Mic for stock sound out-door recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter lockesilver
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lockesilver

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Hi,

I've been recording some stock stounds in my studio but I'd also like to go outdoor and record some ambient sounds, water, birds and stuff.

I use a Rode NT1-a in my studio, which does it job very well.

Now, do you have any suggestions as to a good outdoor microphone? I'd just use the same one but I think a dynamic mic would be better (no need for phantom = better portability). And I know very little about dynamic mics.

I'm also wondering if I should get a portable recorder, or carry a laptop with me. What do you think?
 
I'd recommend a good shotgun mic that lets you isolate that babbling brook or cedar waxwing without having to get your feet too wet or scaring the bird away by getting to close, while at the same time rejecting the sounds of those 18-wheelers driving by on that interstate a half mile to your left. Audio Technica has a whole great series of shotgun mics to choose from.

As far as the recording device, you can use a laptop, but they can get kind of heavy, and require a separate interface box or PCM card with interface cables to do right. If you have a nice portable recorder with it's own preamp and XLR connector, it's usually easier and better - and more reliable,

The trade off, of course, is that if you already have a laptop, using that will probably be cheaper than going out and buying a dedicated recorder. Unless you can find one of those pocket portable recorders that can handle an external microphone with more than just a cheapo 1/8" mini jack.

G.
 
I wouldn't use a dynamic, I don't think you will find it sensitive enough and you will end up wirh quiet/noisy recordings.

RF condenser mics are the industry standard for outdoor work (Sennheiser MKH series) as they are not bothered by damp in the atmosphere like other mics.

A normal AF condenser can be OK with care, just be careful and keep it in a basket windshield, ideally.
 
Thanks for the intformative suggestions!
Now, I think I'll go with the following (my budget isn't too great):

1. Rode NTG-1 (http://www.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=NTG-1)
2. Rode Blimp system (http://www.rodemic.com/accessory.php?product=Blimp)
3. some boompole
4. Zoom H4N (http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h4n/)

And that's it. What do you think?

And, one more little question.. Why all the digital recorders have built in microphones? Cause in the case of this H4N, it has two condenser microphones on board, which are very good, but not so good I would use them in my recordings. So, I imagine they are like 1/3 the price of the microphone.
 
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From what I can tell, you've made some nice choices. The Rode mic should suit your purpose perfectly, and the Blimp accessories for it are a wise idea.

I've not had any first-hand experience with the Zoom recorder, but it should function for your needs just fine. The only caution I'd have - and it's one I'm unsure of - is that you might want to make sure you carry a charged back-up battery pack with you out in the field. Even though they claim a 6-hour battery life (and more in "stamina mode"), not only can the outdoor elements like temperature changes mess with that, but mainly I'd be concerned that the 48V phantom power requirements of the mic might drain the batteries a bit quicker than the ideal numbers.

Either way, it's always a good idea to take some backup power/batteries with you when out in the field, because Murphy and his damn law are always lurking behind the next bush. And the phantom power energy suck might just put a finer point on that.

The built-in mics are there for those who just want something simple and/or non-obtrusive in a hand-held form-factor.

G.
 
Personally I would go for the Rycote S-series over the Rode Blimp. The suspension is better, the wind protection excellent and, as far as I know, it's also cheaper.
 
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