I want to record nature sounds

Rockworthy · 30th December 2009, 05:04 AM

Hello Forumers! I want to be able to make really good recordings of nature sounds for my ambient listening pleasure. Does anyone know what kind of equipment I need for this, besides just recording with my iPhone or something? I want the quality to be terrific and I want to be able to get rid of wind noise completely. Having directional ability would be a plus too, such as using some kind of parabolic, directional mic (or making one myself). Any ideas? Thanks in advance,

Rockworthy

EC8010 · 30th December 2009, 12:52 PM

Parabolic mirror plus cardioid microphone or gun mike in dead cat to get rid of the wind noise. You could probably improvise a parabolic mirror using an old satellite dish, then buy a half reasonable cardioid microphone and decent microphone pre-amplifier (or make the pre-amplifier yourself).

TubeMack · 02:33 AM

Perhaps something along this line.

Buy TASCAM DR-100 Portable Digital Recorder | Professional | Musician's Friend

Or

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...der?sku=241731

You could use the built in stereo mics while waiting for the more advanced directional ones?

JimDiGriz · 19th October 2012, 02:13 AM

The dish began life as a 14" steel wok. The frame is simply a 1/8"x1/2" aluminium piece of barstock. The "horn" that holds the mic is made from the same.

In case the photo doesn't post in this message... here's the link:

parabolic-dish.jpg picture by emailpete - Photobucket

bear · 19th October 2012, 04:07 AM

crickets at night in the country - all you need is a quiet mic pre and two mics out the windows...

_-_-bear

xrk971 · 29th October 2012, 01:09 PM

I have used the Zoom H4 recorder with XY-type condenser microphones built in. On the highest gain setting it will pick up casual conversations of people across the street (200 ft away) or birds without need of a parabolic dish. When used walking in the woods you feel like you are really there when replaying it. However it is non directional so you will get the true 3d sound as it appears to your ears and feel immersed. There are also two external microphone XLR or 1/4-in jacks for input with your own mike (like a shotgun). Sound can be saved in non-compressed 24-bit 96kHz, or any level of compression and quantization to mp3. Sound quality is very good.

sreten · 29th October 2012, 03:03 PM

Hi, Seems the sort of thing you need, rgds, sreten.

http://oreilly.com/digitalmedia/2007...-recorder.html

30th December 2009, 05:04 AM	#1
Rockworthy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2009	I want to record nature sounds Hello Forumers! I want to be able to make really good recordings of nature sounds for my ambient listening pleasure. Does anyone know what kind of equipment I need for this, besides just recording with my iPhone or something? I want the quality to be terrific and I want to be able to get rid of wind noise completely. Having directional ability would be a plus too, such as using some kind of parabolic, directional mic (or making one myself). Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Rockworthy

30th December 2009, 12:52 PM	#2
EC8010 diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Near London. UK	Parabolic mirror plus cardioid microphone or gun mike in dead cat to get rid of the wind noise. You could probably improvise a parabolic mirror using an old satellite dish, then buy a half reasonable cardioid microphone and decent microphone pre-amplifier (or make the pre-amplifier yourself). __________________ The loudspeaker: The only commercial Hi-Fi item where a disproportionate part of the budget isn't spent on the box. And the one where it would make a difference...

1st January 2010, 02:27 AM	#3
TubeMack diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Florida	Perhaps something along this line. Buy TASCAM DR-100 Portable Digital Recorder \| Professional \| Musician's Friend Or http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...der?sku=241731 You could use the built in stereo mics while waiting for the more advanced directional ones? Last edited by TubeMack; 1st January 2010 at 02:33 AM.

19th October 2012, 02:13 AM	#4
JimDiGriz diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2012	parabolic dish project The dish began life as a 14" steel wok. The frame is simply a 1/8"x1/2" aluminium piece of barstock. The "horn" that holds the mic is made from the same. In case the photo doesn't post in this message... here's the link: parabolic-dish.jpg picture by emailpete - Photobucket

19th October 2012, 04:07 AM	#5
bear expert in tautology diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New York State USA	crickets at night in the country - all you need is a quiet mic pre and two mics out the windows... _-_-bear __________________ _-_-bear http://www.bearlabs.com [...2SJ74 Toshiba bogus asian parts - beware! ] -- Btw, I don't actually know anything, FYI --


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

29th October 2012, 01:09 PM	#6
xrk971 diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Virginia	Zoom H4 Digital Audio Recorder I have used the Zoom H4 recorder with XY-type condenser microphones built in. On the highest gain setting it will pick up casual conversations of people across the street (200 ft away) or birds without need of a parabolic dish. When used walking in the woods you feel like you are really there when replaying it. However it is non directional so you will get the true 3d sound as it appears to your ears and feel immersed. There are also two external microphone XLR or 1/4-in jacks for input with your own mike (like a shotgun). Sound can be saved in non-compressed 24-bit 96kHz, or any level of compression and quantization to mp3. Sound quality is very good.

29th October 2012, 03:03 PM	#7
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, Seems the sort of thing you need, rgds, sreten. http://oreilly.com/digitalmedia/2007...-recorder.html __________________ There is nothing so practical as a really good theory - Ludwig Boltzmann When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail - Abraham Maslow

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