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#1
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
Describes a project, how to use a computer for an audio server.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/te...l?ref=business |
#2
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Hi nice topic you have going there!
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#3
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
Made a number of superb recordings using my iBook laptop/Audacity.
Only stopped using it because I graduated to first the Korg MR-1 and then the MR-1000. and I now record in 2.8 MHz DSD (not so many things to remember when getting set up to record). Interesting - I see the MR-1000 is now discontinued though. Any recommendations as to what you'd consider if purchasing a field recorder now? The Zoom H4N seems to be getting good reviews for example. Rob --- Rob Tweed Company: M/Gateway Developments Ltd Registered in England: No 3220901 Registered Office: 58 Francis Road,Ashford, Kent TN23 7UR Web-site: http://www.mgateway.com Twitter: @rtweed |
#4
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
On Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:15:12 -0700, Rob Tweed wrote
(in article ): Made a number of superb recordings using my iBook laptop/Audacity. Only stopped using it because I graduated to first the Korg MR-1 and then the MR-1000. and I now record in 2.8 MHz DSD (not so many things to remember when getting set up to record). Interesting - I see the MR-1000 is now discontinued though. Any recommendations as to what you'd consider if purchasing a field recorder now? The Zoom H4N seems to be getting good reviews for example. As I understand it the MR-1000 is still available. It's the MR-1 that has been discontinued - in fact, it's been replaced by the MR-2 which is smaller, lighter, less fragile and about $200 (list) cheaper than the MR-1. But, according to Korg's website there are still MR-1s available. I have been told, (even though I have no direct experience with it) that the MR-2 sounds better than the MR-1. If that's true, great, but the main advantage would be (to me) that the hard-drive has been replaced by SDHD cards. A much better idea for a number of reasons. I have a H4N. I use it as a back-up recorder. I thinks the recordings sound fine, but the build quality of the Zoom products seems chintzy to me and they only do 24/96 while the Korgs do DSD as well as 24/96 and 24/192 and with the included Korg "Audiogate" software, one can convert the DSD recording to any PCM format you want from 24/192 all the way down to MP3. I'd definitely look at the Korg MR-2 over the Zoom H4N were I you. http://www.korg.com/mr2 |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
On Jul 14, 1:05=A0am, Audio Empire wrote:
On Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:15:12 -0700, Rob Tweed wrote (in article ): Made a number of superb recordings using my iBook laptop/Audacity. Only stopped using it because I graduated to first the Korg MR-1 and t= hen the MR-1000. and I now record in 2.8 MHz DSD (not so many things to rememb= er when getting set up to record). Interesting - I see the MR-1000 is now discontinued though. =A0Any recommendations as to what you'd consider if purchasing a field recorder now? =A0The Zoom H4N seems to be getting good reviews for example. As I understand it the MR-1000 is still available. It's the MR-1 that has been discontinued - in fact, it's been replaced by the MR-2 which is smal= ler, lighter, less fragile and about $200 (list) cheaper than the MR-1. But, according to Korg's website there are still MR-1s available. =A0I have be= en told, (even though I have no direct experience with it) that the MR-2 sou= nds better than the MR-1. If that's true, great, but the main advantage would= be (to me) that the hard-drive has been replaced by SDHD cards. A much bette= r idea for a number of reasons. I have a H4N. I use it as a back-up recorder. I thinks the recordings sou= nd fine, but the build quality of the Zoom products seems chintzy to me and = they only do 24/96 while the Korgs do DSD as well as 24/96 and 24/192 and with= the included Korg "Audiogate" software, one can convert the DSD recording to = any PCM format you want from 24/192 all the way down to MP3. I'd definitely look at the Korg MR-2 over the Zoom H4N were I you. http://www.korg.com/mr2 Many thanks for the advice and info! Unfortunately, from searching around, it really does seem that you can't get the MR-1000 any more in the UK, at least not new. The MR2 is about twice the cost of the H4N, and lacks the extra pair of XLR inputs + phantom power for alternative/ additional mics. I guess I'd need to decide if the benefit of DSD was really worth it - at this point I'm not convinced it would be, at least for me - the H4N looks like a very nice and flexible package for the money, albeit as you say, somewhat chintzy. I wonder if I could ask some further advice/recommendations? For general purpose high quality stereo pair recording, what mics would you recommend these days? I've been considering a matched pair of Rode NT5 or NT55 mics. And would the mic pre-amps built into the H4N be reasonable to use, or alternatively I have a small Behringer Xenyx mixer - would its mic pre- amps be better? Rob |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
"rtweed" wrote in message
... The MR2 is about twice the cost of the H4N, and lacks the extra pair of XLR inputs + phantom power for alternative/ additional mics. I guess I'd need to decide if the benefit of DSD was really worth it - at this point I'm not convinced it would be, at least for me - the H4N looks like a very nice and flexible package for the money, albeit as you say, somewhat chintzy. I have a friend who teaches an audio production class that makes heavy use of H4Ns for student lab projects. He's had good results and good reliability of the H4N. I wonder if I could ask some further advice/recommendations? For general purpose high quality stereo pair recording, what mics would you recommend these days? I've been considering a matched pair of Rode NT5 or NT55 mics. I do a lot of coincident pair recordings with a Rode NT4 which is just a repackaged pair of NT5s. It is IMO just fine. And would the mic pre-amps built into the H4N be reasonable to use, or alternatively I have a small Behringer Xenyx mixer - would its mic pre- amps be better? The H4N and the Xenyx mic inputs are probably pretty comparable - they might even use the same chips. The H4N lacks the mixer circuitry, so it has the advantage of a simpler signal path. |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
On Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:54:02 -0700, rtweed wrote
(in article ): On Jul 14, 1:05=A0am, Audio Empire wrote: On Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:15:12 -0700, Rob Tweed wrote (in article ): Made a number of superb recordings using my iBook laptop/Audacity. Only stopped using it because I graduated to first the Korg MR-1 and then the MR-1000. and I now record in 2.8 MHz DSD (not so many things to remember when getting set up to record). Interesting - I see the MR-1000 is now discontinued though. Any recommendations as to what you'd consider if purchasing a field recorder now? =A0The Zoom H4N seems to be getting good reviews for example. As I understand it the MR-1000 is still available. It's the MR-1 that has been discontinued - in fact, it's been replaced by the MR-2 which is smaller, lighter, less fragile and about $200 (list) cheaper than the MR-1. But, according to Korg's website there are still MR-1s available. I have been told, (even though I have no direct experience with it) that the MR-2 sounds better than the MR-1. If that's true, great, but the main advantage would be (to me) that the hard-drive has been replaced by SDHD cards. A much better idea for a number of reasons. I have a H4N. I use it as a back-up recorder. I thinks the recordings sound fine, but the build quality of the Zoom products seems chintzy to me and they only do 24/96 while the Korgs do DSD as well as 24/96 and 24/192 and with the included Korg "Audiogate" software, one can convert the DSD recording to any PCM format you want from 24/192 all the way down to MP3. I'd definitely look at the Korg MR-2 over the Zoom H4N were I you. http://www.korg.com/mr2 Many thanks for the advice and info! Unfortunately, from searching around, it really does seem that you can't get the MR-1000 any more in the UK, at least not new. What about the MR-2000, the rack version of the MR-1000, is it still available in the UK? The MR2 is about twice the cost of the H4N, and lacks the extra pair of XLR inputs + phantom power for alternative/ additional mics. I guess I'd need to decide if the benefit of DSD was really worth it - at this point I'm not convinced it would be, at least for me - the H4N looks like a very nice and flexible package for the money, albeit as you say, somewhat chintzy. I wonder if I could ask some further advice/recommendations? For general purpose high quality stereo pair recording, what mics would you recommend these days? I've been considering a matched pair of Rode NT5 or NT55 mics. Either the NT-5M or the NT-55M would be an excellent choice, though pricy. Here in the US a matched pair (M) of these mikes is over $400. Have you looked at the Behringer C-4s? A a matched pair of those costs less than $100 here in the States and I think that for the money, they can't be beat. They are comparable in specs to the Rode mikes you mention. But, if you have your heart set on the Rodes, go for it, they are an excellent choice. (BTW, for general purpose mikes, the NT-55M would be the better of the two, as the NT-5N seems to be made rather specifically for a drum-kit. Don't know what the differences are but the fact that Rode recommends the NT-55 for GP recording, and both models are similar in price, you'll probably be better off with the matched pair of 55s. And would the mic pre-amps built into the H4N be reasonable to use, or alternatively I have a small Behringer Xenyx mixer - would its mic pre- amps be better? Absolutely, The Behringer Xenyx mike amps are FAR better than the HN4. The HN4 is OK using it's line inputs , but I find the mike amps to be a bit noisy and more than a little colored. By the way, I have a lot of Behringer gear including two mixers. Their stuff seem well made (for the money) and is excellent sounding. The Xenyx mike preamps are quiet, have lots of adjustable gain, and sound superb. You could make a pro-quality recording with any of them, release it to the world, and nobody would be able to tell that you used an inexpensive mixer. I've played with a lot of the Chinese condenser mikes available these days and most are excellent for their price. My favorite, at the moment, is the Aventone CK-40 - http://avantoneaudio.com//ck40.htm It is a "copy" of the famous (and heart achingly expensive) Telefunken ELA M 270 stereo mike where the two capsules are situated one atop the other and the top one will rotate with respect to the body of the microphone (and the lower capsule) through ~180 degrees. Both capsules are very big (35 mm in diameter) and and are switchable in pattern from cardioid to omni or figure-of-eight. I use mine in both X-Y and M-S pattern and get great results. The main advantage that the CK-40 has over its Telefunken "cousin" (other than price) is that the latter is tube, and the CK-40 is FET (which I prefer). The bass I get from the Aventone CK-40 has to be heard to be believed! I also have a pair of Behringer B-2pros, a pair of Behringer C-4s, a pair of SM Pro Audio C01s a Pair of Sony C37Ps, and a pair of Sony C22 electrets. I I use them all and all the time. I've had the Sonys for more than 30 years, and while I don't use them as much as I do the others, I still do use them. (the C37's sound a little "coloured" to my ears compared to the more modern Chinese mikes and are definitely noisier). |
#8
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
On Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:04:44 -0700, Arny Krueger wrote
(in article ): "rtweed" wrote in message ... The MR2 is about twice the cost of the H4N, and lacks the extra pair of XLR inputs + phantom power for alternative/ additional mics. I guess I'd need to decide if the benefit of DSD was really worth it - at this point I'm not convinced it would be, at least for me - the H4N looks like a very nice and flexible package for the money, albeit as you say, somewhat chintzy. I have a friend who teaches an audio production class that makes heavy use of H4Ns for student lab projects. He's had good results and good reliability of the H4N. I wonder if I could ask some further advice/recommendations? For general purpose high quality stereo pair recording, what mics would you recommend these days? I've been considering a matched pair of Rode NT5 or NT55 mics. I do a lot of coincident pair recordings with a Rode NT4 which is just a repackaged pair of NT5s. It is IMO just fine. And would the mic pre-amps built into the H4N be reasonable to use, or alternatively I have a small Behringer Xenyx mixer - would its mic pre- amps be better? The H4N and the Xenyx mic inputs are probably pretty comparable Actually they aren't comparable. The Xenyx preamps are much quieter and sound better. I wouldn't use the H4N with a ribbon mike, but the the Behringer Xenyx preamps work fine with the old stereo ribbon B&O "Beomike" I have. - they might even use the same chips. The H4N lacks the mixer circuitry, so it has the advantage of a simpler signal path. I've used the H4N alone with just a pair of condensers plugged into it and it's OK; a little noisy, perhaps, and not as "clean" sounding as a recording made on the H4N through it's high-level inputs. |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
Well I'm going to take your advice so I've ordered a pair of the
Behringer C4s - at that price they're certainly worth a try, and I can always go for the Rodes at a later date. I too have several Behringer items - the Xenyx mixer I mentioned before and an A500 power amp which I've been very pleased with. I've also ordered an H4N. So it will be interesting to compare this new combo with recordings I've previously made using a standard laptop + Audacity + Emu 0404USB and a pair of trusty vintage Calrec CM652 mics ( http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/calrec,_some_old_favorites.htm ) BTW that Aventone CK40 looks very interesting but almost impossible to find in the UK. Other Aventone mics are more readily available, interestingly enough from a dealer who is just down the road from me: http://www.micsdirect.com/avantone.htm Have you tried any of them out and/or any comments about them? Rob |
#10
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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Low Cost and Hi-Fi: Building a Player
On Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:00:34 -0700, rtweed wrote
(in article ): Well I'm going to take your advice so I've ordered a pair of the Behringer C4s - at that price they're certainly worth a try, and I can always go for the Rodes at a later date. I too have several Behringer items - the Xenyx mixer I mentioned before and an A500 power amp which I've been very pleased with. I've also ordered an H4N. So it will be interesting to compare this new combo with recordings I've previously made using a standard laptop + Audacity + Emu 0404USB and a pair of trusty vintage Calrec CM652 mics ( http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/calrec,_some_old_favorites.htm ) BTW that Aventone CK40 looks very interesting but almost impossible to find in the UK. Other Aventone mics are more readily available, interestingly enough from a dealer who is just down the road from me: http://www.micsdirect.com/avantone.htm Have you tried any of them out and/or any comments about them? Rob Unfortunately, the CK-40 is the only Aventone mike model that I have seen, let alone used. |
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