Sami Karjalainen wrote:
> I'm an absolute beginner in nature recording. I haven't made any recordin=
gs
> yet. I have been reading this newsgroup for a while and I have found it
> useful. Now I'm considering what equipment to choose. I don't want to buy=
> cheapest equipment, which I need to replace soon, but the total cost of
> software, recorder and microphone should not exceed 1000 euros (about
> $1000).
>
> Software is easy to choose. I have tested Cool Edit 2000 and it is easy t=
o
> use, inexpensive and very capable, although there is no possibility to
> export waveform graphics. The only way to save waveforms is to take scree=
n
> captures.
>
> I think I will choose either Sony minidisc MZ-R50/55 (cheaper, no USB
> output) or Creative Nomad Jukebox (records wav, has USB output, but needs=
> preamp). Today I think I will go to Creative Nomad Jukebox 3. Then I need=
a
> microphone, which has frequency response up to 20000 Hz. Sennheiser K6 wi=
th
> ME66 is the one I'm thinking to choose. Would these be suitable for
> recording grasshoppers and their relatives? Do you suggest some other
> microphone? Grasshoppers are recorded from close distances compared to ot=
her
> animals.
If you wish to buy only equipment you won't be replacing soon, the
Nomad Jukebox is probably not the cost effective solution. The separate
preamp should be a low noise one, and those don't come cheap. You can
work without a separate preamp using a full recorder like a minidisc,
though eventually you might want one there too. It's a question on how
you will manage a initial outfit under $1000.
To my mind, if intending to record only close, you might want to
consider a omni mic. They are generally less sensitive to the wind and
will work close. In the ME series the ME 62 does not fall off in
frequency as fast as the ME66. This, of course depends on how noisy a
environment you have to record in. If the environment is very noisy or
you need better isolation of individuals, then a shotgun mic like the
ME66 should do fine to help isolate the grasshopper. It's sensitivity
does fall off rapidly above about 9khz, you can look at the specs at
Sennheiser's site. They even have pdf's of the spec sheets you can
download. Any high frequency call that covered a wide frequency range
would be noticeably changed. To get good flat frequency response in the
higher range will probably require more costly mics like the MKH series.
The MKH-60, which is about the equivalent of the ME66 in a MKH has a
flat frequency response all the way to 20khz. Unfortunately, that mic
alone, even from a Ebay auction, will cost nearly your entire money
limit. (there's someone in England almost continually offering MKH-60's
new on ebay for about $926, and getting few takers)
I believe there are insect sounds that go well above 20khz. To record in
that range would be very hard with your price limit. The Sennheiser
MKH-800, for instance, which goes to 50khz lists for several thousand.
And you would need your entire chain of equipment to handle higher
sampling rates, probably 96khz. And note you won't hear those sounds,
making locating the insects a bit interesting. That last is the main
reason I don't record insects much, my old ears don't hear a lot of them
very well.
Walt
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