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Re: Re: Seeking Low-cost Commercially Available Parabolic system

Subject: Re: Re: Seeking Low-cost Commercially Available Parabolic system
From: Klas Strandberg <>
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 13:56:21 +0100
At 00:08 2005-03-12, you wrote:


>With the parabolic it is in focus or out. There is no smooth
>transition.


Yes, there is. The size of the focus varies with frequency.

Klas.



>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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Telinga Microphones, Botarbo,
S-748 96 Tobo, Sweden.
Phone & fax int + 295 310 01
email: 
        



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