How Best to Mic Big Meeting Using PMD660?

[bittersweet]

I'm new to audio recording and podcasting so please forgive my ignorance. I recently purchased a PMD660 to record lectures at a college.

I've got a new challenge, how best to record a round table discussion featuring a prominent speaker and a group of 15-20 students seated around a table. The sound quality must be broadcast quality since we will offer the recording as a podcast on our Web site.

Planned Mic Set-Up For Meeting
I'm envisioning recording in stereo with the mic set up to include a wireless lavalier mic for the speaker annd conference grabber or boundary microphones placed around the table to record the conversation. What is the recording quality like for boundary mics (are there any samples available on the Web?)

Questions
(1) What set-up would you recommend using and are there any specific mics you'd recommend? My budget is limited (<$200), so I would likly purchase if the mics are inexpensive or rent from Audio/visual rental place.

(2) I've seen that there are kits that allow you to convert a PMD660's two xlr inputs from two to four inputs. Where would I get such a kit.

[Steve Pinder]

It will be good to give the main speaker their own mic, but the rest of the group needs to be positioned around a couple of condenser mics that will pic up a pin drop. Hang them from overhead. unless you can provide everyone with a clip-on of their own. ( not likely )
Also, you need to tell them not to talk over each other or have sub conversations while someone else is speaking. If you establish these rules with them first, the chances of having a good recording is better.

When we are in a group of people and everyone is speaking, our brains are able to knock out the background noise to pay closer attention to the one we are focusing on. There is a name for this phenomenon, but I can't remember it. The audio industry and scientist have tried to create software that can duplicate this, but have only been able to come up with a cheap immitation of it.
That's the key to a good group discussion.

I have done a lot of these and they were really bad at first, until I studied this and learned some tricks.


Hope this helped.

Steve Pinder
www.karatekast.com

[roadrageradio]

I'm new to audio recording and podcasting so please forgive my ignorance. I recently purchased a PMD660 to record lectures at a college.

I've got a new challenge, how best to record a round table discussion featuring a prominent speaker and a group of 15-20 students seated around a table. The sound quality must be broadcast quality since we will offer the recording as a podcast on our Web site.

Planned Mic Set-Up For Meeting
I'm envisioning recording in stereo with the mic set up to include a wireless lavalier mic for the speaker annd conference grabber or boundary microphones placed around the table to record the conversation. What is the recording quality like for boundary mics (are there any samples available on the Web?)

Questions
(1) What set-up would you recommend using and are there any specific mics you'd recommend? My budget is limited (<$200), so I would likly purchase if the mics are inexpensive or rent from Audio/visual rental place.

(2) I've seen that there are kits that allow you to convert a PMD660's two xlr inputs from two to four inputs. Where would I get such a kit.

Whew! Broadcast quality for under $200. I don't think so.

Miking a room with 20 people, any of whom might speak, is not a job for an amateur. You might get by with a couple of boundary mics on the table, and one mic for the speaker, but I'd be more comfortable if you could try it out before the big day.

The best way to make four mics fit into two channels is to use a mixer, which you could get for under $100. I would pan the boundary mics one Left and the other Right, and put the speaker's mic dead center.

I think that setup would cost around $350 for fairly good equipment, over $1000 for broadcast quality.

[WyethDigital]

Planned Mic Set-Up For Meeting
I'm envisioning recording in stereo with the mic set up to include a wireless lavalier mic for the speaker annd conference grabber or boundary microphones placed around the table to record the conversation. What is the recording quality like for boundary mics (are there any samples available on the Web?)

Questions
(1) What set-up would you recommend using and are there any specific mics you'd recommend? My budget is limited (<$200), so I would likly purchase if the mics are inexpensive or rent from Audio/visual rental place.

(2) I've seen that there are kits that allow you to convert a PMD660's two xlr inputs from two to four inputs. Where would I get such a kit.

Rent. Rent, rent , rent, rent! Rent! Can't say it enough. There is no way that you are going to get "broadcast quality" sound with a couple of boundary mics and a lav. Rent a mixer, a snake (for the mics), condensors, and stands. You'll still likely spend more than $200 on rentals, but for a one-off project, it beats buying.

Another thing would be to look into your college's Com-Arts program. There might be students looking for projects, or instructors looking for unique assignments. Also, look into your community/campus radio station or TV station (if you have them). There are always tons of untapped resources at colleges! You just have to know where to look, what to ask, and who to ask!

Eric