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Corporate Headquarters:
574 Meacham Avenue
Elmont, NY 11003 USA
Phone: (516) 775-1370
FAX: (516) 775-1371
Email: TapeNixon@aol.com
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Pointers & Tips |
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Microphones
- Special techniques have to be employed to record wild animals. Apart from
unwanted noises such as vehicles, aircraft or wind which can spoil any outdoor
recording, the main difficulty is that most wildlife cannot be approached
closely. An ordinary microphone will not pick up a strong enough signal unless
it is close to the subject. Halving the distance between microphone and the
subject boosts the signal level by a factor of four. Therefore, placing a
microphone close-up is the best technique to record animals; for example,
a microphone can be left at the end of a long lead on a bird's regular songpost.
But this can only be done if the habits of an individual animal are known,
so the majority of field recordists record animals vocalizing at a distance
using ultra-directional microphones or parabolic reflectors.
- A parabolic reflector (parabola) concentrates distant sounds onto a conventional
microphone placed at its focus. The larger the diameter of the dish, the more
amplification, but a practical size is around 18" (e.g., the SME PR-1000)
- Suitable microphones to use in conjunction with parabolas are dynamic microphones
with a cardioid (directional) response. These are rugged, do not require a
power supply and can be used without a parabola for other recording applications.
- Ultra-directional (super-cardioid) microphones or gun microphones are expensive
and generally less directional and powerful than parabolas but are less cumbersome
and have a flatter frequency response. They are popular with expedition recordists
because of their compact size compared to parabolas. Most gun microphones
are condenser type, requiring a power supply. The longest microphones are
most directional and are used by bird and mammal recordists. Short gun microphones
are ideal for recording animals such as amphibians and insects which can be
approached closely. All types should be used with a pistol grip and shock
mount unit as they are very susceptible to handling noise.
- Windshields. microphones are designed for indoor use, so windshields are
essential for field recording in many locations, such as open grasslands,
coasts, moorlands and hills, but they are not necessary in windless habitats
(e.g., forests).
Recorders
- Solid state (flash card/disk drive) recorders have been developed in the
last few years. These recorders use compact flash memory cards or computer
drives to record. Some models offer a choice of recording in different file
formats: the uncompressed format (e.g., PCM WAV file) should be used in preference
to compressed (e.g., MP3) formats. As the memory is used up, the sounds are
best downloaded to a PC or CD to free up space for more recording. These
types of recorders are an attractive alternative to other types of recorders.
Other Equipment
- Connecting leads and plugs between microphones and recorders must be strong
to withstand heavy use. They should be of the right length so that the microphone
or parabola can be held away from the recorder (to avoid machine noise), but
not so long that loose wire snags on vegetation or causes extraneous noise
when in use. Most professional microphones can be supplied with the correct
lead and plug to fit the microphone input of your recorder. Gas soldering
irons are very compact and ideal for repairs in remote locations.
- Headphones are not essential but help in monitoring the level of recorded
signal, checking against distortion and also help to aim directional microphones/parabolas
while recording.
- Tripods or monopods that can attach to the carrying handles of parabolas
or gun microphones are very useful if one can manage to carry this extra item
of baggage. They eliminate handling noise and leave hands free for controlling
the recorder, binoculars, etc.
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