Hi Eric,
For post, the best software is Izotope; the spectral repair module. If the =
fly is very close and noisy, you may not be able to clean it out, but at me=
dium distance, without too many upper harmonics present, spectral repair ca=
n do a great job.
I have done quite a bit of work in the Top End, and tropics generally. I us=
e a SASS on tripod, but I've rarely used nets and never repellents (bad che=
micals for gear).
I've found flies are often quite localised, so I try to minimise their occu=
rrence in the first place by finding locations where they are not so preval=
ent. Shady spots seem often better than sunny, and recording early morning=
before they become more active. I can't offer any formulas here, I think i=
t is just an instinct of whether it is possible to get away from them and h=
ow. Sometimes it isn't, although I must say that in my experience, I've onl=
y rarely found flies to be a major nuisance.
They are attracted by salty, sweaty odours. So another suggestion is to alw=
ays stand away from your equipment while recording (act as a decoy), and ke=
ep your gear as clean as you can - from sweaty fingers and so on. I have on=
occasions, taken the fabric cover off the mics - flies seem less fascinate=
d with only plastic and metal.
Last resort for me has been a lightweight, mesh dome tent; set it up with t=
he mics inside.
Flies ARE of course a part of the landscape. Buzzing past, even close, I en=
joy in a recording. The time they get really annoying in a recording is whe=
n they behave 'unnaturally', such as hovering close by, not going away, fly=
ing around the microphone in circles, or worse, landing on it.
Hope this helps,
Andrew
------------------------------------
Listening Earth
Andrew Skeoch & Sarah Koschak
http://www.listeningearth.com
P.O. Box 188
Castlemaine
Victoria 3450
Australia
tel: +61 3 5476 2609
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