Who wants to help me find research material pertaining to my dissertation?

Now, this is not because I'm either bored, too busy, unable, high or all of the above, to do so myself.

On the contrary, I have already gathered a shitload, but I'm always searching for more of anything interesting and even remotely related to the theme of my dissertation.

The theme in question is something along the lines of "Comparative Study of Large Diaphragm Microphones".
This basically means that after the initial research and organization of the project, I will go into the studio and record a plethora of sounds, ranging from music to not, with the specific type of mic in question and then analyze the data.

That is all.

What's the goal?
Are you comparing Large to small or just between different companies who produce large diaphragms?
Is there specific manufacturers you are looking at?

I'm comparing the large diaphragm mics of the on-campus studio between themselves. Their is no goal per-se as much as just trying to make a comprehensive comparative study, possibly to be used in the future by students that want to known in depth characteristics and nuances of the mics in question when opting to use them in class or for a class project.

When I get into the studio I'll actually know the microphone models.

So....you want us to gather different unique sounds? I'd love to help you, just tell me what I should do.

Bibliography.

You need a goal otherwise the research means nothing. So I guess the goal is that you want to show future students the differences in the mics so that they can make a choice to what they need.

From there, you're going to have to measure the different highs the lows or whatever it is your trying to find out. I've only ever dealt with STC ratings and those were tested in a controlled environment with specific noise for the test. Can the studios produce these type of data sheets? If it can, then I'd just say go into each studio and play all the same music samples then compare the data. You may also want to swap the Mics between studios just to make sure it's not the actual room itself.

Also dig up the manufacturers data sheets and use them as a base line for the test. Compare the data with all your test data and write out a conclusion. You may notice some anomolies based on various things not related to the mic. Is all the equipment hooked up to the mic the same? ie. wiring, sound boards, etc. How big is the room that the tests are being done in? What are the dimensions of the room? Is there a couch in there? a painting? Basically think about every single thing that could influence the test and mention it in the report otherwise you'll seem biased.

Also take pictures. Everyone loves pictures.

Crombie wrote:You need a goal otherwise the research means nothing. So I guess the goal is that you want to show future students the differences in the mics so that they can make a choice to what they need.

From there, you're going to have to measure the different highs the lows or whatever it is your trying to find out. I've only ever dealt with STC ratings and those were tested in a controlled environment with specific noise for the test. Can the studios produce these type of data sheets? If it can, then I'd just say go into each studio and play all the same music samples then compare the data. You may also want to swap the Mics between studios just to make sure it's not the actual room itself.

Also dig up the manufacturers data sheets and use them as a base line for the test. Compare the data with all your test data and write out a conclusion. You may notice some anomolies based on various things not related to the mic. Is all the equipment hooked up to the mic the same? ie. wiring, sound boards, etc. How big is the room that the tests are being done in? What are the dimensions of the room? Is there a couch in there? a painting? Basically think about every single thing that could influence the test and mention it in the report otherwise you'll seem biased.

Also take pictures. Everyone loves pictures.

Thanks, I have already taken into consideration all of those variables, especially the acoustics of the studio where I will be recording in. The last bit should also answer your question concerning recording in other studios. This is basically a comparative study of the large diaphragm mics in the on-campus studio.

I guess my goal could also be the measurement of characteristics of the mics in question.

hmmm don't really know how I could help any.

Sounds like your goal would be to compare the frequency responses of each mic to one another when recording the same source from the same distance in the same position and then based on that making a judgement on what mic would be better for recording which source in each of the situations you set up based on the frequency response findings.

Basically you need to set up a source and set a mic up then cycle through all the mics in that position. Then change the position and/or distance and cycle them all again after you do that a bunch change the source and then do it all over again. Rinse repeat till you're so sick of mics you don't even want to look at them anymore. And make sure you're always using the same room so you can eliminate it as a variable between the mics. The room will obviously affect the sound and response but since you'll cycle through all the mics in the same position in the same room then the only differences in response will be attributed to the mics themselves.

I wouldn't know any literature off the top of my head that would be useful. Any book pertaining to mic technique I guess. Also like Crombie said get the manufacturers specs.