original concept. Recording with Binaural mic setup is something I've never tried but it would be very subtle compared to anything else. Has any one used these or similar setup? The pre does look a little like a toy which worries me a little however the idea of a pair of phantom powered pre's, battery powered, with a A-D converter, is very appealing. As far as the mics go I've used dpa 4060 many a time but not for field stuff.

So maybe something like this with something pocket sized for more direction stuff I find.

Jason- dpa don't make a fig 8 that I could fine otherwise that would be great. I haven't tried ORTF (had to look up the acronym).

China - getting mugged in Amsterdam just conjures up images from the movie 'euro trip'. Insurance is a good idea :-)