Muff's Modules & More

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:23 pm Post subject: Recording one's own lobotomy

ok. I had the first of 2 scheduled dental appts today, and as I was sitting in the chair and listening to the various noises, and conversations between the doctor and various participants, including my drugged up self, it occurred to me that it might be fun to record the next one (if they permit it). Even better will be if I can get them to say insane things during the procedure. What I'd really like is to bring a little music setup and make sounds as they are working, but I don't think that this is feasible.

So - I guess the operative question is - for a recorder, I'll just use my sony pcm-m10, but I should probably have a better mic than the built in one. I'd need to set up something that was unobtrusive, and could be set up quickly so that it didnt disturb anyone. And it should be able to capture the sounds in the room well.

Recommendations welcome.

Dr. Sketch-n-Etch · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Recording one's own lobotomy

Just me · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject:

I had a retreat of a root canal last monday and thought there had to be a way to contact mic my teeth to record all that. It was very bizarre Buchla/Serge like noises!

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:28 pm Post subject:

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject:

but I'm actually serious in my general question - if I can come up with the $ in time to get one, what would be a good mic to capture the noises in the room - the conversation and most importantly the rather nightmarish dentistry tools...

Just me · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:53 pm Post subject:

An MDC or LDC would do it. They would pick up EVERYTHING in the room. The AC may be a distraction if it is running. You would need phantom power to run most of them. If you could put a very small cond. mic in your ear and seal it from the outside, it would pick up all the surgery noises through bone conduction. (Radio shack used to make a headset/mic that was just a single earpiece and worked well.)

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject:

mdc, ldc? SIDNA.

I don't think that phantom power is an option here with the sony portable recorder. I'm also not sure how getting the sounds in my ear would help record them - plus I probably need to listen to the Dr's instructions, etc.

Just me · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:15 pm Post subject:

Medium and large diaphram cond. mic. The thing doesn't put sound in your ear, it picks up sound through your ear. Sounds weird, but it is the original noise cancelling technology. (Works really well, too. Picks up only what is in your mouth.)

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:57 pm Post subject:

emergencyofstate · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject:

Definitely sounds like a super cool place to get some samples. Instantly made me think of Matmos and the whole sampling liposuction surgeries, bone saws, etc. I tried to find some interviews in which they talk about the actual sampling process itself but couldn't find any yet. I'm sure most of it was close mic'ed tho.

think you could get your dentist to wear a little clip on condenser? Or I suppose you could get some equally interesting sounds if you had a mic under your bib somewhere close to your mouth...

ignatius · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:03 pm Post subject:

i have a stereo gooseneck mic with AT capsules in it that i got from sound professionals. if you get a little stand or something you can sit it right on there and get a nice stereo image.

or you could get one of those spendy rode stereo mics.

i don't know what the PCM10 has for gain/mic pre but i got this little box that attaches in line and has a battery in it + a gain adjustment so i get some extra boost there beyond what is on the recorder i use.

there's a load of stuff at the soundprofessionals website for all kinds of recording situations.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com

the one i have looks like this one.. you can select the mic type and they will put it together for you. it's the best bang for the buck i found on the internet years ago. there may be better options now buti haven't really looked.. or needed too

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/ISI-GPSM-1

i hope the appt goes well.

JohnLRice · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:03 pm Post subject:

If you want to (or need to) do a stealth recording, just take in an iPod or iPhone etc and put the ear phones in so they will think you are listening to music to relax (pretty common at the dentist) but instead, put it into audio record mode. They will probably never know. And if you get one of those sports armband mounts, you could put it in video record mode and get material for a YouTube/Vimeo etc creation if you are so inclined. thumbs up

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:04 pm Post subject:

I don't know. I think that really, the best sounds are just in the room, and a good mic that captured the ambient sounds of the rooms with good fidelity would be best.

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:06 pm Post subject:

ah - I don't think I'll have to fool them. I think that they might be amused by the whole thing. I'd just like to get a good mic and stand, quickly (if money is ok), to pull this off.

ignatius · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:09 pm Post subject:

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:11 pm Post subject:

ah, shit - just realized that the follow up appt is on Tuesday 8/30 anyway. I'll probably just have to wing it with the sony built in mic. that seems to work pretty well when there isn't wind, etc, anyway.

Just me · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:42 pm Post subject:

Zenn · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:05 am Post subject:

Zoom H2 / H4

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:23 am Post subject:

The sony is a similar unit.

tIB · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:27 am Post subject:

be carefull they dont fry anything with xrays/weird magnetic things- i was in theatre the other day and couldnt take anything in, i assume for this reason. mri is the one to record... bit difficult though.

MindMachine · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:52 pm Post subject:

Use that Radio Shack stereo high powered pin drop hearing microphone if you still have it. I use mine w/ a Tascam DR-03. I just need to equalize some very high end during playback. That thing will pick up every bit of DNA that they burn up or take from you.

Good luck and work them for as many types of meds as you can.

Field recording can be expensive and no fun at all - my what we do for art.

shreddoggie · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:21 pm Post subject:

I think you want a binaural unit that you wear - that way it will be ultra realistic from exactly where you were sitting. I did a commercial gig with such setup and it blew my mind - listening back to the recordings on headphones was like a deja-vu - people walking up behind me that weren't there - like an exact audio memory - spooky.