Field Recording - Microphones

Microphones have often been said to be half the equation when it comes to recording. Experts advise to spend an equal amount of money on the recorder and an equal amount on the microphone. A great recorder with a poor microphone is just as bad as a poor microphone with a great microphone.

Common types of microphones used in field work fall into three categories.

1: Omnidirectional - I prefer this type of microphone when I leave my system unattended in the woods for an extended time. Obviously I will not know the direction of the sound so I must record in all directions.

Seenheiser MKH20 Omnidirectional Microphone

2: Directional - includes short and long shotgun style microphones. Many of my better bird recordings were gathered by walking through the woods and pointing the shot gun in the direction the bird song was coming from.

Sennhesier MKH70 Long shot gun microphone

3: Parabolic - this type of microphone has been used extensively in recording birds. There is a wide variety of microphones used with parabolic reflectors.

Telinga BioAcoustics Parabolic Microphone

The number of models of microphones is staggering. Companies producing microphones that have been used by nature recordists include:

Audio-Technica

Røde

Sennheiser

Sennheiser has two series of microphones that have been used for field recording for years. The ME Series, which includes an interchangeable capsule system and a more expensive series, the MKH Series. The MKH20 is undoubtedly the finest omnidirectional microphone available today for field work.

The ultimate combination for field recording is the parabolic microphone, which consist of a parabolic reflector and an omnidirectional microphone.

Telinga Microphones of Sweden is known world wide for their parabolic microphones. They can be purchased in this country both through Nature Songs and Stith Recording.

There are many articles available on the internet that discuss theory, techniques and setups for field recording.

Acoustic Properties Of Parabolic Reflectors

Avisoft-Biocoustics

How Plug In Power works

MacaulayLibrary

Microphone Input Noise Comparision

MS with reflector - A versatile "two for the price of one" rig

Parabolic microphones and stereo sound

Parabolic microphones - reality, mono and stereo sound

Parabolic Stereo

Sounds of Nature!