Walter has written:
"Since almost all the sounds you do record arrive from multiple
directions off axis as part of your recording no matter if you point
your mic with a micro manipulator."
But not if your mic is only a metre or two from the source of the sound you
are recording. And especially in an otherwise quiet situation - which one
gathers is not as common in the United States as a naturerecordist might
wish, but is not all that unusual in the Australian "bush". And if one is
primarily interested in the performance of a particular individual, then if
the surrounds are not quiet stereo is only going to exacerbate the problem.
A highly competent Australian recordist is using recorded song in an
endeavour to trace the movements of populations of an endangered species of
bird through their particular dialects. Has both stereo and mono mics to
hand. Definitely opts for 'shotgun' mono to minimise extraneous sounds and
get the clearest possible recording of an individuals song. Stereo
certainly will not do so.
Many species of songbirds have favourite song perches and by studying the
behaviour of the individual, a mic can be installed near such a perch,
before the bird arrives. Insects even more so.
And of course it's possible to have the best of both worlds: Have a mono
mic near the singing bird with a cable back to a suitable spot for stereo
recording, and record in stereo on a second recorder. One for scientific
analysis; one for any significant aspects of adjacent sound - or just for
pleasant listening.
Syd
-------------------------------
> From: Walter Knapp <>
> Reply-To:
> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:47:17 -0500
> To:
> Subject: [Nature Recordists] Re: Mono v. Stereo
>
> Since almost all the sounds you do record arrive from multiple
> directions off axis as part of your recording no matter if you point
> your mic with a micro manipulator.
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