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Re: Jecklin Disc microphones

Subject: Re: Jecklin Disc microphones
From: "Walter Knapp"
Date: Wed May 24, 2006 7:04am(PDT)
From: "vidmanas" 

> For recording bird sounds I use Sennheiser M/S setup MKH30/60 and
> Telinga Universal with MKH20.
> Charmed by the recordings of nature observations by the highly-
> respected John Hartog, I decided to make a homemade Jecklin Disc, but I
> do not know which microhpones should be bought for that purpose. I have
> a couple of Multi Pattern AKG C4000B in mind, and I think that it is a
> better choice than Rode NT1-A.
> I would like to ask for an advice - which microphones to choose for the
> Jecklin Disc system?
> Thank you for your attention.

I, too, have and record with a M/S MKH30/60, as well as a couple other M/S:
http://frogrecordist.home.mindspring.com/docs/ms_setups.html
I use the M/S MKH30/60 for intermediate width stereo fields.

For parabolic I use the Telinga stereo mic setup, upgraded to a Pro VI.
I record most of my frog survey recordings with it. There are big
advantages in recording in stereo in that work, much easier to pick out
the quieter species. Many frog sites have multiple species and in mono
such sites jumble all the species together. Something that's not as much
a problem with bird recording which tends to be one caller at a time.
Though even in bird recording stereo will separate out other sounds to
provide more isolation of the bird from noise.

As has been pointed out, the original Jecklin Disc used omnis. Adding a
2nd MKH20 would allow that, they are light for hand holding, and known
to be capable of handling the outdoors. Once you have a pair of MKH20's
then another mic setup to think about is the SASS as worked out by Lang.
This is a excellent ambiance mic. I often use it on a 17' tall tripod
for even greater clarity. It's also a easily hand holdable mic in the
design I use:
http://frogrecordist.home.mindspring.com/docs/mod_sass.html

Another use for the MKH20 is Lang's Telinga stereo setup:
http://www.naturesound.com/telinga/telinga.html
It's pretty nice, I made one for a fellow recordist, so got to try it
out briefly.

The disadvantage of mics like the AKG C4000B is not in their sound, but
their bulk and size. In nature recording the suspension and wind
protection need to be good. Designing those for large mics like the AKG
is a bit tricky. If you want multipattern mics, the easiest to suspend
and wind protect are probably the MKH80 or MKH800 (same mic different
frequency response). You can see them with a Rycote suspension and
windscreen system on my M/S page.

In addition I've not seen any data on the environmental capabilities of
the AKG C4000B. Many studio mics do poorly when taken out into the
heat/cold or humidity of the outdoors. Some fail in seconds. Make sure
before committing to any mic for nature recording that it can stand to
be outdoors. Of course the MKH series mics are the champions at this.
It's one of the advantages of a RF mic that the charging voltage on the
diaphragms is relatively low.

Walt




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