Topic: field recording newbie: shotgun or parabolic dish?

[newplanet7]

That's pretty intense GB.
I kept wondering when the next whistle/horn was coming.
It built anticipation nicely.

[Gutbucket]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

The first time I went to India they were phasing out the last of the old full-scale steam trains.  Didn't get to ride any of those but saw a couple pull into stations and make glorious noises.  I wish I had recording gear with me.  I did get to ride a couple of steam powered 'toy trains', one to Simla and another to Darjeeling, which aren't toys at all but simply small gauge trains used to climb the mountains since they can make much tighter turns and climb steeper grades.  I'm not sure , but those trains are probably ~150 years old and still chuggin'.

[rastasean]

that's some dynamic range going on and a very detailed recording of the crickets to the horn blowing far away to right up close passing by.
Did you have the antennas and stand raised all the way up or half way?

keep up the good work

[Gutbucket]

Shoulder height, no stand. Similar but slightly different mounting than the small diameter spheres in the 4-channel rig pictured above, mics boundary mounted on larger baffles - that is, simply taped to the outside of my arms.  So the baffles in this case were about twice the diameter in the horizontal plane, and the A-B spacing about half as much.  Same signal chain except the preamp.

[justink]

i wanna run this at a show FOH!

http://www.wildlife-sound.org/equipment/stereo_parabol/index.html

[Gutbucket]

i wanna run this at a show FOH!

http://www.wildlife-sound.org/equipment/stereo_parabol/index.html

Perfect setup for that, no stand or hand holding required-

[soundgeezer]

I'd like to say thanks to everyone who helped out here! Since I'm first going to focus on an omniaural, environment approach, those 4060s do look enticing... I can always go for a shotgun later on in the game. Thanks again for all your really helpful insights and input!

[rjp]

Here's a 2 channel stereo recording of a late night freight train approaching from a distance and passing close by, with sounds of several distant & close crossing gates signaling warnings in turn, and a mean sounding Corvette pulling across the tracks after the train and roaring off down the road.  I especially like the singing break-hose air-line on the rear of the train.  It is a somewhat urban environment, but late at night so the ambient noise floor is pretty low, with bugs frogs and night-bird song before and after the train.

Very nice recording! What sort of baffle did you use for that?

[rastasean]

Here's a 2 channel stereo recording of a late night freight train approaching from a distance and passing close by, with sounds of several distant & close crossing gates signaling warnings in turn, and a mean sounding Corvette pulling across the tracks after the train and roaring off down the road.  I especially like the singing break-hose air-line on the rear of the train.  It is a somewhat urban environment, but late at night so the ambient noise floor is pretty low, with bugs frogs and night-bird song before and after the train.

Very nice recording! What sort of baffle did you use for that?

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=139520.msg1807964#msg1807964

[guysonic]

One mic system not yet mentioned are the custom mics made here used exclusively for capturing natural uncolored virtual reality stereo-surround in any remote ambient condition. 

Used for over 20 years by both amateurs and the award winning professionals who make their living recording live sounds. 

Recorded examples using this type of gear with notes found at: www.sonicstudios.com/mp3.htm and www.sonicstudios.com/mp3_2slp.htm.   

Partial professional credits at www.sonicstudios.com/cinema.htm