Field Setups

[Seth]

Hi there, I need some help with a purchase I plan on making. I need to get a cheap (under 200 bucks) audio rig together for field recording. I'm more concerned with environmental sounds here, and not so much about my voice. A mic/recorder setup that is optimized for recording an environment is key. Is the iRiver good for this sort of thing or am I barking up the wrong tree? What kind of mic would you guys recommend? I would love to use the gear I purchase for both my podcast soundseeing tours and sound production for my films... thanks!

[audiocollective]

The iRivers are great for the price. The may not be good for film because they are not timecoded but most stuff in that price range wont be. There are a few good mics out there but really depends on the type you want. Some you can clip on to yourself and others you have to hold. We use this one (http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-BMC-2) and some people really like these (http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-stereo1.htm).
When you get your soundseeing tour up we can feature it on our page http://soundseeing.audiocollective.net. You can also find more info about soundseeing and a lot of really great tours.
good luck,
-dave

[Steev]

Here is an audio test (http://podcast.spine.cx/2005/MicTest.mp3) with my iRiver IFP-799 (http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/700/ifp_799.aspx) and a $40 mic from Radio Shack (http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=MeetingMicrophones&product=3319124). You be the judge.

[audiocollective]

Here is an audio test (http://podcast.spine.cx/2005/MicTest.mp3) with my iRiver IFP-799 (http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/700/ifp_799.aspx) and a $40 mic from Radio Shack (http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=MeetingMicrophones&product=3319124). You be the judge.

Dang! that mic is hot. Is it stereo? sounds good for something from the shack!

[Steev]

No, it's just mono. Everything records on the left channel, and the right channel is left completely silent. I just make it a mono track with Audacity later.

[Seth]

The iRivers are great for the price. The may not be good for film because they are not timecoded but most stuff in that price range wont be. There are a few good mics out there but really depends on the type you want. Some you can clip on to yourself and others you have to hold. We use this one and some people really like these.

As it happens, I was actually considering the squid labs stereo mics with an iRiver T30. For the film work, this rig would be a secondary system devoted solely to collecting environmental sounds and folly work (we would not be concerned with sync sound dialogue here). For soundseeing, again I would be using it primarily to render a good stereo "image" of a particular place. Of the two mics you suggested, what in your estimation would be the best mic for the job(s) I describe?

[jbisjim]

Just got my giant squid mics good mics
Darren does a good job

[Seth]

Another question: Can you adjust gain levels with the iRiver? It was a feature that the older minidiscs had so I assume the iRivers wouldn't tout the voice recording feature without giving the capability of adjusting input.

[Steev]

Yep. There is gain setting, as well as the ability to change from external mic level input to line level input. Each has a seperate gain setting.

[SFEley]

No, it's just mono. Everything records on the left channel, and the right channel is left completely silent. I just make it a mono track with Audacity later.
That's just a bit of iRiver weirdness. Mono mics with ordinary jacks don't seem to be properly detected as mono, so it assumes they're stereo and only records to one channel. I understand that a few enterprising people have made custom jacks to deal with this, although I don't know the wiring specs myself. Or you could just get a stereo mic, or convert later as you did.

[tsidock]

Radio shack should have these adapters, if not, they are available online for less than $5. While it would be a simple DIY project, I would not be inclined to make one to save $5 and I live in solderland.

Tom