Hi Andy,
I have heard recordings made with a Zoom H4N and the inbuilt mics are
adequate if noisy, but there is a much better result using ME66 or
similar. I've not personally used the N4N.
You ask how others record in the field on lightweight excursions, no
tripod.
For bush walks I use an Olympus LS10 and either ME66 or quasi
binaural rig using clip-on mics, clipped onto a headphone band which
I can either wear on my head or place around a log or found object.
The ME66 has a handle and windshield so I would hand-hold that and
point at the intended subject, while holding recorder in my other
hand. I have also on occasions hooked the recorder over my left
wrist, hold ME66 with left hand, and look at bird through small
binoculars held in my right hand.
The LS10 also has the 'press twice' thing with the record button, but
you do get used to your own recorder. You can always have the
recorder on pause with the red light flashing, then you only need to
press once to record. I keep the LS10 set on low-sensitivity, volume
10, which is the best setting for nature recording for that
particular recorder. It does give a low-ish signal and I find it
never over-loads with birdsong, so it quite handy on that score, no
fiddling with levels is needed. Whatever recorder you have, just
find a good default recording setting and stick with it.
The main thing is, get to know you own equipment and how to get the
best out of it.
cheers,
Vicki Powys
Australia
On 27/11/2013, at 7:54 PM, <> wrote:
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I used a friends Zoom H4N for the first time with a Sennheiser
> ME66/67 to do a wildlife survey in Africa for the first time, as my
> old Marantz PMD660 has died. I was amazed how impracticable the
> zoom was for wildlife sound recording, at least the way I do it.
> Some obvservations to share with the group:
>
> I had to push up the gain to 80-90% to get a good enough signal and
> then have to boost it more in post. With the PMD660 I would set the
> gain from 4.5-6. As I aim to get good mono recordings of my target
> species it was very disappointing. I also changed mics (I carry 2
> sets of K6/Me66/67 capsules) and batteries to see if there was a
> mic issue.
>
> On board mics are very nice for ambient recordings.
>
> Also annoying is that the are no shoulder strap loops and that the
> level meter display is on the front face. So I was holding the
> recorder in one hand and the mic in the other.
>
> Putting the recorder in a bag meant I could not control the gain
> and se e the display panel easily.
>
> The Gain buttons require large dextrous hands, I managed just but I
> dont know how small handed people would cope.
>
> The record buttons needs you to press it twice other wise it stays
> on pause record. This is crazy when you need to quickly get that
> bird call and subconsciously you hit the REC button only to look
> down and see it still flashing away on pause record.
>
> Rant over. This machine may be loved by videographers and others
> who are in a more controlled setting but it gets the thumbs down
> from me. These basic ergonmic design features which were there on
> the PMD660 (yes it has poor sound quality), made it a practical
> option for walking surveys in the bush. These features for me
> limit other options out there on the market, even if they have
> great sound quality.
>
> This maybe an obvious question. I would like to ask the group how
> you do recording while on the move in the bush with not tripod
> etc. Are the protabrace style shoulder bags used to hold the
> recorder so a hand is free for control the levels and the other
> holding the mic?
>
> Cheers
>
> Andy
>
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