Hi Max, Kevin, Rob et al,
Max - You need the limiter OFF!!!! And you need recording level set
at MANUAL (not auto).
If you have a good blimp for the ME67 try recording with low cut off,
for a wider range of sounds.
When I used the built in mics on the LS-10, the lyrebird at 10 metres
was registering -6 dB with rec level on 5. By comparison a small
bird like a pardalote, singing overhead, will register maybe -18 dB,
with rec level on 5, and that is a quite acceptable.
Perhaps the metal-mesh flyscreen gauze is peculiar to Australia? (It
keeps out the blowies and mozzies!)
Good luck with those migrating birds Max. Do tell us how you go.
I love Kevin's suggestions about using the gorillapod (which was also
mentioned by Oryoki). And what an ideal and fun way to get beginners
interested in sound recording.
Rob, it took a little while to grasp what you had done with your
audio assessment (I am not particularly technically minded), but I
see you raised the level of the NOISE so that all samples matched, so
that you could compare the colour of the noise. To my ears it was 1.
whooshy, 2. fizzy and 3. fizzy & whooshy. So the LS-10 pre amps have
added some fizz to the ME67 recordings, compared to the DAT. The
LS-10 does seem to add fizz no matter what mics are used, and that
fizz is uncomfortable to my ears, but I could easily reduce the fizz
using some slight EQ roll off above say 7 kHz (in Freqency 2 plug in
for Peak audio editor). I tried a fizz filter in Soundsoap (light
edition), it worked but the martian landscape element persisted and I
find simple EQ is safer. (The whoosh was not as worrisome to me as
the fizz.)
Re filtering, someone has mentioned Waves Q10 for EQ filtering. I
used to have Q10 and it was great. Then I upgraded my Mac to OSX,
which meant I needed a newer version of Q10 (and paid for this
online), but the installation process was so horrendously complicated
that I gave up. I was told that I did not need an iLok, but it now
seems that I do. Maybe I will pluck up the courage to try the
installation again one day, after I have figured out what an iLok is.
Vicki Powys
Australia
On 29/06/2008, at 9:19 AM, Max Catterwell wrote:
> Hi Vicki!
> I've been doing a little bit of experimenting, and a couple of points
> have come up. Firstly, what I've discovered is that I get a higher
> level
> reading with the Low cut off (makes sense I suppose, but due to wind
> considerations I'd always had it on). Next thing was a question; do
> you
> have the Limiter on? I had, until I noticed that recovery times
> were not
> as good as I thought i.e. after a sudden peak it took a second or
> two to
> recover to previous recording level, which leaves odd sort of holes in
> the recording. I am going to start using it without I think.
> One of the problems in this country (UK) is that it isn't often you
> can
> get a day WITHOUT wind!! This is why I've just bought one of those
> Indian blimps to house the ME66/K6 combo (which has just arrived).
> I have found that this combo is much more sensitive, and as expected,
> allows me to use recording levels in the mid-range. Whether or not
> I'll
> be able to achieve level 2, as you did with your 67 is too early to
> tell. I will report later on my use of this combo with the Indian
> blimp.
> I am extremely impressed with your wind cover! All I have to do now is
> discover a source for flyscreen gauze. It does appear that you're a
> dab
> hand with a needle!
> I'm awaiting a couple of other purchases at the moment, these being an
> Art Phantom II, and a pair of AT3032's. This will give me a huge
> amount
> to experiment with over the coming winter, and hopefully by next
> Spring
> I'll be ready for everything happening!
> One intermediate project I have in mind, involves the huge numbers of
> migrating birds that pass through the north coast of Norfolk in
> Autumn,
> not too far from my home.
> But I digress; very many thanks for your input to date, and in the
> future
> Regards
> Max
>
>
> Vicki Powys wrote:
>> Max and all,
>>
>> Max, try putting your LS-10 on recording level 5 (REC LEVEL knob on
>> right hand side). Make sure the high sensitivity switch is on. Then
>> try to get as close as possible to the singing bird (or frog or
>> whatever), and preferably when it is not windy. On level 5 (with the
>> built-in mics), you should get a useable signal. If you don't, you
>> are not close enough to the bird. When you download the sound to
>> your computer and listen through good headphones, you will get a true
>> idea of what you have recorded. The LS-10 headphone outlet (VOLUME
>> knob on left hand side) is fairly weak so don't rely on this for
>> judging your recording quality.
>>
>> Yesterday I soldered up a pair of WL183s and tried these with the
>> Olympus LS-10, but not yet in the field. The 183s give less noise
>> than the built in mics, and may be better when used with the LS-10
>> low cut switched ON. More on this when I have tested them in the
>> field.
>>
>> The photo of my home-made windscreen for the built-in mics is now
>> uploaded to the naturerecordists web page, look under the heading
>> PHOTOS.
>>
>> Vicki Powys
>> Australia
>>
>>
>> On 27/06/2008, at 6:13 PM, Max Catterwell wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hi Vicki and Syd,
>>> Vicki, it sounds as though your thinking on the shield is similar to
>>> mine; air gap plus cover over foams. I look forward very much to
>>> seeing
>>> your photo.
>>> You have me slightly worried now about my recording levels, even
>>> bearing
>>> in mind Syd's comments in the previous post, and I'm trying to
>>> think of
>>> a way we could compare without doing side by side recording, and
>>> all my
>>> thoughts seem to involve equipment I don't have. I have to say that
>>> this
>>> has been my only disappointment with the machine, that the gain
>>> seems
>>> insufficient. I'm wondering if I've got a faulty instrument. I
>>> should
>>> perhaps say that this state of affairs was present in advance of
>>> installing new firmware. I was hoping that it might make a
>>> difference,
>>> but at least it allows me to use an 8gig SDHC card with no problems.
>>> Having said that, FYI with this card inserted, it now takes several
>>> seconds longer before reaching recording condition. This doesn't
>>> worry
>>> me too much because I now record continuously while out walking,
>>> and it
>>> only applies to initial turn on anyway. The 8gig card gives me more
>>> than
>>> enough recording time for the small walks I do these days.
>>> Yes, my recorder was also made in China; isn't everything these
>>> days?
>>> Back to the birds; it was interesting to read your background
>>> info on
>>> these, and what a shame it will be if helicopters start buzzing
>>> overhead! This is of course why, recordings such as yours will
>>> become
>>> more and more valuable.
>>> Thanks again
>>> Max
>>>
>>>
>>> Vicki Powys wrote:
>>>
>>>> Max, and everyone,
>>>>
>>>> I will post a photo on the naturerecordists web page, of my home-
>>>> made
>>>> wind cover for the LS-10. It works OK in a light breeze, and
>>>> has an
>>>> air gap between the fleece and the mics. I have left the foam
>>>> windshields on also.
>>>>
>>>> Mt. Airly where I recorded the lyrebirds certainly is a lovely
>>>> place,
>>>> but it does have its share of motor bike riders on weekends, plus
>>>> helicopter joy flights may soon take place overhead. Added to
>>>> that,
>>>> the lyrebirds have been very quiet for the past 5 years or so,
>>>> due to
>>>> prolonged drought conditions. It has been wonderful to see and
>>>> hear
>>>> them again this winter, following some recent wet weather
>>>> (lyrebirds
>>>> like it damp and cold!)
>>>>
>>>> Max, your ME66 should be a big improvement on the built in mics,
>>>> for
>>>> picking up individual birds. However I am surprised that you need
>>>> the recording volume at 10 for the built in mics, as I have been
>>>> able
>>>> to record smaller birds using a setting of 5. I have not yet
>>>> experimented with higher resolution than 44/16, nor have I upgraded
>>>> the software. I might add that the recorder sold to me in
>>>> Australia
>>>> was made in China! Are the US and UK recorders made in China or
>>>> Japan?
>>>>
>>>> Vicki Powys
>>>> Australia
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 26/06/2008, at 10:09 PM, Max Catterwell wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Vicki!
>>>>> What an incredible sounding bird! I've never heard one of these
>>>>> before
>>>>> (they don't often turn up on the Cambridgeshire fens) and I was
>>>>> just
>>>>> stunned. How wonderful to have such a quiet place to record;
>>>>> dreamlike.
>>>>> I have never been able to have my LS-10 on any other level than
>>>>> 10, so
>>>>> to see you using 5 amazed me. And even on level 10 the meter was
>>>>> never
>>>>> topping out. So far, apart from using the built in mics, I've been
>>>>> using
>>>>> a MKE300. I'm awaiting a ME66/K6 combination to use with this,
>>>>> and
>>>>> will
>>>>> be very interested to see if it makes the difference in recording
>>>>> level
>>>>> that you achieved with the 67. Have you updated your firmware
>>>>> with the
>>>>> latest from Japan? I should add that I too use high sensitivity
>>>>> and
>>>>> low
>>>>> cut filter on. I have started to use 48/24 as I read, that as in
>>>>> photograpy, a greater bit depth sampling rate was better from an
>>>>> editing
>>>>> point of view. If you weren't aware, it should be obvious I'm just
>>>>> starting out on this fascinating road. Having heard your
>>>>> recordings
>>>>> though, I feel I made the right decision re recorder. I would be
>>>>> very
>>>>> interested to see, or have you describe, the 'better windshield'
>>>>> you made.
>>>>> Many thanks for sharing your fantastic recordings, not only
>>>>> wonderful to
>>>>> hear, but instructive also.
>>>>> Max
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Vicki Powys wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have uploaded three mp3 files (all less than 1 MB) to the
>>>>>> members
>>>>>> files area. The subject is a Superb Lyrebird recorded in the
>>>>>> forest
>>>>>> at Mt. Airly in NSW. In each recording I was about 10-15 metres
>>>>>> away, with little or no breeze. No filtering has been used, so
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> you can compare the raw result for three different recording
>>>>>> combinations. With the LS-10, I recorded as WAV 44/16, and high
>>>>>> sensitivity mode.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1. LS-10, built in mics, low cut on, recording volume 5
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2. LS-10, Sennheiser ME67 mic, low cut on, recording volume 2
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 3. Sony TCD D10 DAT with Sennheiser ME67 mic, recording volume
>>>>>> about
>>>>>> 2-3.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There is more system noise in (1) but the sound quality is still
>>>>>> very
>>>>>> good. I had the low cut switched on because of occasional
>>>>>> breeze.
>>>>>> The addition of the ME67 to the LS-10 in (2) was an
>>>>>> improvement and
>>>>>> there was less system noise, altho the quality of the sound would
>>>>>> have been less thin with the low cut switched off. The DAT
>>>>>> recording
>>>>>> (3) has less system noise and the best sound quality.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I might add that using the LS-10 with built in mics was a
>>>>>> dream for
>>>>>> stalking the elusive and shy lyrebirds! I could carry it in my
>>>>>> pocket and had no tangle of leads and mics and monopods. The
>>>>>> results
>>>>>> are very acceptable for scientific study. I have had to make a
>>>>>> better windshield for the inbuilt mics, but otherwise I am very
>>>>>> pleased with the LS-10.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Has anyone tried the LS-10 with lavalier mics e.g. WL183s?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Vicki Powys
>>>>>> Australia
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ------------------------------------
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
>>>>>> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
>>>>>> Krause
>>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
>>>>> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
>>>>> Krause
>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
>>>> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
>>>> Krause
>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>>
>>> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
>>> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
>>> Krause
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
>> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
>> Krause
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
> Krause
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
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