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Date: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:14 pm ((PST))
David:
Good to hear about your rig & setup, but putting mics *near* the ground can=
cause some issues with reflections and phase cancellations.
It really boils down to what the topology of the land, brush, trees, etc, i=
s and what kind of mics one is using.
For ORTF, Jecklin disc, spaced omnis or 'SASS' (boundary arrays) one would =
generally set the mics at head-level, or perhaps even higher.
I believe that higher is better for 'reach' and less coloration. But one do=
es reach a point of diminishing returns after a certain height.
One needs to use one's ears to determine the optimum height for given mic r=
ig.
I have a number of light stands that I use instead of tripods for mounting =
the mics.=C2=A0
They are sturdy& light weight and can be staked or weighted down for good s=
tability in high winds.
Adapters are available to go from 1/4"-20 tripod thread to European or US m=
ic thread studs so that standard mic clips and mounting bars can be accommo=
dated.
And one of the MOST important things to consider is quality wind abatement =
accessories such as blimps and fur covers.
Even a small amount of wind can wreak havoc on your recordings since small =
sounds require large preamp gains. Still air is very rare.
Waterproofing is a plus.
BTW, if you are looking for a good omni without breaking the bank, check ou=
t the Audio Technica AT-4022.=C2=A0
They are quite nice small diaphragm mics with low noise. Much cheaper than =
the Senns.
They produce very nice imaging in boundary array rigs.
The (new) Rode NT1 mics have the lowest self-noise around of 4.5 dBA, but t=
hey are large, heavy and not easy to mount & blimp outside of a studio.
Note also that they have a hyper-cardiod pattern.
Good luck!
Greg O.
From: "" <>
To:
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 9:35 PM
Subject: [Nature Recordists] Re: Need help completing my rig for nature and=
field recording
=C2=A0
> Hi all, my first post here. I've found great info here in the past, but c=
ould use some specific advice right about now.
>
> I need some help completing my field kit.
> I do sound effects mainly, and enjoy capturing nice nature recordings. It=
would be nice to do some acoustic instrument recording, but field and natu=
re recording are the higher priority.
Jason,
Nature field recording is a very different process to music recording as it=
is usually uncontrolled and unpredictable. You have also to contend with
wind and unwanted noise, while balancing wildlife sounds with a natural
ambience. Patience and luck are important parameters.
I usually use a pair of old MKH415's at an angle of about 30 deg. The
advantage of this over a stereo pair of cardioids or a M-S rig is that a
large part of the solid angle above, below, to the side, and rear, is in
lower sensitivity regions. This reduces the total anthropogenic and wind
noise and gives some needed control over the recording.
In practice the two mics do not have to be a matched pair and I have even
got an acceptable stereo image from a MKH416 and a MKH816 long gunmic.
Some recordings with pix and info are on:
www.stowford.org/recordings.htm
Have a listen to the "The Thrush and Pheasant". There is a noisy stream in=
the wood, a grain mill on the opposite hill and a main road not far away.
My advice would be to get another gunmic and experiment.
> -Boom pole or Tripod (do I need both?)
Neither. I put my mics on the ground where they usually sound better. Try
it. Mic stands are for speech and music.
The other advice I boringly nag about is to record low and boost later when=
you know where the peaks are. I've had pheasants crow into the mics without=
distorting or hitting the limiter which I hate. Digital recording noise is=
so low it is easily swamped by acoustic noise.
David Brinicombe
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