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Re: Shotgun Mic, or Parabolic Reflector? Opinions, Please.

Subject: Re: Shotgun Mic, or Parabolic Reflector? Opinions, Please.
From: "hartogj" hartogj
Date: Wed May 11, 2011 3:06 pm ((PDT))
Hi Scratchpaws,

Do you want stereo?
How tall are your trees?

Here is an example from my sound journal, of the wind and red alder recorde=
d using a Telinga parabolic dish with Shure WL183 microphones. The source o=
f creaking was located about 30ft up though also resonating down the trunk,=
 and the leaf canopy 40 to 50 feet.

http://www.rockscallop.org/ear/041212_RedAlder.mp3

If the canopy is fairly low, maybe 20 feet or less, then spaced omnis place=
d on the ground with the tree in-between might work.  Depending on the loca=
l topography, recording from ground level can restrict the horizontal sound=
 horizon, so it might reduce some of surrounding sounds you are concerned w=
ith.

The following example might not be the best as the subject, sagebrush, is n=
ot very tall.  It was with Shure WL183 around the base of the sage, at grou=
nd level, a couple feet apart, aiming upward.

http://www.rockscallop.org/ear/jh-080425-1700_sage-wind.mp3

I have more recent recording of a 15 to 20 foot juniper tree that I will pr=
esent momentarily in a subsequent post.  The WL183 has self noise too high =
for quieter settings, but they work great for some things - like recording =
the wind.

Recording from ground level might require less wind protection than recordi=
ng with mics placed near the canopy, however the closer you get to the actu=
al subject, the more specific your recording will sound.

I have not tried shotgun mics for wind sounds, but that might also work wel=
l - someone else will have to speak to that.  Of course in general, the clo=
ser you get your mics to the actual subject, the more specific your recordi=
ng will be.


John Hartog
www.rockscallop.org


--- In  "scratchpaws" <> wr=
ote:
>
> I have a Sony PCM D50 Linear PCM Recorder.
>
> I want to record "clean" wind in the top branches of trees with as little=
 ambient noise as "reasonably" possible.
>
> The on-board mics pick up too much ambient noise to give me the "specific=
 rustle" of wind noise in the leaves at ground level, without the "general =
roar" of wind coming from everywhere around me. I'm thinking the tops of tr=
ees would offer the best of what I'm looking for.
>
> Does anyone have any input as to a good mic configuration for this?
> I assume either a shotgun or a parabolic reflector, however, words of wis=
dom from the gurus would be most appreciated before I go off spending a lot=
 of money burning daylight to find a solution.
>
> Thanks
>








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