>Denise Christiansen wrote:
>>
>> I am still fairly new to MD-but I'm sure that I LOVE
>> it!- so please forgive the siimplistic question.
>>
>> I have a Sharp MD-MT15, and I use it for recording
>> live audio, MP3s from my iBook, and the occaisional
>> radio broadcast. How do I know what level to set the
>> mic at? I can't seem to figure out this "mic level H"
>> and mic level L" business. I do know that once I
>> begin the recording, to set it via the volume controls
>> so that the indicator is at a certain point while
>> recording, but is there a system to determine before
>> recording what the mic level should be at? My first
>> recordings have a bit at the beginning where you can
>> tell I am fiddling with the mic level. How do I avoid
>> this?
>>
Denise -
The Sharp MD-MT15 (and MT20, MT161 series) is one of the best MD recorders
for live recordings. Unlike most of the Sony rage, the record level can be
set up while paused at the start of recording and then adjusted during
recording if necessary. You could also use automatic level control, but I
don't recommend this for serious live recordings.
You should connect up your mic, hit the REC button to go into paused
recording mode, and adjust the REC LEVEL buttons until the meter at the top
of the display peaks (rightwards) for loud sounds at about 4 on the dB scale
(actually -4 dB). Doing this should prevent your "fiddling with the mic
level" bit being on the recording.
When you want to record, push PLAY and keep an eye on the meter for a while.
You may need to adjust the REC LEVEL down if some sounds were louder than
expected. If the OVER indicator comes on, your recording will probably
distort at that point. Overload distortion on a digital recording medium
like MD is a lot more unpleasant than analogue overload such as on a
casssette tape.
Bear in mind that, in order to deal with a large range of levels, the Sharp
microphone input has two "gears" with an automatic "gear change" between
levels 20 and 21. If you increase the REC LEVEL through 20 and 21 during
recording you get a momentary blank as it shifts gear. This is the "mic
level L" and "mic level H" you were talking about. It depends on your type
of microphone and the material you are recording as to whether you need to
operate through this region.
Hope this helps.
Peter Rice
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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