Topic: mic for field recording

[ripple]

Hi, there

I wanna do some field recordings for soundscape project.
I think I sould have a stereo mic. For my budget, Audio Technica 825 is ok. But I found superlux released the E523/D X/Y Stereo Field Recording Microphone that looks like the 825.
Does somebody have the experience of superlux? Or other advice.
My recorder is Fostex FR2 LE.


Thanks

Audioripple

[digifish_music]

Hi, there

I wanna do some field recordings for soundscape project.
I think I sould have a stereo mic. For my budget, Audio Technica 825 is ok. But I found superlux released the E523/D X/Y Stereo Field Recording Microphone that looks like the 825.
Does somebody have the experience of superlux? Or other advice.
My recorder is Fostex FR2 LE.


Thanks

Audioripple

AT825 makes great field recordings. I can't tell you anything about the E523/D, @ 70dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa, I'd guess the noise floor is a little high.

For field recording low noise is key. I tend to use a pair of Audio Technica 3032s or Rode NT4 (in a blimp) -> Sound Devices MixPre -> Edirol R09.

To hear various mics used in field recording applicatons type the name in at

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/index.php

more info here...

http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-reports/HiMD/index.htm

http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-reports/MicSpecCharts/MicNoiseSensv01.xls

digifish

[ripple]

Thanks, digifish

I think the mics you said are better quality.
My question is at3032 and rode nt4 is designed for studio. Do they fit the field recording,outdoor?
I mean AT825 is for broadcast, film, nature fx.

[ripple]

I like the sample clip which was recorded with at3032.
Is it stereo recording with spaced pairs?

[ambo]

I also use the same setup as digifish with 2 AT3032's. They're very rugged, and happy in cold,dry or humid conditions. Very low noise as well. I use mine in a Jecklin disc setup or spaced, minimum 30cm. I posted an image in this thread:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,83393.0.html

[digifish_music]

Thanks, digifish

I think the mics you said are better quality.
My question is at3032 and rode nt4 is designed for studio. Do they fit the field recording,outdoor?
I mean AT825 is for broadcast, film, nature fx.

The Rode NT4 is very happy outdoors, even happier if it's in a blimp. The 825 and NT4 are based on the same technology. The NT4 is a bit heavier and a bit quieter. FWIW: I know people who use Rode NT1-A's for outdoors field recording and they sound spectacular. I would use them too, but they are just a bit too bulky and have to sit on stands, not great for the sort of field recording I do. 

These are all NT4...

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=43761

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=44480

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=43114

BTW: What ST3032 recording were you referring to?

Pics...

If there is not a lot of wind about this works (but I use a blimp usually)...



AT3032, humid conditions, no problems...these were under car-port so not in the rain



Recording here -> http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=45220

digifish

[bdasilva]

Join the naturerecordists list on yahoo... I use a 32" clark porabola with stereo AT3032s...

[ripple]

Thanks, digifish

I think the mics you said are better quality.
My question is at3032 and rode nt4 is designed for studio. Do they fit the field recording,outdoor?
I mean AT825 is for broadcast, film, nature fx.

The Rode NT4 is very happy outdoors, even happier if it's in a blimp. The 825 and NT4 are based on the same technology. The NT4 is a bit heavier and a bit quieter. FWIW: I know people who use Rode NT1-A's for outdoors field recording and they sound spectacular. I would use them too, but they are just a bit too bulky and have to sit on stands, not great for the sort of field recording I do. 

These are all NT4...

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=43761

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=44480

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=43114

BTW: What ST3032 recording were you referring to?

Pics...

If there is not a lot of wind about this works (but I use a blimp usually)...



AT3032, humid conditions, no problems...these were under car-port so not in the rain



Recording here -> http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=45220

digifish

digifish

I like the Josuha Tree Plams, Frogs, Rain & Jet and Curt Olson's urban ambence with AT-3032's followed by Shure WL183's on the HiMD/index web.
I think AT-3032 is varied usage. can be use in studio as a room mic and outdoor.
Maybe I wanna a shotgun more.

[digifish_music]

I like the Josuha Tree Plams, Frogs, Rain & Jet and Curt Olson's urban ambence with AT-3032's followed by Shure WL183's on the HiMD/index web.
I think AT-3032 is varied usage. can be use in studio as a room mic and outdoor.
Maybe I wanna a shotgun more.

That depends if you are trying to capture specific sounds or ambiance. When I first started field recording I thought I wanted specific sounds, but then realized I preferred broad stereo landscapes.

BTW, here's the recording from the NT4 in the pic above

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=41314



digifish

[rastasean]

The nt4 sounds really wonderful and I would be tempted to buy one if I could. Do you think nearly the same results could be archived with a pair of the NT5s? What about comparing the NT5s to the AT 3032s? Would that be fair to compare? A pair of the NT5s are $315 BH while the 3032's are $170 a mic. 

[digifish_music]

The nt4 sounds really wonderful and I would be tempted to buy one if I could. Do you think nearly the same results could be archived with a pair of the NT5s? What about comparing the NT5s to the AT 3032s? Would that be fair to compare? A pair of the NT5s are $315 BH while the 3032's are $170 a mic. 

Sure, the NT5's are the same cardioid capsules. The NT4 is just more convenient and fits in a blimp.



If cost is an issue, i'd recommend the AT825 before getting a pair of stereo mics. It's just the convenience factor. The AT825 makes excellent recordings too.

BTW: What are you planning to record?

digifish

[rastasean]

What about an AT822? haha, I think this is just a battery powered 825 as opposed to phantom power. of course the specs maybe a little different on it but in actuality, I doubt it will be noticeable.

As far as what I want to record, basically like you, I want to capture anything from the city sounds on a corner or a house party. My mom has many different birds and once I did half an hour recording of the noises in the house and it turned out pretty nice. I'd even be up for walking around a busy neighborhood/street/road and recording the sounds. I would like to capture no particular sound but broad sounds that would make up for a very interesting recording.

I signed up on the site you use so I could download and listen to your recordings but I haven't bothered to look around on how you upload. Is it pretty straight forward?

Thanks!

[digifish_music]

What about an AT822? haha, I think this is just a battery powered 825 as opposed to phantom power. of course the specs maybe a little different on it but in actuality, I doubt it will be noticeable.

As far as what I want to record, basically like you, I want to capture anything from the city sounds on a corner or a house party. My mom has many different birds and once I did half an hour recording of the noises in the house and it turned out pretty nice. I'd even be up for walking around a busy neighborhood/street/road and recording the sounds. I would like to capture no particular sound but broad sounds that would make up for a very interesting recording.

I signed up on the site you use so I could download and listen to your recordings but I haven't bothered to look around on how you upload. Is it pretty straight forward?

Thanks!

Yes AT822 is nice. I saw you were using the Fostex FR2 LE so thought you would be powering it from that.

Uploading to freesound is a piece of cake, click upload, browse your local PC, select the songs to upload, and click OK.

You then get taken through several screens to label and tag your sounds and you are done.

digifish