Need iRiver IFP specs to get stereo mike to work??

[Dreadful Snake Guy]

Does anyone know the ifp-795's external mike jack's input impedance and/or sensitivity? iRiver site does not have it. Problem - bought Sony ECM-719 (yes - new battery in it, in ext mike mode and recording volume way up) and it is WAY LOW volume. I want to get smart and buy a mike that actually matches the input characteristics if possible. I have seen forum success stories of this mike with iRiv HD models but not IFP series. As a second try, what small stereo mike have you used with a new IFP? Anyone tried these Sony's: the little ECM-CS10, or ECM-MS907? Help pls - going to Telluride Bluegrass Festival and need to nail this mobile set up verrry soon. Poop on iriver for not publishing this spec on their site. (Wonder where I put the manual?) Thanks tribe!

[shepdave]

Hey, Guy,
don't want to insult your intelligence here...if I do, please flame me back (in a nice way).

Did you check your Control setting to make sure you were switched to External Mic and not Line In?

I think we've emailed about this before, and you probably did change the setting correctly. Therefore I'm really interested in seeing people's responses to your impedance problem with this mic. (Since I'm shopping for a stereo mic for the iFP 790.)

But I've forgotten to re-set that setting at least three times before myself, so I just mention it diffidently.

Love the reggae show!

Dave

[Dreadful Snake Guy]

(yes - in ext mike mode and recording volume way up)
Flame on. see above quote. iRiver is in external mike mode. I have used a cheap RadioShack lav mike successfully (remember the SFO soundseeing?) so the new element here is the fancy sony mike as far as i can tell. Thx for the try.

[shepdave]

(yes - in ext mike mode and recording volume way up)
Oops. Read more carefully, Dave.

Since I'm trying to do the same thing as Guy (get a decent stereo mic for an iRiver flash recorder), I'm eager to see what people say.

Dave

[Craig]

The ECM-MS907 works fine. Its impedance is 1 kohm and its output level is -56 dB whereas the ECM-719 is 1.5 kohm/-47 dB. I'm not sure what's causing the compatibility issue, but it's worth noting that on Sony's web site the ECM-719 is only listed as being compatible with 2 Sony recorders, whereas the ECM-MS907 is listed as being compatible with 23.

Have you considered going with stereo lavaliers? Check out the models (and recording samples) at http://www.soundprofessionals.com

BTW, you can download the iRiver manual from iRiver's site at the support page.

Craig

[audiocollective]

I would test the Sony mic out on another recording device. It sounds like the mic might be defective. That is the only explanation I can think of. There have been a few incidences where iRivers didn’t record probably but that is just what happens sometimes. If you return it and get a new one it should work.

[TINKOFF RADIO]

You can hear the ECM-MS907 and the iRiver 899 on my travel podcasts from Barcelona. Living proof that this works and sounds pretty good.

Shows 9-11

http://www.tinkoff.com

I've had this mic for about 4 years and it's rock solid. Still works like a champ after all my years of travel abuse. I orginally bought it for mini-disc and I'm glad that it's still a useful tool in my bag of tricks...

Adam Tinkoff

[Dreadful Snake Guy]

The ECM-MS907 works fine. Its impedance is 1 kohm and its output level is -56 dB whereas the ECM-719 is 1.5 kohm/-47 dB.

Here's my new theory whch if true says that the ECM-MS907 will not work well for me and gives us all some guidance on picking a mike for the iRiver's. The theory is that the key number is the "open circuit sensitivity" or "effective output level" as sony calls it. Whatever, it is a negative db number in the 40s or fifties. The bigger the number, the louder the mike is. Since the num is negative, -40 is bigger (and mike is louder) than -50. got it? OK.

The Sony ECM-719's rating is -46db. When I set my Audacity input level on my PC or the ext mike line-in volume control on the iRiver so that my reliable but cheap $11.99 radioshack lav mike (33-3026) worked fine, the ECM-719 sounded like a whisper 10 feet away. If that is the story with a -46db mike, I dont want to try a -56db mike like Craig's ECM-MS907. How does Tinkoff get his to work with iRiv 899? I dunno - must have a better mike pre-amp than my iRiv ifp-799

So what am I doing? Well, just got back form the post office returning the ECM-719 to Buy.com. I just ordered from Sound Professionals a set of SP-BMC-3 stereo lavs. see: http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=SP-BMC-3&type=store&template=specifications
They are rated at -42db. Not much different? remember that every 3 db doubles the energy roughly (as i recall from an ancient EE degree). BUT - to go beyond this - for $10 bucks extra (which they waived for me due to a 'circumstance') they have a high sensitivity model at -36db which should do for any situation but upfront at a metal show.

So stay tuned for a report - i should get it all in 3 or 4 days. Flame me gently tribe if you are verrry audio-hip and find my theory garbage.

[Craig]

The ECM-MS907 works fine. Its impedance is 1 kohm and its output level is -56 dB whereas the ECM-719 is 1.5 kohm/-47 dB.
Here's my new theory whch if true says that the ECM-MS907 will not work well for me and gives us all some guidance on picking a mike for the iRiver's. The theory is that the key number is the "open circuit sensitivity" or "effective output level" as sony calls it. Whatever, it is a negative db number in the 40s or fifties. The bigger the number, the louder the mike is. Since the num is negative, -40 is bigger (and mike is louder) than -50. got it? OK.
While it's true that with all else equal a mic with an output level of -47dB should be louder than a mic with an output level of -56dB, there's obviously more than that going on here because, as I stated, the ECM-MS907 works just fine with my iFP-795 and many other podcasters' iRivers.

I suspect the ECM-719's switchable power source feature is at fault here. If you read the mic's specs you'll notice that it can run off the internal battery or external power. My guess is that it's switching to external power with the iRiver and the iRiver is not providing enough power for it.

Also, every 10dB doubles the perceived sound volume.

Craig

[Dreadful Snake Guy]

OK so I finally settled on some mikes - but some advice from y'all might save me weeks o messing around. Using ifp-795 and SP-BMC-3 stereo lav mikes. Just got the mikes - quality seems very good. Can someone give me a scenario or two on what you record, distance from mike, 'rule-of-thumb' recording level on the iRiver. Example - acoustic guitar and voice, 4 feet away, iriv rec vol at 40 (made that up). Ifp 795 volume goes from 0-64.

[Craig]

There is no rule of thumb...it's going to vary depending on the sound source you're recording. Even an acoustic guitar and voice at 4 feet away can differ depending on the person playing. Your best bet is to monitor the sound quality with in-ear earbuds while setting the recording level. Turn up the level until your hear distortion at the loudest level you'll be recording at and then back the level down again by 5 or so to allow some headroom. For best results, check some waveforms from test recordings on your computer to get the hang out it.

Craig