Custom Marantz Recorder/\Now with frog samples!!!

[deaf dunderkwac]

Eats the ME66 alive

doesn't everything

I find myself lately suffering the age old problems of wind, moving sounds sources etc. Im gonna make some DIY zepplins soon though, so Im hoping that will help.

Really the trick I found on zeps is that the farter thewind interruption is from the capsole, the more effective (big windscreen- little mic)Where I work wind is always kicking beteen 10-30 kph with days of gusty winds up to 50-60 kph. It's a real problem. We have the various commercial zeps from lightwave and rycote, but there were days when I used a rycote (by itself, offered very little wind resistance) a wool sock (a thick wool covering for the rycote) and a windjammer (heavy synthetic long-haired fur covering over the wool sock) for days of over 50 kph winds.
The rycotes I generally used the windjammer with them as it offered much less high-frequency roll-off then the wool sock.
But a zep is a bit difficult to do for a shotgun, having to have a shook resistant internal holder for the mic (hint- I used heavy rubber bands with My home-brew zeps and the tube was within a 100mm diameter holder (the end of the tube was also 76mm from the zep) with a nylon sock covering it and open-cell foam on the inside (about a 10mm thicknes, which I got in sheets from electro-voice)
This set-up was good for up to 30 kph winds.

Good luck


and I'm a 1:20 into the cuts on the frogs, just needed to take a break...

[SampleStream]

Peter,

You may find it difficult locating Schoeps in this country. They do have distribution here, but getting them to test might be a bitch. They do some cool stereo mics though, so definately worth checking into.

I am pretty much sorted for stereo, a few variations that prove to be cool – but if I ever see one in the UK I will check it out.

Mate, the Rode NTG1 has to get a mention for being by far the best cheap shotgun on the market. Eats the ME66 alive imo and costs a fraction. Might not put the Neumanns or Schoeps to shame, but its certainly a contendor.

The main weakness the ntg has got - (other than handerling noise – so it does need suspending) - is it strength when wanting to do bi stereo setups. in certain enviroments.

I use two of the ntg-2's for that.

The point being – what might drop a mic in reviews (subtle as they might be when doing it) is its hard classification (in this case shotgun) – the trick is to look at all the aspects of the mics and focus on their strengths, can see if their weakness puts them into another classification (maybe an unknown one) – The good thing about field recording is the problems it provides – and the creative can really have a ball in this category – look for the solutions and experiment, always experiment and make notes when doing it – when something works, you gained knowledge that you would be hard pushed to find in a book.

There are no hard and fast rules unless you are a by the numbers studio tech (who would have a heart attack if asked to record butterfly wings in 20 mph winds alongside the edge of a main road while also in the flight path of a popular airport.

As Dundar shows, Field recording is about finding solutions, being creative and always trying to become better at it, and to increase the quality of the final product – the sample.

I love it

[Genetic_Junk]

Yup the NT1a pick up even the slightest bit a breeze. Luckily where I live wind still won't be much of a problem. I think I'll go down to the beach and do some stuff with the new marantz there.

Dunder uploaded his cuts to rapidshare and I'll be putting them on my site shortly.

Thanks again dunder.

[tee boy]

Genetic,

Im making a DIY suspension and zepplin rig for my NT1's soon. Will send you some snaps.


Peter,

Iv been using the NTG as either a spot mic, or usually as a field FX mic. Its been performing pretty well - the side rejection is fantastic. I shall have to give it a try in a stereo set up too (cool thing is, they'll so cheap even I can afford two!).


Dunder,

Appreciate the advice mate. This is the first of my DIY windshields so I not sure how good it will turn out. My main concern right now is the high freq attenuation - hopefully I will strike lucky and get the right materials first time!

Did a bit of research on the nature recordist's yahoo group, and they seem to have some cool designs. This one guy used a drain pipe hack sawed open, with some wire mesh and fake gorilla fur. Looked pretty good.

I shall have to do some experiments and see what works out best.

TB

[deaf dunderkwac]

@Genetic_Junk...
just edited, didn't bother with normalizing, like I would normally (sic) do... you're welcome

@ TB you're welcome... hope your efforts are rewarding...

[tee boy]

@Genetic_Junk...
just edited, didn't bother with normalizing, like I would normally (sic) do... you're welcome

@ TB you're welcome... hope your efforts are rewarding...

Do you have a link?

TB

[Genetic_Junk]

Yes I would really like to see what you have come up with teeboy.

Link is on the 1st page.

[tee boy]

Lol, it may not be pretty!

First one is for the shotgun mic:

- paint roller extension for the boom

- Drain pipe for the windshield body (hack sawed, and fitted with elastic bands for the suspension)

- Wire mesh, with stocking for the windshild exterior

- Fake gorilla fur for the winderjammer


I think this should work fine. But will have to do some tests to be sure the high end attenuation isnt to bad. Rycote reckon that their system results in 5dB attenuation above 6kHz, so this will be my reference.

The stereo set up will be more difficult. Iv seen very simple designs for a binaural pair (just like a bigger version of the mono one). But for an XY it might be more difficult. Will have to work on this, cuz the NT1's will need it definately for outdoor recordings.

TB

[Genetic_Junk]

I'm gonna have to come up with something. I just hate compromising any frequency from the source. I guess it's all for the greater good.

Thanks for the outline tee boy.