Re: Recording quiet landscapes (SD 302 question)

["Dan Dugan" dandugan_1999]

> My current setup is a SD302 to a PCM-d50 and using a Sennheiser  
> MKH-418s or Rode NT-1. My question is:
>
> When recording quiet ambient landscapes, what would be the best way  
> (or your own method) to set the levels for this using the 302s gain  
> and fader?

First I would "line up" the meters on the mixer and the recorder using  
a test tone so the meters on both machines read the same. Mark or tape  
down the recorder's gain controls for that setting.

I use a band-limited pink noise (200 Hz - 2 KHz) set to 64 dBA at the  
measuring location. Then I put the recording mic on that spot and set  
the recording gain (now only on the mixer) so that level produces -6  
dBFS on the recorder. Then mark the mixer gain settings.

I've found that kind of gain setting has worked for quiet places and  
almost anything that happens except thunder.

-Dan Dugan