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[microsound] sound rig impressions and info
originally posted to the microsound list 3/30/06:
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after using the combination of the Archos 402 camcorder, the SP-
PREAMP-4 and a crap JVC stereo lav mic for a week in Mexico City on
a project I was working on here are some initial comments and
observations:
- the Archos 402 is a nice versatile device that can shoot mp4 video,
take stills and record audio with an internal mic (good for dictating
notes/ideas) or using an external preamp (see info below)
- the Otter case which is used to house both the Archos and the
preamp is very rugged and well made (see link below)
- make sure to order one with a clear lid so you can see what is
going on with your levels and such
- the only downside is that instant access to the preamp/Archos
controls is limited due to the snap shut lid on the Otter case which
means more handling in certain situations -- but then with 20G of
hard disc space you can just keep it recording without too much
tweaking...also, you can use the lid snap as a 'slate' of sorts...but
grabbing it out of the case and using for shooting video was not too
difficult so long as you had hands free and not carrying other bags
or things...
- the Archos 402 is a nice recorder...it stores everything in 44/16
wav files...if you need higher res (ala 96/24 or greater) then this
won't cut it for you but maybe an email to Archos could prompt higher
audio resolutions for firmware updates in the future?
- Archos will only record in stereo -- a mono mode would be very
handy and was requested by me thru the customer service feedback on
their site...not holding my breath but it would be a nice feature...
- the Archos battery lasts around 3 hours and was adequate for
morning and evening location recording outings with a recharge during
lunch...
- the SP-PREAMP-4 is very clean and makes some nice recordings...but:
- you need to set the gain (0, 29, and 50dB gain settings) and
levels (dual sliders -- which are post-preamp attenuators) so that
your levels are good for the duration of any recording session...i.e,
no clipping on very dynamic material...
- there is no limiting on either the preamp or the Archos -- but
then I never use limiting on field recordings
- no low-freq roll-off on the SP-PREAMP-4 model which would come
in handly for windy and rumble-prone locations -- I have exchanged my
preamp for a custom version that does include DIP switches for
various low-freq roll-offs
- no clip LED -- but my request for one will possibly become
future feature via a small daughter-board add-on which can - only -
be added to preamp customizations (in the Sound Professional product
pull down menus)
- the Otter 2000 series case is small enough to hide in a coat pocket
and allowed me to record street sounds without anyone noticing
- the JVC stereo mic I was using was crap but even so I was able to
get OK recordings -- although the spatial stereo quality was poor due
to the mic being a single-point mic...my new Auris stereo mic should
take care of that problem...
- best to buy a small camera sling bag that can fit under a coat or
jacket (see below) -- I haven't gotten the KATA bag yet so I can't
say how well the Otter case fits...but this way the PREAMP and Archos
won't get lifted by those deft pickpockets in Brussels like my wallet
had been a couple of years ago...
- make sure to get a right angle adapter if you have a mic with a
straight mini-plug -- this way the preamp will slip into a pocket
easier and without straining the mics mini-plug going into the preamp...
- I have taken to wearing the Auris mic attached to my collar -- I
drop the main line down my back and bring the two leads with the
elements to my collar and then clip them there -- the Auris and clips
becomes almost invisible against my black shirt and provides enough
of an acoustic body-shadow to give a slight 'binaural' effect...
- the Archos mounts as a hard drive in OS X and then files can be
dragged off onto a hard drive or opened using your favorite sound editor
- that's all I can think of for now -- my week in Mexico City
produced some really nice recordings -- too bad my Auris mic hadn't
arrived until I got back from Mexico...but all in all I like this set
up very much, its small, clandestine, and high quality suitable for
CD and film projects...
- more later once I've played with the Auris mic and gotten my new
preamp with the low-freq roll-off switches.
================================================
I got the Kata S312 sling bag today and the Sound Professionals SP-
SPSB-5 fits perfectly inside it...the Auris mic fits snugly in the
front pocket and there's even room for mobile phone and a slim wallet
in the other pockets...very nice!
=================================================
a couple of other criticisms on the Archos 402/SP-PREAMP-4 combo:
- the foam strips inside the Otter case hold the Archos in place when
the lid is shut but shift around after some use due to the glue
getting viscous in warm climates...I suggest getting some of that
gray spongy 'packaging material', cutting it to size and replacing
the 'weather stripping' type foam used by Sound Professionals...not
sure what type of glue to use for this but suggestions are
welcome...also, remember to add a small piece at the 'bottom' of the
unit since the strip provided by SP only keeps the 'top' of the
Archos firmly in place while leaving the bottom to flop around in the
case while carrying it...
- sticker/logo label on the lid of the case covers the dual fader
sliders so you can't see your fader positions 'at a glance'...I
removed this sticker so I could see my faders...made a big difference
when discreetly checking on levels while the case was in my coat
pocket...
- in/out labels are handwritten on the back of the black bottom part
of the Otter case next to the jacks in silver marker...I would
suggest replacing this with a white label with black text...the white
background is best in when reading in dark or dim situations where
you need to quickly see which jack to plug your mic/headphones into...
the nicest thing about the Archos402/SP-PREAMP-4 setup is the fact
that the Archos fits *inside* the Otter case - which also houses the
preamp keeping the entire kit small, light and easy to carry...
=================================================
Update 5/10/06:
SP-SPSB-5: I like the selectable low-freq roll-off DIP switches...one
thing I noticed was that on more than one occasion I accidentally
flipped the 1st switch on the left channel thus turning off that
channel which caused me to miss recording the beginning of some
events...
Auris mic: I've used the Auris stereo mic for a couple of months now
and while they're much better than the little JVC mic I was using
prior I have little to compare them to in terms of small diaphragm
electret condenser mic's...
I also was on a budget and looking for the best value for the money
and decided on the ReactiveSound Auris stereo mic which uses the
Panasonic WM-61 capsules...
that being said there are web pages that show you how to make your
own mic's -- here is one:
http://www.libinst.com/micassem.htm
and there are many others...Google should reveal them easily...
for enterprising DIY'ers who want to tackle rolling their own mics
here are some capsule suppliers:
http://www.jlielectronics.com/index.htm
http://www.primomic.de/index.php?con=5&en=1
http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/components/audio/aud_mic.htm
****************
mind you the suppliers above only sell in large quantities so you
might have to go thru a distributor such as:
hhttp://www.digikey.com/
http://www.mouser.com/
SUMMARY: while the Sound Professionals pre-amps are probably not as
high quality as the Sony HiMD's I find the Archos 20GB storage
capacity + SP-SPSB-5 in an Otter case gives me one of the best
stealth, portable solutions for location recording I have found...
=============================
INFO:
======
Archos GIGATRACKER:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-GIGATRACKER
all in one package -- but a little expensive at
$489.00 USD
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SP-PREAMP-4 (preamp without Archos402):
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-PREAMP-4
$199.00 USD
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SP-SPSB-5:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-SPSB-5
more expensive but then I really need a low-freq roll-off for certain
recording situations and was willing to spend the extra money for it
this model might also include a clipping LED feature in the future
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Archos 402 ON SALE -- [Rebate expires 03/31/2006]
http://www.compuplus.com/i-Archos-GMini-402-CAMCORDER-Pocket-
Multimedia-Center-500705-1005885~t-archos%20402-sid-43oe3f7p0396lq0-
track-searchViewed.html
http://tinyurl.com/hsyxa
$239.00 USD w/rebate
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Auris stereo mics:
http://www.reactivesounds.com/am2.php
(this is the stereo mic I now have but haven't used it on a serious
project yet...)
$119.00 USD
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Hosa 3.5mm Stereo Right Angle Adapter:
http://www.stsi.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv
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KATA S 312 Camera Sling Bag:
http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2006/GearNGadgets/March2006/Kata/
RDMGG_Kata312.htm
I bought this for $29.95 through
http://www.videodirect.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?
Screen=PROD&Product_Code=S312
although I look at it now and the price jumped up to $39.95 since
yesterday!
***just got word that ALL the KATA stuff had a price increase on the
video direct site effective March 30th
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***A great collection of links for DIY'ers and location recording
enthusiasts:
http://www.audiodiycentral.com/jpo-mics.shtml
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