With the parabolic it is in focus or out. There is no smooth
transition.
With a shotgun the center is more like the ear to find the sweet spot.
You can read that a shotgun has no gain but the truth is a bit more
gray. If you have a sensitive directional mic that is has a pattern
more close to the ear in direction ability, then it is easy to find
the sweet spot in the blind. It still can do a selective receive
that a dish can do.
I did get fooled with a long-eared owl with a shotgun in a
snowstorm. I still call the error because I was freezing at the
time. I was 30 degrees off but still pulled off a decent recording
for the conditions. I will always regret what I could have done if
the body would have not shut down.
Rich
--- In "Jerry Berrier"
<> wrote:
> Hi Rich,
>
> Well, you've got me thinking.
> Two question.
> What's the reason you would not recommend the parabola for someone
who is
> blind? Certainly it's got to be more difficult to carry around
than a
> shotgun mic.
>
> Second. Perhaps I should buy a shotgun microphone instead. Could
that mic
> later be paired with a parabolic dish, or must I use an
omnidirectional mic
> with the dish?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Peet
> Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 4:49 PM
> To:
> Subject: [Nature Recordists] Re: Seeking Low-cost Commercially
Available
> Parabolic system
>
>
>
>
> I am not a salesman first. I am a recordist.
>
> My first choice for a mic when I am in the woods in zero light is
and
> will be a shotgun mic.
>
> Also, when I am recording blind I want to hear both the direct
sound
> and the recorded sound. For that my first choice are the ear
phones
> made by sony for MD which are available as an inexpensive separate
> product.
>
> Those small earphones allow you to put them at the back of your ear
> where you can hear both and you will be able to understand which is
> which. These cost under $15.00 as they are used by joggers.
>
> A 5 degree viewing angle large dish is not a product I would
> recommend for the blind but I support in whole the capture of
natural
> sound by the blind. You will find you have much to offer as many
in
> this field do not hear that well and you can exceed what they can
do.
>
> Rich
>
> --- In "Jerry Berrier"
> <> wrote:
> > Wow, this is sounding good.
> > My biggest problem with construction is that I am totally blind
and
> > therefore unable to look at a picture and then try to use that as
a
> design.
> > I've never had my hands on a parabolic system, so I don't know
> exactly how
> > the various parts fit together.
> > I did put together a very crude one a few months ago using a
plastic
> > umbrella and a cheap mic, and even that actually worked
> surprisingly well.
> >
> > If I were able to get a set of explicit verbal instructions, I
> could follow
> > them and perhaps construct a system that would be usable.
> > I'm mechanically inclined and can usually do a project once I can
> fully
> > understand it.
> > I understand that the mic faces into the parabola instead of away
> from it.
> > I think the mic can be attached directly to what might be called
> the shaft
> > of the umbrella, and it can be adjusted by sliding it up or down
> the shaft.
> > I don't fully understand the concept of the focal point; seems to
> me that
> > would be in the exact center of the parabola, but evidently that
is
> not the
> > case.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mark Griswold
> > Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 12:07 PM
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Re: Seeking Low-cost
Commercially
> Available
> > Parabolic system
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > what if you got a telinga replacement dish $100 ?
> > and made a pvc handle (see below) less than $100
> > and got a shure 183 $100
> > and had someone change the plug less than $100
> > then you could add another 183 for stereo $100
> > and still be under budget.
> >
> > not exactly off the shelf, but not a whole lot of diy involved
> either.
> > The handle involves screwing together off the shelf threaded pvc
> > fittings.
> >
> > the guy at my local hardware store really got into helping me.
> > Hopefully you will have similar luck. (I have the original
handle,
> but
> > I wanted another one that would slip down over the top of a mic
> stand).
> >
> > an electronics repair place could change the mic plug. I used a
> > switchcraft right angle plug ($7), but there are cheaper, easier
to
> > find plugs.
> >
> > I did it myself over a cup of tea, so it shouldn't take them long.
> > Someone (Rob Danielson?) posted instructions that you could give
> them.
> >
> > good luck,
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> >
> > "Microphones are not ears,
> > Loudspeakers are not birds,
> > A listening room is not nature."
> > Klas Strandberg
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Microphones are not ears,
> Loudspeakers are not birds,
> A listening room is not nature."
> Klas Strandberg
> Yahoo! Groups Links
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