Recording Equipment Bob Nyberg NTLI

Recording Equipment

Bob Nyberg

NTLI

January 2006

A good microphone will make the biggest difference in the quality of your recording.

Built in microphones are usually poorer quality and Built in microphones are usually poorer quality and often are omni-directional.often are omni-directional.

Audio Technica’s ATR20 is a good quality external Audio Technica’s ATR20 is a good quality external microphone that is uni-directional. microphone that is uni-directional.

Headphones make a big difference when listening to audio.

Air absorbs sounds Air absorbs sounds waves therefore the waves therefore the farther away you are farther away you are from the audio source, from the audio source, the more the sound the more the sound quality will diminish. quality will diminish. Since headphones or Since headphones or “ear buds” are worn “ear buds” are worn there is less air to there is less air to absorb the sound.absorb the sound.

Digital Versus Analog

Magnetic recordings Magnetic recordings such as cassette is such as cassette is based on analog based on analog technology.technology.

DVR, Minidisc, MP3, DVR, Minidisc, MP3, etc. is based on digital etc. is based on digital technology.technology.

A TV antenna receives an analog signal.

Satellite TV receives a digital signal.

ANALOG RECORDING DEVICESCassette Tape Recorders:

• Interface with many other users.

• Ease of use.

• Somewhat portable.

• Lower quality recordings.

• Tape may mold and degrade.

• Uses lots of power and batteries.

• You can save audio to a computer, but at a lower quality.

price range $30 - $300

DIGITAL RECORDING DEVICES

• Digital Recorders

• MP3 Player/recorders

• Minidisc Player/recorders

• USB Hard Drives

• PDA’s

Two factors to consider when shopping for a digital recorder

Sample Rate: The sample rate of an audio recording Sample Rate: The sample rate of an audio recording partially determines the overall sound quality. In the partially determines the overall sound quality. In the recording process, audio samples are saved to memory recording process, audio samples are saved to memory or disk. The or disk. The sample ratesample rate is the number of audio is the number of audio samples which are recorded per second. Sample rate is samples which are recorded per second. Sample rate is measured in Hertz (Hz - cycles per second) or measured in Hertz (Hz - cycles per second) or Kilohertz (kHz - thousand cycles per second). A Kilohertz (kHz - thousand cycles per second). A sample rate of 8,000 Hz equals 8 kHz. sample rate of 8,000 Hz equals 8 kHz.

Frequency Response: is the measure of any system's Frequency Response: is the measure of any system's response to audio frequencies. For example, a response to audio frequencies. For example, a minidisc may be said to have a frequency response of minidisc may be said to have a frequency response of 20Hz - 20,000Hz, which tells you that the system 20Hz - 20,000Hz, which tells you that the system responds equally to all frequencies within that range.responds equally to all frequencies within that range.

Sample Rate 8 kHz – Telephone8 kHz – Telephone

8-16 kHz – Older digital voice recorders8-16 kHz – Older digital voice recorders

22-32 kHz – FM radio22-32 kHz – FM radio

44.1 kHz – CD quality 44.1 kHz – CD quality

Non-native speakers are often misunderstood or cannot understand the native speech using this sample rate.

These sample rates are acceptable for a native speaker or for a second language that you are fluent in.

A sample rate of 22 kHz would be the bare minimum that you would want to use for initial language learning.

Minidiscs, digital voice recorders, MP3 recorders are now using this standard so why settle for anything less?!

What are you missing?

Telephones use a sample rate of 8 Telephones use a sample rate of 8 kHz. For every 25 bits of audio kHz. For every 25 bits of audio

information the phone cuts out 24 of information the phone cuts out 24 of those bits. Your brain is able to add those bits. Your brain is able to add

the missing pieces.the missing pieces.

How we process language

The baker burned the _____________.The baker burned the _____________.bread

A. bed B. bread C. red

The native speaker knows:

1. The phonological structure of the language.

2. The grammatical structure of the language.

3. The cultural schema relevant to the language.

The new language learner is extremely dependent upon the sounds he hears in order to put meaning to those sounds.

Frequency Response The normal healthy human ear can hear frequencies between 20 The normal healthy human ear can hear frequencies between 20

Hz and 20,000 Hz.Hz and 20,000 Hz. Most of the phonologically important information that ensures Most of the phonologically important information that ensures

intelligible speech for the native speaker is contained in the intelligible speech for the native speaker is contained in the band of frequencies between 300 Hz and 3500 Hz.band of frequencies between 300 Hz and 3500 Hz.

Some voiceless fricatives like /f/ or /s/ have significant acoustic Some voiceless fricatives like /f/ or /s/ have significant acoustic features in frequencies up to 5000 Hz and can be difficult to features in frequencies up to 5000 Hz and can be difficult to understand over the phone.understand over the phone.

The highest frequencies that we are concerned with in speech The highest frequencies that we are concerned with in speech are around 11,000 Hz. are around 11,000 Hz.

Frequencies above 11,000 Hz are less important for speech Frequencies above 11,000 Hz are less important for speech perception.perception.

Every sound has a harmonic (almost like an echo or ripples on a Every sound has a harmonic (almost like an echo or ripples on a pond). These harmonic waves continue up the frequency scale to pond). These harmonic waves continue up the frequency scale to infinity. Tim See speculates that these harmonics (even above infinity. Tim See speculates that these harmonics (even above 11,000 Hz) are helpful in distinguishing speech sounds.11,000 Hz) are helpful in distinguishing speech sounds.

MP3 Player/Recorders

Pogo RipFlashPogo RipFlash

Apple iPodApple iPod

iRiveriRiver

Pogo RipFlash MP3 Player/Recorder

Pros: Records at 44 kHzPros: Records at 44 kHz Cons: Have to use a powered microphoneCons: Have to use a powered microphone

HORRIBLE instruction manual.HORRIBLE instruction manual. The unit will not separate recordings into tracks.The unit will not separate recordings into tracks. Menus cumbersome, non standard connectors, proprietary battery.Menus cumbersome, non standard connectors, proprietary battery. NOT very user friendly for spur of the moment, on the fly NOT very user friendly for spur of the moment, on the fly

recordings. recordings. This is a slick unit for amateur recording.This is a slick unit for amateur recording. I spent a long time trying to find my perfect MP3 player and I spent a long time trying to find my perfect MP3 player and

unfortunately it doesn't exist. unfortunately it doesn't exist.

Comments from users:


Apple iPod The media is a hard drive (as opposed to flash The media is a hard drive (as opposed to flash

memory). Hard drives can crash. Reports state that memory). Hard drives can crash. Reports state that the hard drive will need to be replaced in 6 to 12 the hard drive will need to be replaced in 6 to 12 months. This is why Apple replaces them for free. months. This is why Apple replaces them for free. But that won't help you overseas.But that won't help you overseas.

There is an add-on for the iPod which allows you There is an add-on for the iPod which allows you to record voice at a sample rate of 8 kHz (not to record voice at a sample rate of 8 kHz (not recommended for CLA).recommended for CLA).

According to Macworld.com, the iPod does a very According to Macworld.com, the iPod does a very poor job as a voice recorder. poor job as a voice recorder.

The battery looses it’s recharging capacity quickly The battery looses it’s recharging capacity quickly and is very hard to replace (without the "hack" and is very hard to replace (without the "hack" solution voiding your warranty).solution voiding your warranty).

iRiver MP3 Player/Recorders Pros: Records at 44 kHzPros: Records at 44 kHz Cons: Cheap plastic construction, has a Cons: Cheap plastic construction, has a

line-in connection, but no mic in.line-in connection, but no mic in.

USB Hard Drives – Archos Jukebox

• Near CD quality.

• Small and portable.

• Easy to upload files to computer.

• No moving parts … low power usage.

• Lot’s of HD space ... 10-20 gigs.

• Must use a special powered microphone. ($20 - $230)

• No built in speaker.

• Would need to burn a CD to permanently save data in case of a HD crash.


PDA’s

• Small and portable.

• Easy to upload files to computer.

• Built in speaker.

• Built in microphone.

• Less than CD quality.

• No external mic jack.

• Recordings limited to size of memory stick.

• Proprietary file format.

• High power usage.


Digital Recorders


• Make sure that it records in CD quality 44.1 kHz.

• Make sure that it has an external microphone jack.

• Make sure that you can easily upload files to your computer and convert them to wave or MP3.

• The upper frequency response should be at least 8,000 Hz. The higher the better.

What to look for:

Olympus DM-20

Sample Rate 44.1 kHzFrequency Response 300-8000 HzMemory 128 MBMemory Stick Slot noBuilt in mic yesExternal mic yesBuilt in speaker yes

Price Range: $185 - $326

Olympus DM-10

Sample Rate 44.1 kHzFrequency Response 300-8000 HzMemory 64 MBMemory Stick Slot noBuilt in mic yesExternal mic yesBuilt in speaker yes

Price Range: $127 - $203

Specifications

File FormatWMA (Windows Media Audio)

Alkaline Battery LifeRecording: 16 hoursPlayback: 9 hours

Ni-MH Battery LifeRecording: 12 hoursPlayback: 8 hours

Mini Disc Recordersprice range $250 - $400

• Make sure that it uses the new Hi-MD format (available April 2004).

• Make sure that it has an external microphone jack.

What to look for:

• Use CD quality 44.1 kHz.

• Use a frequency response of 20 – 20,000 Hz.

All Minidisc Recorders:

Sony MZ-NH1• Price Range: $280 - $499

• Connectors: In: line, mic, optical. Data: USB. Out: line/headphones

• Features:Magnesium case. Charging stand with USB connection. LiIon battery. Records to Hi-MD (1GB) blanks and normal MD blanks

reformatted to 300MB. Plays Hi-MD and original-MD disks. Provides PC uploading of audio recorded from

microphone or line input. Functions as USB data drive (FAT format filesystem).

Sony MZ-NHF800

• Price Range: $169 - $300

• Connectors: In: line, mic, optical. Data: USB. Out: line/headphones

• Features:

Records to Hi-MD (1GB) blanks and normal MD blanks reformatted to 300MB.

Provides PC uploading of audio recorded from microphone or line input.

Functions as USB data drive. AM/FM/TV/Weatherband tuner remote.

Where will I be recording language?

In your office you can easily make CD quality In your office you can easily make CD quality recordings on your computer.recordings on your computer.

In the village/bush/gardens etc. you may have In the village/bush/gardens etc. you may have to sacrifice quality for portability. But you can to sacrifice quality for portability. But you can always re-record material back in your office always re-record material back in your office with your language helper if you need to.with your language helper if you need to.

What is the field recommending?

What are my partners using?

Some Questions to Ask:

This PowerPoint Presentation is posted at:

The Unofficial NTLI Information Page

http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/ntli/http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/ntli/

Note: The file size is 1.8 mbNote: The file size is 1.8 mb

Recording Equipment Bob Nyberg NTLI

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