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Re: Advice please on what mics for recording in quiet outdoor enviro

Subject: Re: Advice please on what mics for recording in quiet outdoor enviro
From: "rock_scallop" rock_scallop
Date: Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:07 pm ((PDT))
Hi Ian,
I have used the NT1A extensively. A majority of the recordings playable fro=
m my website were made with them. Visit my Sound Journal pages at
http://rockscallop.org/JVp2.html

I use them in a baffled array, though no one else seem to use them this way=
.  The basic design can be seen here:
http://rockscallop.org/how/barrier10.html

The design has gone through several slightly different incarnations since t=
hen, but that is still the basic idea.

Grummyaa wrote, "I've read Rodes stock shockmount seems to transfer low fre=
quency energy to the mic."

Yes, I have experienced this. However I have not had any better luck with D=
IY designs I have tried. I ended up replacing the stock elastic bands with =
big thin rubber o-rings from the hardware store. That made a noticeable dif=
ference.  The shock mount I use is the SM-1 which in the past shipped with =
the NT1A, but has since been discontinued. I have not tried the newer versi=
on shockmount.

Grummyaa also wrote, "I've also read that the NT1a's are a fairly narrow ca=
rdioid so folks are finding a hole in the middle when angling as narrow as =
90 degrees. Can't remember where but I read someone saying they got better =
results at an angle of 60 degrees with
them for stereo."

Yes, that may have been me, I have mentioned it several times. Where I have=
 found it most noticeable is in side to side motions such as bird flybys - =
a slight though noticeable attenuation as the bird crosses the center line =
when the angle between axes is 90 degrees.

I prefer to use them at a maximum 60 degrees between axes, but since I am u=
sing a baffle they do seem to maintain an accurate stereo image even at an =
angle of zero degrees.  I have used them at 90 degrees in some situations w=
ith fine results, though I presume that ORTF angling of 110 degrees might b=
e pushing it.

John Hartog
rockscallop.org




--- In  "im_rawes" <> wrote:
>
> Hello, I hope someone can advise me on this.
>
> I'm used to recording in and around my home city where background noise l=
evels are quite high.
>
> Now I want to make some recordings in semi-wilderness areas like the Scot=
tish Highlands and elsewhere. On a trip to Scotland earlier this year I fou=
nd that my DPA 2006Cs (supposedly 16dBA) were far too noisy for recording i=
n forests, on moorland, and by a loch in the evening.
>
> Since then I have been thinking of saving up for a pair of Sennheiser MKH=
 8020s (self-noise 10dBA) but have also come across people making nature/so=
undscape recordings using Rode NT1As - 5dBA and a lot cheaper!
>
> Given that I'm an impoverished sound archivist, would the NT1As be a good=
 purchase, or should I start a savings plan for the MKH 8020s?
>
> Thanks,
> Ian
>
> - - -
>
> The London Sound Survey http://www.soundsurvey.org.uk
>








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