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Author Topic: Leaving mics outside over night?  (Read 11067 times)

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Offline Colin Liston

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Leaving mics outside over night?
« on: January 05, 2009, 12:59:07 PM »
I have to record some animal sounds, specifically geese in their pen at night. 

Would any of you guys leave your mics outside, but covered with a roof, but otherwise in an open pen overnight? 

Suggestions, thoughts?
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Offline bluelawn

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2009, 01:17:26 PM »
cheaper mics than you have listed in your sig - sure
ie: my at4041s,
geffels, dpa's & the like... nope
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Offline mr qpl

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2009, 02:20:43 PM »
first of all, where do you live and what night are you leaving them out? >:D

I think that if you keep them dry (roof) and then use the silica moisture absorbers for a night or so after, everything should be ok, however, all bets is off if you live near the ocean.

Offline Colin Liston

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2009, 03:15:37 PM »
first of all, where do you live and what night are you leaving them out? >:D

I think that if you keep them dry (roof) and then use the silica moisture absorbers for a night or so after, everything should be ok, however, all bets is off if you live near the ocean.

I do live about 3 miles from the beach and about 500 yards from the intra-coastal waterway.  Good point about the beach though, hadn't thought of that.  Maybe I'll find some cheap mic to use instead.
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Offline audBall

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2009, 03:26:33 PM »
Wasn't a DPA microphone left in a fisherman's tacklebox for a year only to operate to spec once removed ??  Also, doesn't DPA recommend cleaning their miniature mics with distilled water?  Now, salty humid air and distilled water are drastically different, but I can't imagine the mic (if housed in a windscreen and covered from rain) being damaged from this. 

Just be sure, 'dry' the microphone in the least humid area you find once it's all over.  I'm not even sure that's needed. 
« Last Edit: January 05, 2009, 03:28:20 PM by AudBall »
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Offline Gutbucket

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Offline mr qpl

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2009, 04:22:49 PM »
spoken from experience. :'(

Never leave anything you value out in salt water, salt water spray, mist or whatever, it's really near acidic in its corrosive capabilities

Offline John Willett

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2009, 05:39:22 PM »
I have to record some animal sounds, specifically geese in their pen at night. 

Would any of you guys leave your mics outside, but covered with a roof, but otherwise in an open pen overnight? 

Suggestions, thoughts?

This is common in wildlife recording, but I would only do it with certain dynamics and Sennheiser MKH (RF condenser) microphones.

Offline Gutbucket

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2009, 06:22:52 PM »
^^^
Self-polarized 'back-electret' mics also generally fair far better than externally polarized (non-RF) condensers in humid conditions.  That's perhaps a factor for the DPAs surviving the fish box without ill effect.  I never heard that story before.  I've done this plenty of times with 4060s for frogs, sqeaking boats, etc.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2009, 06:50:26 PM by Gutbucket »
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline audBall

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2009, 06:37:37 PM »
I seem to recall reading the tacklebox story on this board some time ago, but did find some discussion here.  That's good to know about self-polarized mics.  I'll be sure to take my electrets next time when out in the field.
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Offline digifish_music

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2009, 07:02:06 PM »
I have to record some animal sounds, specifically geese in their pen at night. 

Would any of you guys leave your mics outside, but covered with a roof, but otherwise in an open pen overnight? 

Suggestions, thoughts?

Mics - I bought a pair of behringer C-2 mics for such 'dangerous' missions -



Random eBay example for $59

They do actually sound good, only down side (IMO) is they have a little more self-noise than the more expensive equivalents (but also if there is background wind/rustling it won't be noticable). So depends on how hi-fi the recording has to be? I'd recommend the C-2's for people here wanting to record from the mosh-pit :)

Here is a similar example of a recording of ducks & geese from a C2 pair...

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=39712

and a pic of the recording in session...



Everyone should have a pair of these in their arsenal :)

Other points...overnight recordings can be very boring, been there done that on a number of occasions :) It helps alot if your recorder has an auto-split function so that you can specify 1 hour chunks or something.
I love the R09HR for this.

You can also wrap your mics in food grade cling-wrap (they are safe from moisture and condensation then), that will work very well, done that with my C2s and AT3032s, if you keep a tightly stretched film over the capsule then there is no noticeable effect on the sound.

You will notice I am using a tripod, I prefer to use one out in the field as it's light-weight & stable. The pan/tilt head allows you to level the mics when the ground isn't

BTW: where is your recorder going to be?

digifish
« Last Edit: January 05, 2009, 07:15:22 PM by digifish_music »
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Offline newplanet7

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2009, 07:30:23 PM »
That is a great shot.

Wonder if that looks strange to a normal passerby ;D
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FYI, it is a kick ass recording of a bunch of pretend-a-hippies talking.

Offline Gutbucket

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2009, 08:31:20 PM »
..overnight recordings can be very boring, been there done that on a number of occasions :)

Oh so true!  Prepare for lots of FWD..FWD.....FWD......FWD........FWD or visual wave scanning in your editor looking find the 'good bits'.
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline digifish_music

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2009, 12:24:39 AM »
..overnight recordings can be very boring, been there done that on a number of occasions :)

...or visual wave scanning in your editor looking find the 'good bits'.

Which are usually so quiet they can't be seen :)
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Offline digifish_music

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Re: Leaving mics outside over night?
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2009, 01:55:31 AM »
That is a great shot.

Wonder if that looks strange to a normal passerby ;D

I definitely worried a few people :)
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