[youthradioleaders] equipment question

[Doug Mitchell]

Hi everyone:
  Interesting.  I'm contributing to this conversation by forwarding an
e-mail from my Next Gen technical advisor.  I get this question 3 or 4
times a week via e-mails and/or phone calls.."What gear should I get?"
Tom Krymkowski (my advisor) and I have been talking for a while about
how to synthesize that question into something that makes sense to
people in a variety of circumstances.

  Comments would be most appreciated.

Doug
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----A "standard" field kit would include:
 
Marantz PMD660 Digital Recorder - $500
ElectroVoice RE50N/D-B Dynamic Microphone - $180
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones - $100
2 x 1GB CompactFlash (CF) Cards - $60 ($30 each)
6' XLR Male to XLR female Mic Cable - $13
 
Total "Standard Kit" - $853  (Not including Carrying Case)
 
This is the setup you'd find at NPR and most Public Radio stations that
are using flash recorders.  I'm not happy with the headphone jack on the
PMD660, and it's a little expensive a kit for most journalists starting
out.  But the recorder is more rugged overall and is the most widely
used configuration.
 
 
I've also come up with a configuration for freelancers and journalist
students who want to buy their own gear.  I would still recommend the
ElectroVoice Microphone and the Sony Headphones, but if cost is THE
deciding factor I could get by with the recommendations below.
 
Here's my "Starter Kit":
 
Zoom H4 Digital Recorder - $300
Audio-Technica AT804 Dynamic Microphone - $90
Sony MDR-V150 Headphones - $14
2 x 2GB Secure Digital (SD) Cards - $34 ($17 each)
5' XLR Male to XLR female Mic Cable - $10
 
Total "Starter Kit" - $448  (Not including Carrying Case)
 
The Zoom H4 records great sound, but is a little more delicate and
wouldn't survive a fall as well as the Marantz.  But for the money it's
easier to replace if that were to happen.
 
 
Finally here's what I own personally.  It takes advantage of the best of
both worlds, and sits in between the two kits above in price.  I think
spending the money on a good microphone and headphones are important.
Plus, the recorders may change, but I've already had my mic and cans for
over 10 years.
 




My "Personal Kit":
 
Zoom H4 Digital Recorder - $300
ElectroVoice RE50/B Dynamic Microphone - $160  (RE50N/D-B slightly
better and recommended above)
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones - $100
2 x 2GB Secure Digital (SD) Cards - $34 ($17 each)
5' XLR Male to XLR female Mic Cable - $10
 
Total "Personal Kit" - $604  (Not including Carrying Case)
 
 
The software I can recommend is Adobe Audition 2.0.  It's used by
reporters and in stations all over the world.  The downside is that it's
PC only.  The jury is still out on a decent audio app for the Mac with
the same feature/cost ratio.  Soundtrack Pro is probably the best one
out there, but it only comes packaged with Final Cut Pro.  You didn't
say what type of computers you had - but I can suggest other options if
we have to.
 
As far as a vendor, I swear by B&H (www.bhphotovideo.com).  Sweetwater,
Full Compass, or BSW are also fine options if you already have accounts
with them.  I'll forward you my Reporter's Kit wish list from B&H so you
can see prices and further descriptions of everything to compare.
 
I hope this helps get you started.  Any further questions can be sent my
way.

  

                
       
-----Original Message-----
From: youthradioleaders-bounces at lists.prx.org
[mailto:youthradioleaders-bounces at lists.prx.org] On Behalf Of Laura
Wenzel
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 2:33 PM
To: youthradioleaders at lists.prx.org
Subject: Re: [youthradioleaders] equipment question

We use the Olympus Digital Voice Recorder WS-100. We bought them for
$100 
about a year ago and they've gone down in price since then. I've never
used 
a minidisc, so don't know how the quality compares, but I'm happy with
the 
quality we get. We've recorded at meetings, at outdoor rallies, even
keynote 
addresses from the middle of the audience, and everything is clear. I
don't 
recall how many hours we can record, but it is at least 30. The best
thing 
is that it connects to the computer through a USB port, so there are no 
cables or other software we have to deal with. The battery seems to last

forever.

Laura Wenzel
Pa'lante, Inc.
919 619-1023
www.palanteprogram.org
PO Box 17212
Chapel Hill, NC 27516-7212