I need to record a conversation between fourteen people on a normal cassette dictaphone. Can anyone recommend what make/model/type of microphone I need to record everyone in the room?
2007-02-22 01:31:00 · 5 answers · asked by dantestraw 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
EDIT: I probably didn't explain this well enough. It's not to record for broadcast quality, but so that I can make out what everyone is saying to type it up later. Hence the dictaphone rather than professional recording equipment. It would really help to know the type of mike to use...
2007-02-22 02:48:21 · update #1
a shure sm58 is not really ideal for recording, it is more of a performance mic for close vocal work cutting out background, you actually WANT the background sounds. For more on mic characteristics visit http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk/studio
I read about a PC microphone the other day (can't find it now...) that automatically sought out the source of a sound and adjusted itself to the speaker. I don't know how much this would cost, but it sounds really cool. You could use a laptop to do the recording, with this mic in the centre of the room (it probably uses two mic's to determine the direction of the sound).
If this is all too much...then an omnidirectional mic is what you ideally need, your problem will be finding one that can be connected to a dictaphone..... I think that PC mics would be a good place to start as the connections will be the same as for a dictaphone, and there is likely to be a good selection of PC mic's around - however...don't go for USB, unless you plan to use a laptop to do the recording.
My recommendation:
DO use a laptop with a USB condensor mic (google for this), use Audacity sound recording software - free download from http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk/downloads.php
The mic may set you back $100 or so, but if you have a spare laptop, I think the results will be fairly good, and you won't have to buy a dictafone.
Hope this helps rather than confuses!!
2007-02-22 21:53:09 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For recording a group of people talking, you should look for an Omnidirectional microphone... one that picks up equally from every direction. Set it up as close as possible to the middle of the group, so that everyone is equally distant from it.
The SM58 mentioned above is directional, meaning that it only picks up sound that is in front of it. So if you point it at one person, their voice will drown-out the others in the room on the recorded tape.
Just about any cheap computer microphone you can buy is Omnidirectional. Just make sure the connector is compatible with your dictaphone, and that it doesn't require any additional ("Phantom") power. A condensor microphone with a battery inside is the best, and could run you between $10 and $30 USD.
2007-02-22 14:24:18 · answer #2 · answered by Rick W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're going to need a mic mixer with enough inputs and individual mics if you want to record each person. Either that or have them pass around a wireless mic. Either way it won't be easy.
2007-02-22 10:34:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the microphone that can record up to 14 ppl
2007-02-22 10:19:33 · answer #4 · answered by huzaifah k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a sure58 X14, People
2007-02-22 09:36:56 · answer #5 · answered by Tony M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋