Welcome Bill,
There is much advice here to start the recording habit. To me the
most important is by scouting and listening first, finding the right
location is one of the big challenges in nature recording and it's
getting more difficult by the day.
There are a few good books out there, Bernie's book (a member of this
list) "Wild Soundscapes" is highly regarded. He covers finding
locations, technical info and listening exercises and much more.
http://tinyurl.com/azukf (amazon.com)
The online version of this Yahoo group has a search function to find
specific information, "microtrack" for instance brings up many recent
posts, some reviews, some more technical than others. Another place
to look is at some of the consumer MD players; again a quick search
through the list will let you know what people like.
If you are getting ready to drop some dough I would say teh microphone
is the most important element. There have been endless discussions of
what mic is best. It really depends on what you are trying to record.
To me there are two general directions in nature recording: species
recording, going after a certain critter; and ambient, trying to
record everything in a given area (biophony).
To make another generalization, species recording uses more
directional mics, shotgun, hypercardioid, parabolic dish etc; ambient
recording uses more omnidirectional mics and mic arrays, omni, wide
cardioid, binaural, ORTF, XY etc. Some of these use multiple mic
elements and some have two elements built in to one unit.
Also key is a good windscreen, either purchased or improvised. The
foam that comes with most microphones is only good for keeping bugs
off your mic.
I'll let other fill in more technical questions (and dissect mine).
In addition to the mics and recorders, a pair of closed back
headphones or canal-phones will allow you to hear what you are
recording better. I would start with the headphones, to me they are
easier to remove and listen with your ears, an important part of my
experience.
One more piece of recording advice is to "slate" your recordings,
every one, every time. At the beginning or end of your recording (I
do the beginning) say the date, time, location, direction, mic array
used, recording levels, equipment, specific species being recorded and
any other information to help identify your recordings when you get
home or in 5 years. I also carry a little notebook to note any
specifics while I'm recording.
Well that's enough out of me, good luck, ask questions and happy
recording.
--greg weddig
Baltimore, MD
http://home.earthlink.net/~gweddig
http://www.ourmedia.org/user/627
--- In wrote:
>
> I guess it's time to de-lurk and mention that I joined this list
some time
> ago; my interest in doing so stems simply from a desire to "bring
home" sounds
> from area nature preserves (particularly New Jersey's pine barrens
and its
> nocturnal wetland percussions) -- these trips send me. Previously
having been
> totally ignorant of "how to best" record these sounds, or, to be
honest,
> "where to even being," this list has been helpful. Through the
list, and
> through the recommendations of people more in the know, I'm getting
close to making
> my initial investment. Before I do, however, I figured I'd give a
shout.
>
> A friend of mine, a studio sound engineer/radio-show producer has
> recommended M-Audio's Microtrack 24/96; he's also reviewed this
recording device, link
> below:
>
>
_http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200512.maudio_microtrack.
> html_
>
(http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200512.maudio_microtrack.html)
>
> I don't recall reading any list submissions concerning the
Microtrack, but
> if anybody has any positive or negative comments I'd certainly
appreciate the
> feedback. There have been some "starter" microphones recommended
here of
> late -- being a total novice to the equipment, I plan on looking
into these and
> making sure the mic/recorder are compatible (I assume most are?),
etc. What
> would be other "must haves" a recordist should have on hand when first
> setting out? If there have been previous postings regarding this,
maybe a simple
> point in the proper archival direction would suffice. I'm not sure
> over-investing at the start is what I wish to do -- before spending
too much I feel its
> best to assure what I bring home and play through an audio system
will match
> the magic I feel while "be-swamped." Then again, not having the
proper
> equipment might stop me in my tracks at the outset and spoil what
might have
> become a fulfilling hobby.
>
> Are there any books/publications recommended for nature-recording
> info/referencing?
>
> Thanks for your patience in dealing with my 101-type inquiries. Happy
> holidays to all.
>
> Bill Beck
> Bridgeton, NJ
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
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