From: Jeff Maggard 12-Apr-1993 1431 <jgm@packet.net>
Subject: DAT-Heads Microphone FAQ; Date: Mon, 12 Apr 93 11:33:26 PDT

D A T - H E A D S
F R E Q U E N T L Y - A S K E D - Q U E S T I O N S
* M I C R O P H O N E - E D I T I O N *
10 March 93 -- First Release

I N T R O D U C T I O N

This is a collection of information of potential interest to users of microphones, especially those who use them to record live musical performances. The information was contributed by the users of the DAT-Heads mailing list. The questions are listed below. You might find it convenient to search on a question number in parenthesis to find a specific answer.

N O T I C E

Copyright 1993 by Jeff Maggard on behalf of all of the contributors. All rights reserved.

This report may be copied by any means, as long as the following requirements are met: <1> The report is always copied in whole, unchanged, and with this notice; <2> The report is not sold commercially or used for financial gain in any way.

D I S C L A I M E R S

(1) The contributors are not responsible in any way for their contributions. (2) The contributors' employers have nothing to do with the contributions. In particular, the contributors and their employers are not liable for any consequences arising from use or misuse of the information contained herein. The contributors make no guarantee that the information contained herein is correct. (3) Vendor names and prices are included here for reference only. This is done without the vendor's permission. Prices are approximate, actual price must be established by the vendor.

F E E D B A C K

Each answer is followed by the author's initials in square brackets. Authors are listed at the end of this report. If you would like to comment on a contribution, email to the contributor or to DAT-Heads mailing list. If you have a question, email it to DAT-Heads mailing list. If you would like to contribute a question *AND* answer, email it to (jgm@packet.net).

Q U E S T I O N S

General:

{1} What are some of the techniques for stereo microphone placement? What is "MS," "XY," "AB," "coincident pair," "ORTF," etc.?
{2} What's all the hubbub over MS mic-ing?
{3} What are the differences between microphone transducer types (stereo, binaural, electret, condenser, dynamic)?
{4} What are the differences between microphone response patterns (cardioid, hypercardioid, super-cardioid, shotgun, omni, figure 8)?
{5} What factors, other than microphone selection, will affect the end result?
{6} Is there any advice you can give a beginner who's unfamiliar with using microphones?

Live Recording:

{7} When should I use a shotgun/hypercardioid mic instead of an omni/cardioid and vice versa?
{8} What types of mics should I consider for use in small venues (bars and clubs)?
{9} What types of mics should I consider for use in medium-sized venues (between 500 to 5,000 seats)?
{10} What types of mics should I consider for use in large venues (>5,000 seats)?
{11} What mics are good for 'up front' (FOB) recording?
{12} What kind of mics are good for live recording with a DAT?
{13} What microphones are good for unobtrusive ("stealth") recording?
{14} What mics are good for radio reportage, radio drama, and film and tv location work?

Choosing and Purchasing:

{15} What types power sources should I consider when buying a pair of mics?
{16} What types of cables are good for keeping noise to a minimum?
{17} What is "phantom power"? Why would I want/not want mics that need it?
{18} I'm interested in getting into taping live shows, but I don't have a deck or microphones. What are some things I need to consider?
{19} Where can I go to rent microphones? How much does it cost?
{20} How often do microphone manufacturers come out with new models ? Do I need to worry about blowing my money on an obsolete pair?
{21} How much better is a newer line of microphones than an older line? Can I save a ton of money and not lose a lot in sound quality by getting an older set of mics?
{22} What is a vocal mic and why should/shouldn't I use it for recording at a Dead show?
{23} What are the advantages/disadvantages of buying mics that have a selectable pattern?
{24} What are the advantages/disadvantages of buying mics that have interchangeable capsules?
{25} What kinds of mic stands are there? Where do I go to get the really tall ones that are good for use at a Grateful Dead concert?
{26} Where can I buy mics to use with a DAT?
{27} What are some other sources for hard to find mics?
{28} What are some popular models (and prices, freq. resp, sensitivity, max. SPL, etc...) for each of the basic types of mics.
{29} What's the best mic for under $100?
{30} Are there any good microphones for under $200 per pair?
{31} What kinds of mics does Radio Shack make?

Using microphones:

{32} My DAT deck has an unbalanced mini-headphone jack for an analogue input. How do I get the best sound through that tiny jack -- what types of adapters would give me the best results?
{33} My DAT deck has unbalanced RCA analogue inputs -- how do I maximise sound quality?
{34} What are the sources of mic noise?
{35} How do I keep mic noise to a minimum so I can have a decent S/N ratio on quiet re
{36} What's the difference between the capsules in a Neuman TLM-170 and Neuman KMi86?
{37} What is a PZM and how do I modify one?
{38} What kind of capacitors should be used with a mic pre-amp? How does choice of capacitor affect the sound?
{39} What kinds of capsules are typically used in 'stealth' microphones? What's good/not good about them and why?
{40} Why do some shotgun mics have poor bass response?
{41} Which brands/models of shotguns have good bass response?
{42} What causes some mics to sound tinny or 'canned' in some situations? How can I avoid it?
{43} How critical is it to aim a shotgun mic directly at the source? What happens if I'm off by 5 degrees? 10 degrees?
{44} Why do recordings made with shotgun mics lack the 'presence' that other mics have? (it sounds like there's a hole in the centre of the sound coming from my stereo system) What can I do to improve the 'presence' in my recordings?
{45} What is "binaural recording?"
{46} What microphones are available to do binaural recordings?
{47} I've heard that binaural recording are supposed to be listened to over headphones. How do they sound over speakers?
{48} Do you have to hold your head perfectly still while making a binaural recording?
{49} Can I use headphones as microphones?

A U T H O R S

[tb] tonyb@juliet.ll.mit.edu (Tony Berke)
[pd] peterd@hpwars.wal.hp.com (Peter Dabos)
[td] dalton@mtl.mit.edu (Tim Dalton)
[rg] gilde@jaco.ds.boeing.com (Rob Gilde)
[dj] david@josephson.com (David Josephson)
[jm] jgm@packet.net (Jeff Maggard)
[lm] moskowit@panix.com (Len Moskowitz)
[po] pluto@cix.compulink.co.uk (Paul Ostwind)
[pr] (Phil Rastocny)
[ss] SteveSgt@torrent.sj.ca.us (Steve Sergeant)
[jv] varanelli@cs.virginia.edu (Jim Varanelli)
[dv] cptvideo@cbnewsc.att.com (David Vlack)

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answers to questions: 1 - 6
answers to questions: 7 - 14
answers to questions: 15 - 31
answers to questions: 32 - 49