Re: Mics for field recording

[kevin cooney <hideaway53@opendoor.com>]

Just a note on Andy's comment about Sony mics.

The "strange capsule arrangement" is probably an M/S configuration, which 
is
one of the more accurate ways to capture a stereo field -- at least from
what I understand. 

I have and older pistol shaped, three capsule M/S microphone from Sony that
I used for years with a Walkman Pro.  It was the best inexpensive (under
$200) mini-jack microphone I've ever heard, and made wonderful in the field
recordings.   Unfortunately it's not longer in the lineup.

I have been less impressed with some of the newer Sony mics coming out now.
They don't seem to have the sensitivity the old one did.  That said, for 
the
money they're useful for field recordings and interesting tools for live.

Sony has been in the microphone business since the late nineteen forties,
I'm sure that their competitors at Beyer and Sennheiser treat their
microphone expertise with due respect.

Best,
Kevin

on 8/24/01 6:35 AM, SoundFNR@aol.com at SoundFNR@aol.com wrote:

> Beware the Sony stereo mics.
> I've looked inside 3 of these.(and tried them out)
> Two of them had a really strange capsule arrangement, 2 cardiod 
>transducers
> pointing in opposite directions. That may be usable in some cases, but 
>will
> never give a 'proper' stereo image, and in fact is not one of the many
> 'officially accepted' set ups for stereo.
> One of those mics was fixable with a small file, a screwdriver, and some
> pliers. 
> The other was unchangable( an old dynamic job that only cost me a 
>tenner).
> The third mic had one transducer pointing forwards, and the other, (which
> would nominally be figure 8, but actually closely resembled the other
> capsule) was pointing sidewards. This was just an awful sounding mic, I 
>was
> offered it for free and declined.
> 
> These mics can sometimes be bought secondhand very cheaply, in which case
> they're probably worth it.
> But some of the list prices (and second hand prices) are just not worth 
>it.
> 
> I guess Sony just don't have the mic expertise.
> 
> If your going to spend a bit, get a Beyer or a Sennheiser, firms that 
>have
> been making good mics for years.
> 
> Disclaimer- I've heard some folks praise their particular Sony mic, and I
> haven't heard (or disassembled) them all.
> 
> On a budget(30 GBP), Studiospares do a lapel mounting stereo job which is
> actually very useable. (as long as you don't use the supplied battery 
>pack).
> 
> andy butler
>