Recording voices using an mp3 player

[Vespa]

Basically i've got a position at a radio station interviewing bands, i know that people use minidiscs to do this but i need an mp3 player and thought why not kill 2 birds with one stone.

However, i've been told that sound quality of an mp3 recording is pretty bad due to it being encoded in the player or something?

So opinions are more than welcome, shall i just get a minidisc and mp3 player or could i get away with using an iRiver to record an interview, then putting it on logic to edit etc.

Thanks

Sam

[Shadius]

I use my Phillips 30GB mp3 player to record things. The quality isn't bad, but it's not as good as professional mic or anything by a long shot.

[Vespa]

So could I in theory, put a pro mic into the mp3 player, then record the interview, decode it and whack it onto my pc to burn to cd, and it sound ok?

Enough to be used for radio (if editied for quality etc)?

[Shadius]

I would say yes if you got a quality mp3 player. But i'm no expert on recordings, so you might want to wait for other advice too.

[Moseph]

For spoken word, transmitted over AM/FM radio, it's not likely anybody will notice the difference or care if they do. Minidisc itself isn't all that great for fidelity in the first place, so I personally wouldn't sweat it too much if that's the standard. If you can find an mp3 player that can record to ~320 kbps then I really doubt anybody will notice at all for spoken word.

[shayne_122]

Well, a "pro-mic" could be any number of things. You should probably look at an electret condensor mic, (battery powered mic with a condensor capsule, for decent fidelity) or maybe just running a Shure SM58 (most commonly used live vocal mic) through an XLR-1/8" adapter and into the mic jack.

Please tell me if this makes sense to you, as to a begginner it may very well not.

[Vespa]

I understand whats being said, many thanks for the info!

I think I'll get the mp3 player, and use a vocal mic (sm58 etc) plugged into the line-in with the relevant adapters.

Should get a good enough quality.

Only problem is that the players in my price range run a 128 kbps maximum, but ive been told it should be fine, after all, it is only people talking, not like im recording a live band.

Thanks.

[shayne_122]

Only problem is that the players in my price range run a 128 kbps maximum, but ive been told it should be fine, after all, it is only people talking, not like im recording a live band.

Thanks.

Well, even IF, you should remember that most music you copy from cds or download off the internet IS 128kbps.

Also, I might suggest saving a bit of money and getting the PG58 as opposed to the SM, or an SM57 (has a flatter frequency response, so more of a transparent sound).