A cheap and tiny mic for recording dog barks

[mdq]

Greetings forum,
A couple guys and I are currently working on a school project and we are in need of a cheap microphone that is receptive enough to record the barking of a dog. The sound quality does not matter, just as long as the frequency response is sufficient enough to pick up the dog barks. We plan to use this microphone on a small device, so size will be an issue. We want something around 3 inches or less to get the job done. I am currently searching for a possible fit and I stumbled upon here, figured somebody here should have an idea. Suggestions? Any good sellers to look into?

 

[mshilarious]

Any microphone will record pretty much what you hear as the dog barking. The question is are dogs concerned with the ultrasonic (>20kHz) frequencies of a bark? Dogs can hear up there, but that doesn't mean that necessarily use those frequencies in their own communication.

If you want to record ultrasound, you'll need not only a mic with reasonable ultrasonic performance, but you'll also need to use a converter and sample rate that can record up there--96kHz sample rate should do.

If you intend to do a frequency analysis of the dog bark, you will need to make sure your analysis tools will display ultrasound.

 

[Shadow_7]

Does the 3" include the shockmount, cable, and other thing? My STO-2's are probably 4"-ish, closer to 6 with the cable plugged in. And cheap relative to a Neuman / Porshe. Although perhaps a bit much for your needs.

Pretty much any mic will be able to record what you hear as a dog bark. Whether you captured the full spectrum or if it can be reproduced accurately is another story. As I realize that my Magnepans (speakers) might be a bit too good. When a phone rings on TV, someone's always trying to answer the non-TV one. Same with the doorbell, and other things. And don't get me started on the things that get played over the Radio that have 1st responder sirens in the mix.

 

[Richard Monroe]

In sufficient data. What does the mic have to plug into, and are you trying to attach it to the dog? Any mic can pick up a dog bark. What's the real mission, and what are you doing the actual recording *with*?-Richie

 

[darrin_h2000]

I agree...is this a free range dog?...Id consider a wireless...the last thing you want is for fido to see a rabbit and you never see your u87 again.