Which Giant Squid Mic?

[Skydive Radio]

I just purchased an iRiver ifp-799 for field recording. I see many people here are using the Giant Squid mic's with the iRiver and I have decided to buy one but I dont know if I should get the omnidirectional or the cardioid. Will I pick up more background noice with the omnidirectional? Anyone have experience with both? Thanks.

[BrianGentry]

I only have the stereo omni lavs, but I'll add just a little something:

First, they are pretty sensitive and pick up a lot of background sounds. Sitting in a living room with the TV playing quietly, and two of us talking, the mics picked up all of the TV sounds and the other things going on around us. It wasn't horrible and didn't spoil the recording, but it demonstrates that, even in a sort of quiet environment, you are going to pick up those sounds.

Second, I noticed when playing with the mics in a quiet area that, even though they are omnis, the tone of a person's voice changes quite a bit from straight on into the mics, as compared to it clipped to a shirt lapel. As you'd expect, the high frequencies get attenuated a bit and of course the level drops.

Again, these mics sound pretty nice, even on the lapel. They just don't sound like a full sized condenser set up at the proper distance. No one ever claimed they would either: Just adding another data point.

Brian.

[audiocollective]

if you are trying to do a soundseeing tour then get the omni mics but if you are trying to have a quiet mobil setup then get the cardioid. I really like the omni mics because they give the recording more character but i am a big fan of soundseeing tours! I got these mics http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-TFB-2 and im going to be testing them out this weekend.