Bob's analysis and advice are good. Here are a couple of extra notes:
Choosing the "second receiver" method let's you hear things in the same
general audio arena in which you hear other stations. You can use that
to your advantage by making special note of the stations that have audio
that You like. You can use those stations as references as you
experiment with equalization, processing, microphone technique, etc.
It's also helpful if you can use the same filter bandwidths and same
loudspeaker as you normally use on your "Main" receiver.
Have Fun!
73,
Mike
NM7X
Original Message
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 17:09:00 -0600
From: Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX <RMcGraw@Blomand.Net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mics
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
While most of the suggestions regarding determining mike quality and
such see reasonable, I would point out that "listening to ones self via
phones" is not a very accurate way to make a judgment. Why? Because
the voice is conducted to the ears via two paths. One is via the
headphones; and two, by bone conduction through the head. The second
one is always there.
A better system, use a cassette recorder connected to the MONITOR out of
the radio, record a piece and then play it back using the headphones to
listen if you wish. That will give a much more accurate determination
of "what you actually sound like on the air". You'll be surprised too.
If you choose to use another receiver then connect the recorder to the
output of that receiver record a bit and then play it back. I realize
that one will need to make several test recordings in more of a trial
and error approach with different mikes, different mike positions,
different EQ and such to get the "best" combination.
Talking and listening at the same time doesn't give a very accurate
representation.
73
Bob, K4TAX
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