Frequently Asked Questions About Field Recording

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• Why can't I get enough volume when using my Beyer M58 with the automatic level control setting on my D7 DAT?
  
  
• Why can't I have wind noise in my story? It was windy when I was out there! Isn't that part of the story?
  
  
• My cassette sounds great when I play it back on my machine, but on your machine it sounds muddy. What's wrong?
  
  
• What is Azimuth, and what does an out-of-azimuth recording sound like?
  
  
• In addition to being a reporter, I sing in a band. My trusty Shure SM58 ball mike sounds great when I'm singing, no handling noise at all. How come there's all this handling noise when I use it for interviews, and it sounds so thin?
  
  
• Should I plug a mono mike into a stereo recorder? How do I do it?
  
  
• How do I feed tape from a pay phone?
  
  
• I have to record my voice tracks in my hotel room. What can I do to make them sound less like I'm in the shower stall?
  
  
• The interview I just recorded on cassette sounds like Mickey Mouse when I play it back now. What happened? Can this tape be saved?
  
  
• What is the difference between room tone and Ambience?
  
  
• Which mics work best with DAT field recorders? I briefly used a borrowed Audio Technica (can't remember the model) powered by a AA battery. It sounded wonderful but was very susceptible to handling noise. Since then I've used an RE-50 but that doesn't sound as good. Is there an omnidirectional mic you recommended specifically?