Hi Daan,
Sounds like a fun trip.
This article in the AMPS journal, of Simon Koelmeyer's trip to the Amazon f=
or a recording gig, may give you some other useful tips.
http://www.amps.net/newsletters/NewJournal/Issue65.pdf
You should pop round before you go - I have a case you may want to take for=
your D50. It is new and you have it for nichts. I have some fur fabric t=
oo. It looks like it comes from a rare animal but the customs folk will le=
t it through.
Rycote make a rain cover that will surely do a great job, like most of thei=
r products, but is also about =A375.- so probably not top of your list.
David
--- In "hartogj" <> wrote=
:
>
> Hi Daan,
> I have not recorded in humid and wet rainforests such as you are planning=
, but here in the Pacific Northwest my gear gets rained on fairly often.
>
> I find that fake fur or polar fleece type windscreen fabric
> over the windscreen cage is enough to keep rain from direct contact with =
the microphones. Maybe a fur cover for your zeplin is all you need - and =
perhaps bring an extra change to use while the other is drying.
>
> I would think a zeplin would also be adequate protection against most thi=
ngs likely fall from the canopy. If you would feel safe standing there with=
out a hardhat on, then your mics will probably be fine too. Just set up som=
ewhere safe.
>
> Watch the weather forecasts and plan accordingly. Plan your most critical=
recording sessions for when the conditions are most favorable.
>
> Tropical places I have visited seem to have a daily rhythm for rainfall. =
Wait for the bulk of the daily rain to pass, then put out your gear.
>
> A misty fog will impact on the vegetation and drip, creating a rain benea=
th the canopy, so for such conditions you might want to place your gear out=
in a clearing, not under the canopy. Otherwise try scouting while it is ra=
ining to find relatively sheltered spots.
>
> I do not have advice for making a roof over the mics. I attempted that on=
ce with a wool blanket, but I gave up pretty quickly - dusk was approaching=
and it was taking to much time to figure out how to string it up high enou=
gh.
>
> Usually my biggest concern when leaving gear unattended is theft from ano=
ther human. Place it either where you can guard it, or where it will not li=
kely be noticed by anyone.
>
> Have a fun trip.
>
> John Hartog
> rockscallop.org
>
>
>
> --- In Daan Hendriks <daan@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello group!
> >
> > I'm going to Bolivia very soon for holidays, during which time I'll als=
o
> > spend a few days in Madidi National Park (which is in the Bolivian Amaz=
on).
> > I'm bringing my recording rig (a Tascam DR680, MKH8040/MKH30 and Sony
> > D-50). It will be rainy season, so I'm expecting it to be very hot, ver=
y
> > humid, and with millions of biting insects fighting for a piece of my f=
lesh.
> >
> > I've never gone to a place like this, let alone record in one. My plan =
is
> > to set up the MKH & Tascam rig for overnight recording (dusk to dawn),
> > hopefully within a nice spot of the rainforest itself, or otherwise nea=
r
> > the lodge where I'll be staying (which is also in the middle of the
> > rainforest). The D50 I'll use during daytime hikes into the jungle.
> >
> > Using the D50 will be easy, but I have some concerns about my plans for=
the
> > MKH rig, and wanted to see what people have done in similar situations.
> > Currently my preparations consist of the following:
> > - mics and recorder will be kept in ziploc bags with silica gel packs
> > during transport, so i can let them 'air' / warm up in the humid
> > environment before using them
> > - the recorder will be kept in a waterproof bag during recording overn=
ight
> > (and obviously has the battery power needed for 12 hours of recording)
> > - i have a good backpack with foam padding to store all equipment duri=
ng
> > transport and hikes
> >
> > The main issue I face is keeping the microphones safe for a recording
> > sessions that lasts 12 hours without me being present. To protect them
> > against rain, and things that fall from the trees. The easiest solution
> > would be of course to put the rig (mics + zeppelin) underneath a roof, =
for
> > instance on the patio of a lodge. But if at all possible, i'd prefer to=
set
> > up everything at a spot in the forest, press record, and leave, only to
> > come back the next morning.
> >
> > I've seen pictures of people who constructed a kind of roof made out of
> > towels and tied to branches of surrounding trees to protect their
> > microphones. This at least will be effective in light rain, but any hea=
vy
> > rain would obviously soak the towel(s) and potentially the microphones.
> >
> > One solution I thought of would be to use an umbrella, attach it to the
> > zeppelin, and put either foliage or towels on top of the umbrella in or=
der
> > to mask the sound of raindrops falling on the umbrella. This is current=
ly
> > the 'best' idea I have, but I wonder if it will be sufficient to take t=
he
> > risk of leaving my rig out on its own. An alternative would be to build
> > some kind of roof using foliage, but to be honest I am not sure how
> > feasible this will be, as that will take quite some time and effort and
> > most likely you don't want to stay in one spot for too long because of =
heat
> > and insects.
> >
> >
> > Apologies for this long post... basically what I want to ask is: what h=
ave
> > other people done in similar(ish) situations?
> >
> >
> > Thanks for reading!
> > Daan
> >
> >
> >
>
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