Field recording nature and wildlife with mini drop rigs

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Field recording nature and wildlife isn't as easy as recording props in a studio. It's even more difficult if you want to record pristine nature, undisturbed wildlife or environments free of the human element.
In my experience the best approach is to use unattended "mini drop rigs". They're generally small and easy to hide but they don't compromise on recording quality. There are some caveats to this that I go over in the video.
I've tested a wide range of gear and the kit I mention in the video is what I prefer as it suits my workflow best. You can use whatever recorder or mics you have though, not just the Sony devices or Lom mics.
Many thanks to Stijn Demeulenaere for being an awesome companion in remote and sometimes dangerous parts of the world. We've talked extensively about these techniques and many other aspects of field recording.
This video is made with the help of my Patreon supporters: / georgevlad
Handheld recorder reviews: mindful-audio....
Equipment mentioned:
Sony PCM D100 - amzn.to/2WqFayS
Sony PCM A10 - amzn.to/2WqUco6
Sony PCM D10 - Get it at amzn.to/3bmK3MR
Lom MikroUsi microphones - store.lom.audi...
Aqua Quest dry bags - Get these at amzn.to/3cYaOrQ (US) or amzn.to/3cQ7Oh7 (UK)
Bubblebee Windbubbles - www.bubblebeei...
Sistema food containers
Enjoying these videos? Feel free to support me by:
- becoming a patron: / georgevlad
- buying my sound effects libraries: mindful-audio....
- buying me a coffee: ko-fi.com/geor...
- buying my soundscape albums: wildaesthesia....
#fieldrecording #naturesounds #wildlifesounds

Опубликовано:

12 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 264

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Things don't always go well in the field. Sometimes your equipment is attacked by fire ants! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ADbBSchsI_g.html

@mexicanopiumdog6989 4 года назад

"I'm kidding, I won't tape microphones to wildlife" cracked me up! :D

@sebastiankotlinski7352 Год назад

please more if this content! you have a calm voice and have a way to present the information in a good and interesting way 🤓 thx for your knowledge 🙏

@GeorgeVlad Год назад

More to come!

@ive595 3 года назад

Re visiting this video after 6 months or so, a big thank you for inspiring me to try this. I have recorded some amazing sounds by leaving rigs out over a period of time. I have recorded bird sound and wildlife near lakes and rivers and have just stumbled onto something I’m sure you would already know, I started putting the mics up high into the tree canopy, up to 12 metres up, the difference in bird song up in the canopy is amazing.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Great to hear that! I'm happy I inspired you to go out and record and indeed the canopy can sound wildly different if you aren't used to being up there.

@kc0gio 4 года назад

By far the best Field recording video i've seen. Lots of great info Thanks

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Thanks you, more on the way as soon as I return from the jungle.

@HpBeck_Fieldrecordings 3 года назад

hey George this video is so insperierent for me thanks for your experiences

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Glad you enjoyed it!

@luisgerardogutierrez9930 4 года назад

Loved every minute of it. Thanks so much for sharing!

@birdscds47 3 года назад

I have two rigs, one I leave hidden while I go to another part of the woods (Rode NT2A's & Tascam DR100Mk3). I really like the intimate sound the unattended rig captures for me, birds come closer to the mics and behave noticeably differently when people are not around.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Couldn't agree more, drop rigs allow a very different and more intimate perspective.

@NRGRX 4 года назад

You’re a gem man! Thank you!

@carlpasha 4 года назад

I found that when recording the dawn chorus in Ireland and Norfolk that it took more than 20 minutes after my departure, leaving my set-up continuously recording, for the birds to fully resume their singing. Being an absentee recordist is definitely beneficial when recording wildlife sounds. We don't want to cramp their style! And besides, taping mics to small birds pulls their feathers out. And for those who take everything on the Web literally... I AM JOKING.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Agreed, especially on the last part!

@pakovbasyuk 4 года назад

Great overview, appreciate your work

@efydd Год назад

inspirational! Great video.

@GeorgeVlad Год назад

Thanks, happy to hear that.

@ColinHuntersound 4 года назад

Great video George!

@DivineMisterAdVentures 3 года назад

Answering the question, "if a tree falls in the forest ..." and the answer is - YES!

@kaolanangorganikongmagsasa3571 3 года назад

I will start also as a hobbyist very soon. I will consider all your tips. Thanks for sharing.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

My pleasure, happy to help.

@HermSchreurs 4 года назад

Thank you for sharing George! Great video

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Many thanks, Herm!

@yedhu10 3 года назад

I love that golden sunlight

@andrewperkin2179 3 года назад

This is fantastic thanks. I am amazed you dont worry too much about mic spacing which is refreshing. I am surprised the mics are so moisture and water proof. I also leave paired levaliers out on trees to a marantz pmd-662 but the battery like is very bad so will now migrate across to sony. As you say the most important thing is to get the gear to the location and leave it running.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Glad it was helpful! Yes, the Sonys will outperform the Marantz easily.

@merihakaboogie 3 года назад

Amazing info, thank you George! Subscribed!

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Thanks for the sub!

@ralphiegixenflargle 4 года назад

Thanks so much for a great video! Inspiring. Makes me want to get out and make some recordings!

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I'm happy to hear my work is inspiring, Joshua. Now get out there and record!

@improziv 4 года назад

Great video and info, George. Thank you!

@jochisfx 2 года назад

Great vid thanks for sharing the info! I love the idea of drop rigs, hopefully one day I will be able to try them out

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Sure, good luck!

@mpireoutdoors5274 3 года назад

This video helped me so I try to help you with a tip; if you have a few reusable cable ties they can do the mounting function of the tape with a lighter weight and better reusability whilst also being good for connecting gear to a pack or person or vehicle etc. You can also use tape (or rubber or nylon or anything waterproof really) to increase the diameter of a section of cable to +-7mm and then use the cable tie to close a waterproof bag around this increased diameter which can be pulled tight enough to be entirely waterproof, without stressing the electrical cable. Of course with a clear plastic bag you can then operate the device inside this improvised weather seal. If it's an expensive item use a wider tape and use two reusable cable ties, and possibly two plastic bags. You can also create a similar improvised weather seal by tying the open end of a plastic bag into a tight knot or perhaps two knots with the wires inside the knot, although this puts a bending stress on the wires.

@TeleNature 2 года назад

Nice explanation. Using such waterproof bags seem like a nice idea to steal from you! I've been using plastic cases and other such stuff so far and I've also let a recorder do its job for long periods of time. MixPre can record as long as the battery lasts, which can be days when using USB C batteries and until the SD card has space. Sometimes the extra long recordings are very interesting.

@IONHowTo 4 года назад

Oh here comes the spending spree :/ Thank you for this video, your recording are really amazing.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Haha, good luck with that!

@IONHowTo 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Yeah preorders :/

@mr.h.4501 3 года назад

Some great ideas. I never thought about having small recording rigs. I always stay on-site if not near the recording equipment but close enough to make sure no harm comes to it. I won't leave my D100 alone, but might do it with other smaller recorders I have, if stolen won't be as painful as loosing the D100.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Glad it was helpful! That's where hiding it well comes in very handy.

@quedecree 4 года назад

Nice video thanks George. What sort of spacing do you find works well between the Omni mics to get a good stereo field?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

40cm is textbook spaced omni and I quite like it. It's not set in stone though. I occasionally space them wider if sound sources are further away, or closer if there's a lot of stuff happening. Adding baffles like tree trunks or rocks makes it even more interesting, and in these cases I will keep them closer together. In the photo of the D10 I was trying to very roughly emulate the distance between human ears when I attached the mics to that tree trunk. The recording I got this way sounds natural and immersive. I encourage you to experiment as much as possible as there's hardly any right or wrong approach. This way you'll learn what it is you prefer and what tends to yield good results.

@quedecree 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Many thanks, George. There's a pair of Usi Pro's on their way so lots of experimenting to come!

@AndyGustavsson 4 года назад

Great video with details, I´ve checked your library and the nordic sounds are so beautiful, did you use mini droprigs for those as well or heavier equipment? Looking to get into recording better sounds for my videos so this was a superb find!

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Thank you! I used a bigger Sennheiser rig for the Nordic library as I wanted to capture surround soundscapes.

@AndyGustavsson 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad thanks, really enjoyed it!

@TommasoGobbo 4 года назад

Yo man, big up from Italy! A super detailed explanation of these types of mics! May I ask you the title of the dub techno track at the beginning of the video? It reminds me something from Rod Modell ahah

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Thank you for the kind words! That's a track I composed but I don't remember the name. Haven't shared it anywhere else. Rod Modell is indeed an inspiration for me!

@kameradude 4 года назад

Very cool video ... Am thinking on starting sound recording as well...

@MelissaCox1992 3 года назад

Hi George, Appolagies for the huuge comment🤦‍♀️ I've just started getting into soundscapes, nature ambiences and field recording in general. I was wondering which of the handheld recorders is the easiest to operate with the best sound with regards to stereo image? I am blind, so the recorder needs to have very few menus, but be able to plug in some LAVS like the MikroUsi which I have just ordered as well as using the on board Mics. Any suggestions would be welcome. I've also just ordered the Ambeo Smart headset, so I can use my iPhone with binaural microphones, because that's the easiest right now. (my iPhone talks to me) because I can't see, I like to be fully emmerced by sound, either very wide stereo, surround or binaural, which I have just discovered, and really like. I'm not a fan of mono, when it comes to this kind of material, unless it's a particular animal sound/call as a close up. I have a BA degree in music, with a side focus on music tech, so i'm familiar with the recording process, but have never done recording quite in this way before. I have a very old analogue Roland mixer with a HARD DISK!!! sitting around at home plus a mac with audio interface for music recordings. Thank you for such good quality recordings, and taking the time to explain your process in so much detail. PS: I'm in the process of purchasing all of the nature packs from your site.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Hi Melissa, No worries, good to hear from you. Thanks very much for the kind words. The Ambeo headset coupled with your smartphone will do a decent job. Unfortunately handheld recorders generally have poor UI and aren't designed with accessibility in mind. I don't think there's any difference between brands and models in this regard so it's worth going for the ones that yield the best results if you can work with them (D100, A10 etc). Feel free to email me if you have more questions and I'll do my best to help: mindful-audio.com/contact

@Rob.P 3 года назад

Hi George, I like the video. Now you have another subscriber 👍

@dag221 Год назад

I have the Sony PCMD10 and absolutely love it. It has good battery life when using the built in mics but of course uses more power when running multiple microphones with phantom power. I get around this by using an external battery bank and although I don't have definitive numbers I would imagine it could run multiple days with two phantom power microphones plugged if I am using my beefy Anker battery bank. The SD card might even fill up before the battery runs dead at that rate. I am thinking of getting the PCM-A10 as back up unit to go with D10 and my Zoom F3. I really like and trust Sony preamps and microphones. The Lom usi's are good and I also have the Basic Ucho's and the Immersive Soundscapes Earsights are also very nice microphones. I also have taken to using a plastic ammunition box for a drop box instead of a bag. They are very cheap, easily modified to run cables out the front and very durable and water resistant. I leave it on the ground or use a piece of rope to tie it to a tree. Very good results so far.

@puleddu 4 года назад

Thanks for sharing George! I see you stick to the mikroUši when it comes to mics for your rigs, any reason (apart from portability) you don't go for the less noisy and more sensitive Uši? I'm actually trying to decide which to buy or whether there is use for both. I'm starting to get more involved in field recording (mainly nature) and I'd love to hear your thoughts on which should I start with and why. Cheers!

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

The mikroUsi are much smaller and easier to hide than the Usi. I record mostly in noisy environments like rainforests so self noise is not a big issue and it's not too bad anyway. The mikros also seem to pick up more high frequency content which is always welcome.

@plasticAudio 2 года назад

Great video as usual. If you haven't already, please make a video on mic placement for these rigs.

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

I'm planning a video on stereo and surround techniques that will touch on that.

@LIFECYCLEZ 4 года назад

super nice man !

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Glad you like it!

@Wildlife-film 4 года назад

Excellent job George! :)

@sungrakchoi 4 года назад

Awesome!!!

@can_sarac Год назад

Hi George, sorry if this has been asked already but do you have any plans to make a video about your editing/mastering/loudness/etc... process for these super long recordings?

@GeorgeVlad Год назад

Not at the moment, but you can read about it on my blog: mindful-audio.com/blog/how-to-edit-master-field-recordings

@can_sarac Год назад

@@GeorgeVlad greattt. thanks a lot

@Sonoquilibrium 4 года назад

Hi Vlad! I wanted to ask you if you use also contact mics, when you record sounds in the nature and forests? For example, I was thinking to make recordings with contact mics in locations of waterfalls, where are present also more low frequency sounds, that could be useful. What is your opinion? Thank you, Matej

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Hi Matej. I have in the past used contact mics taped to bridges and other structures that were submerged but the results were underwhelming. I think it's worth experimenting with in any case.

@puravidaambience4695 4 года назад

Thank you 👌

2 года назад

Hi George, Thanks for the great content you make! I apologise for the number of questions but this subject is really fascinating! I would like to ask how do you set up the gain levels with the drop rigs? You never know what will happen so how do you prevent the mic/preamp overloads? Do you use the Mikro Usi with the mini-jack or with XLR? If using the mini-jack do you feel there is a difference in terms of the sound quality/noise from the different recorders since the preamps are bypassed? Wishing you the best!

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Setting the correct gain is something you learn by doing. There's no way to know for sure what levels you'll encounter but with time it gets easier to approximate it. mikoUsi mics are PiP powered so I use them with minijack. I also use the Pro versions sometimes, with XLR and phantom power. Recorders like the SD mixpre 2nd generation have cleaner preamps and offer a better signal to noise ratio than a Sony A10 but not by much.

@vanik0r0 4 года назад

Nice video George, have you created one on file-storage options yet?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Not yet, Tom. I'm in the middle of reorganizing my storage so it will be a while before I can decide my approach is worth trying.

@adamwolf4041 Год назад

Hi George thank you for a very informative video. I am in Norther Minnesota in the US and of course get a wide range of temperature and weather changes. What would be your recommendations for a high quality waterproof mic that would give me the best possible sound quality?

@GeorgeVlad Год назад

Hi Adam, the only truly waterproof mic I can recommend is the DPA 6060. It's not the quietest or best sounding, but it can be submerged and it will not suffer from it.

@jarrahdrum 2 года назад

Hello George, I have a Sony D100 and most recently purchased mikro usi and usi with wind bubbles My question is, are these microphones better than the inbuilt mics. If not I guess you use the LOM’s because you can maybe create better separation. I love your videos by the way 👍🏻

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

MikroUsis are slightly less noisy than the built in mics, but of course they're a bit more complicated to use. I use both externals and built-ins depending on the situation.

@jarrahdrum 2 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad thank you

@TheDrummer72300 4 года назад

Thank you @George Vlad for you video, i'll try very soon to record on this way, and I have a question for you, if you are loking for a more industrial kind of sound, did you already try in the city or industrial area to hide a mic , in a Telecom box or something?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I've never tried that but it should be possible with a small enough rig.

@AndrewPhilippov 4 года назад

Thanks for this vid) Have you tried to use powerbank with usb cable to power your Sony A10 into its usb? It could provide much more recording time. There might be needed a little trick as to connect to powerbank after recording started to avoid it to go into charging mode.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I haven't but I'll do so in the near future. Sony doesn't mention that it's possible in their documentation so I only realized this was possible recently. I'll make sure to post back about it.

@Gvx249 4 года назад

I just tested it and the Sony keeps recording while plugged into a powerbank. I was able to record for 24 hours and only used up 1/4 of a 10000 mAh battery.

@AndrewPhilippov 4 года назад

@@Gvx249 Cool) Now its all about sd-card space) If you have an sony pcm-m10 it is also possible to power it with powerbank, but it will require some soldering and voltage converter to 3 volts.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

@@AndrewPhilippov Unfortunately the M10 is limited to 32GB memory cards as far as I know. One of the reasons I'm not using mine much anymore.

@AndrewPhilippov 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Sad, that Sony did not released a proper replacement for it(

@newlifeeveryday1821 2 года назад

Excellet video. Thank you.

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Glad you liked it!

@robertoserra9297 4 года назад

Amazing video George, very helpful. Do you think the USI PRO mics are better than the built in mics of the D100? Thank you

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I've never used the Usi or Usi Pro mics. I will order some as soon as they become available and I'll post back. If they're at least as good as the mikro versions, they will be preferable to the on-board mics for certain applications. All these options are definitely less noisy than D100's on-boards but they're omnis as opposed to cardioids. I think both options can be useful depending on circumstances.

@bobserra01 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVladok thank you, i will order the Usi to use with my D100 to have less noise for very quite recordings. I write you my tests. Have a nice work, you rocks. Ciao

@SimpleRelaxStation 4 года назад

Excellent !

@sebastianjautschus 4 года назад

12:06 got me 😅

@fantastic_n0b 4 года назад

Hey george ty for the vid, what's the best portable digital audio recorder for getting started with sound scapes? I'd like to attach mini drop rigs and eventually shotgun mics, wondering if zoom hn4 pro or tascam dr 40x would get the job done or those would be too hissy

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I would suggest getting a Sony D100. Zoom handhelds are notoriously noisy and unreliable. Not sure about the Tascam, but here are my thoughts on handhelds: mindful-audio.com/blog/handheld-recorder-review

@madeiraislander 4 года назад

please avoid the H4n Pro if you want to record wildlife or nature sounds! I have one and the preamps on that thing are TERRIBLE, it was made to record very loud sounds like concerts and stuff like that! I had to buy a preamp to connect to my shotgun mic and even still the gain had to be maxed out! To record music, live performances etc sure the h4n is pretty good, but for field recording is the worst i've ever used, even the H2n is better.

@NRGRX 4 года назад

Random question man: have you thought about or do you currently teach sound recording workshops? Not sure that’s something you’d want to mess with but I’d be interested for sure. Even a one on one workshop. Lmk!

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I sometimes share my experience on field recording expeditions. I've also thought about creating a proper workshop but that will require a lot of planning and my time is very limited at the moment. You're welcome to become a patron which will get you a 45-minute Skype chat with me though: www.patreon.com/georgevlad

@NRGRX 4 года назад

George Vlad Sounds good man. Thanks!

@aviovintage 3 года назад

Hi George, just discovered your channel. It is a gem, thanks for your work. One thing I am curious is the camera you uses to pick up the wildlife (looks like an IR camera?).

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Hi JJ, thanks very much for the kind words. I used a Browning Spec Ops trail camera for the night time footage but I have since upgraded that to a 4k version. They’re not great for video quality but they do get footage that I would otherwise miss.

@aviovintage 3 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Thanks so much George. Ill be looking into those.

@patrick.771 4 года назад

Thank you for sharing! Do you have a video or tutorial where you show us your editing process and the software you use for that? :) (haven't found one on your channel)

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Nope, I haven’t had a chance to work on a video about my editing process. I might do that in the future though.

@WildlifePatrol 2 года назад

I'm a video content creator in the Grand Teton NP who livestreams wildlife and will be purchasing some recording equip and obtaining some awesome sounds soon!!! Thanks. Gunner

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Sounds great, enjoy!

@swisswildpicsswp3095 3 года назад

But how do you process all this sound? Do you listen to hundred of hours of it?

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

There's no easy way to do it. I will sometimes look at the waveform and spectrogram for bits where not much happens, but otherwise I have to listen to everything otherwise I risk missing important stuff.

@swisswildpicsswp3095 3 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Sounds like too much work! Thank you for sharing your knowledge

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

@@swisswildpicsswp3095 haha, sometimes it is but it's all worth it and a lot of fun!

@m0bob 2 года назад

Thanks for the information George, I am new to recording (hobby) and I am interested in birdsong, wildlife, etc. I live in a London suburb and if I left any recording gear unattended, it would probably be on eBay by the next day.

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Haha, that's probably true. You'll need to get out of London to get away from traffic and aircraft, although it won't be easy.

@PetrPodaril 2 года назад

Very useful, thanks.

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

You're welcome.

@534A53 4 года назад

Do you think the Sony ICD-UX560 is ok to use to record nature sounds? I have that recorder, maybe I will try it next time I go hiking. If you think its not the best, would adding a better microphone to it help? Or upgrade to a better recorder?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I'd suggest upgrading to a Sony A10 and a pair of mikroUsi or clippy EM172 mics.

@Springer5 3 года назад

Thanks for the really interesting and helpful video. Your recorder gives great battery life but surely the file storage (SD card etc) runs out way before that. A 24bit 44kHz sound file will take about 4hrs to fill a 128GB SD card. What quality do you record in to get 10 hours of sound? Thanks

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

The most I've recorded was around 48 hours at 24bit/96kHz and that took around 100GB. Here's a handy calculator for file size for a variety of recording specs: www.colincrawley.com/audio-file-size-calculator/

@Springer5 3 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Hi George. Thanks for replying. Looks like I had my figures all mixed up there. Thanks for the link to the online calculator too. That's a handy resource.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

No worries, happy to help.

@thanaphatp.1451 4 года назад

Thank you for this informative and very useful vid : ) A question is when those small wind protections got wet, would that effect sound ?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Yes, as the windbubbles get wet they start to block mid and high frequencies resulting in a muffled sound recording.

@thanaphatp.1451 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad thank you : )

@timothyhatfieldii5843 4 года назад

Can you elaborate on how you use the drybag with external microphones? IE wouldn’t the cords running out from the d100 to the mics compromise the waterproof bag? Or not really? Thanks!

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

The top of the bag can be folded several times with the cables poking out without compromising the resistance to humidity. This has worked in countless tropical downpours so far, but I wouldn't submerge the dry bag for extended periods this way.

@snells-window 4 года назад

Very interesting. How do you go about listening to and editing down such long recordings?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

It's not easy but I listen to recordings like regular people listen to music.

@snells-window 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Yes I thought that would be the only way. I do a similar thing with video; gopro cameras set up in place underwater and then come back to them to see what I've caught. I get lots of footage to go through but nothing like the time you would need, and at least with video I can fast forward them and watch and still catch the action. Very much appreciate all your effort, I've just discovered your channel and found your soundscapes are wonderfully immersive!

@JP11 4 года назад

Nice work! How much difference in the noise floor is between the Sony D!0 and the MIxPre II?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

There's a noticeable difference, with the D10 being noisier. The Mixpre 2nd generation has some of the quietest preamps I've ever used.

@curls6778 4 года назад

Hey, have you ever tested the Roland R07? It seems at least as quiet as the A10 (even more so according to some tests), has a similar battery life (15h) and is easier to replace (cheaper and more widely available - at least in europe).

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I haven't had a chance to test the R07. I added it top the list and will hopefully do so in the near future.

@curls6778 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad That's great, I'll be looking forward to that!

@TinyDetail 4 года назад

Hi George. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I learned a lot. I want to buy Lom Usi and I'm wondering why did you chose MikroUsi? Can you tell me the reason please? I learned from their website that USI have higher sensitivity, lower self-noice and MikroUsi have better frequency response. And they are different size of course. Do you have experience with USI? I'm new to audio, I was thinking that low self noice would be best. I would like to make videos of natural scenery accompanied by good quality audio. Also some virtual nature walks. So I'm trying to find good gear.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I haven't used the Usi or Usi pro much but I have a few pairs and they're noticeably bigger in size. Most of the situations I record in call for very small mics that I can hide and protect from the environment/weather easily, so the choice is easy. The mikroUsis are great for self-noise levels and reach up higher in the frequency spectrum than the Usis.

@TinyDetail 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Thank you.

@scottwhitemyer5501 4 года назад

just getting started, appreciate your video. what software do you use on your computer for sound effects

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I use Adobe Audition and Izotope RX7 for editing. They both offer spectral analysis and editing which is one of my favorite tools.

@Ryezn5057 4 года назад

Thanks for the video! Can you recommend a lav mic for voice?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Sure, the DPA 4060 is one of the most used for voice. The Lom MikroUsi Pro should do a good job too.

@Ryezn5057 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Thanks. It doesn't look like Lom sells a mono version of the mikroUši, do you know if they do?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

@@Ryezn5057 I'm not sure about that, it's worth asking them directly.

@improziv 3 года назад

Thanks again for the great rundown of your rig. Regarding the high frequency response of the mics (up to 70khz?) how do you make use of that? Is this for sound design applications where users (you?) might pitch it down? some other application?

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Good question! I mostly use the high frequency content for sound design purposes, otherwise I would only be recording 48k 24 bit.

@icecorebaby 2 года назад

Are the microbooster em272 stereo's as good as the Lom? I can never get a pair of the Lom. I have the Sony PCM d10, A10, D100, D50's but trying to get those lom external microphones seems to be luck of the draw.

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

They're not exactly as good but they come pretty close. Well worth buying if you can't get Lom mics.

@Sonoquilibrium 4 года назад

Hi George! Nice video, I like it! I have a question about small dark dry bags. They protect your equipment (mics, cables, handy recorder,..) from the humidity and rain or in one part of the video I saw you had your bag hung just on a branch. The bag is waterproof but zou can also record outside sounds, when your recorder is inside of the bag? Probably not, excuse me for the question.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I use external microphones that I keep outside the bag for this exact reason, but they’re not protected by the bag in this case.

@Sonoquilibrium 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Thank you for this info! Merry christmas!

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Glad to help as always. Happy holidays to you too!

@juliocesarcanales5896 2 года назад

Hi George, I like start to recording wildlife sounds in Mexico. Where can I buy the staff? I will appreciate so much any information about it. Thank you.

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Unfortunately I have no idea where you can buy sound recording equipment in Mexico.

@newlifeeveryday1821 2 года назад

You mentioned several of the recorders that you use with your drop rigs. Do any of them have the ability to start recording at an assigned time so that they can setup the rig the day before you want to start recording ?

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Sadly none of the recorders I use have this feature. Having said that, the A10 can record virtually for more than a week on a big powerbank so it's a question of having enough memory and then listening back to everything.

@dallasacuff9335 4 года назад

I put out overnight recorders to capture nature however, I am using Olympus WS-821 digital recorders with an external stereo sony mic. The problem when I am trying to capture distant sounds... the white noise is horrible. I try to use the noise reduction process on the Adobe Audition software but it distorts the sound I am trying to capture. Can you provide the manufacturer and model number of the external mics so I can see if that helps ? If not then I probably need to go ahead and invest in the Sony PMC D100. Thank you !

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

The Olympus recorder and Sony mic don't really add up to a decent sound recording kit. A D100 and a pair of LOM mics would be a definite improvement. Having said that, distant sounds are challenging to record even with the most expensive kit. There will always be preamp and mic noise and there is noise in nature, no way around it. Lastly, noise reduction doesn't help much with nature recordings and can result in terrible artifacts. There are situations in which it's helpful but I think soundscapes are better off without such processing.

@KarlSadler 4 года назад

Really interesting to see you using this technique. How do you find going through very long recordings afterwards? And also cleaning things up? I imagine that’s quite a lot of work? Usually when I’m with the recordings, I can mark or time stamp things for later on. Do you have any thoughts on auditioning the recorded material? Thanks

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

I listen to sound recordings every day. Whenever I hear something interesting I drop a marker. It's a lot of work but I love doing it and it never gets old.

@mrnessss 2 года назад

Hey George! I love this video! I'm looking to get this setup myself (D100 + Lom MikroUsi mics). I was wondering if you do any EQing to your sound files in post?

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

That depends on the purpose of the recordings. You can read about it in this blog post I wrote: mindful-audio.com/blog/how-to-edit-master-field-recordings

@mrnessss 2 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Cool, thanks so much for the info!

@mrnessss 2 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad @George Vlad I have one more question: The Lom MikroUsi mics are out of stock at the moment (they said they will hopefully be getting more in within a month or two). Are there any other mics that are comparable to Lom MikroUsi mics that you would recommend for use with the PCM D100? (I am aware that it has no XLR inputs). Any info would be great, thanks! 🙏

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

@@mrnessss yep, check out the Clippy mics I mention in this blog post: mindful-audio.com/blog/best-microphones-recording-nature-wildlife-sounds

@mrnessss 2 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad awesome, thanks again George. I really appreciate the info 🙏

@jmalmsten 2 года назад

This did get me curious. Do you only do continuous recordings or do you set things up with the recorders to start recordings for a while after a loud enough sound triggers them? I guess 24 hours of recordings sounds a lot for a video-guy like me. But then again, I could probably look at the waveform in the editor afterwards and identify when there's interesting changes to the sound.

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

I do continuous recording and I like to capture at least a full day-night cycle if not more. Listening is a lot of work but it's my job and I love it so I don't find it tedious.

@jmalmsten 2 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad well, then. This video has given me some ideas to try to capture what the cattle are up to when we aren't around. :)

@prescillagcon 5 месяцев назад

I know this video was 4 years ago, but do you have upgraded set up or do you still use the same kit?

@GeorgeVlad 4 месяца назад

I still use these recorders and mics, but I've added other rigs to my kit list. Zoom F3 and F6, SD Mixpre 2nd gen, Sennheiser MKH mics etc.

@jeremyb6361 4 года назад

Why do you need so many mics? Don't you need to plug them into the recorder? Or do you have just as many recorders?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Yes, I have more than 10 recorders. I also tend to push mics to their physical limits so I need redundancy in case some of them don't make it and I'm away from civilization.

@BlackCountryPiker 3 года назад

Hi, I’m usually using my iPhone 11 and GoPro hero 7 for my fishing adventures so nothing advanced at all. Is there a microphone you could recommend to connect to either that would enhance the quality of sound picked up? I literally hope to go and sit in a forrest or next to a stream and record nature at its finest

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Zoom and Shure make external microphones for the Iphone but I've never tried them so I can't recommend any.

@BlackCountryPiker 3 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad ok, thank you 👍

@lifeisgood9647 3 года назад

What external mics do you recommend? Those you mentioned in Lom website are sold out and aren't available in USA. What also do you think if I connect a good quality external mic to my phone rather than Sony A10?

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Try a pair of Micbooster Clippy mics if the Lom aren't available. I wouldn't suggest recording on your phone, the quality is going to be inferior to anything you can get with a dedicated sound recorder.

@t1merickson 4 года назад

Surprised you're still using the D10 when a MixPre-3 is the same weight, relative size, but better limiters, noise floor, etc? What are your thoughts when comparing these two devices?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

Very good question, Tim. I actually own a Mixpre 6 II and an old 10T. I use the 10T for large multitrack sessions when my 633 isn't enough, and the 6 II for (larger) drop rigs. The main reason for using the D10 as well is its extended recording time (51 hours+) on 4 AA batteries (I generally bring more than 30 rechargeables on a long remote expedition). As mentioned in the video, it's a pretty small and compact package that can be deployed in 5 minutes. It has its downsides and limitations, and so does the A10. The Mixpres on the other hand require external power for more than a couple of hours of recording and these make the pack heavier and more unwieldy. They have their place in my kit and I use them for quad or surround recording, but they require a different mindset. I will do a video on general unattended recording and I will cover this too.

@t1merickson 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Thanks George. If I'm remembering correctly, you reviewed the D10? and were disappointed by it's noise floor and pre-amps general character, at least relative to the D100 which is legendary. It sounds like the battery life wins out as more important than noise floor, etc. I appreciate your thoughts here. I'm wanting a small, portable, 2 XLR box with good preamps, low noise floor, and ability to decode mid/side.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

@@t1merickson Yes, I wasn't that pleased with the D10 (or A10 for that matter), especially for the on-board mics: mindful-audio.com/blog/handheld-recorder-review When I use them with external mics like the Lom MikroUsis the audio quality is acceptable. Adding to that the small size and long battery life makes it a usable piece of kit as long as I'm aware of its limitations.

@nikhilnarendra8510 Год назад

Hey George, what are the little plastic boxes that you use to store the Lav microphones in?

@GeorgeVlad Год назад

They're Sistema Klip-it food containers: amzn.to/3yI7MFW

@nikhilnarendra8510 Год назад

@@GeorgeVlad Thank you!

@534A53 3 года назад

I was revisiting field recorders and the Sony D100 is just so expensive so I was looking for low noise alternatives and found this - the Tascam DR-100mkIII. According to the specs and this site www.avisoft.com/recorder-tests/ it has very low noise. Any experience with that brand or thoughts on this recorder?

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

I don't have a lot of experience with Tascams I'm afraid. Self-noise is important but it's not the whole thing. It's worth renting or borrowing one and checking things like energy consumption, power options, reliability, performance in cold or hot temperatures etc.

@Lovetolotto Год назад

HI George if we buy the sound library are we allowed to use it in our youtube videos?

@GeorgeVlad Год назад

You are allowed as long as the sounds aren't the main element in your media/content. Full terms at mindful-audio.com/eula

@ernie548 3 года назад

Great help! That was good. :) Q. How does someone deal with the beach/ocean where the waves and water can have such a wide range of volume? Does it require specific recorders?

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Most recorders nowadays an deal with the dynamic range of ocean/sea waves. Just make sure you don't get the gear submerged by accident and you'll be fine.

@NetvoTV 9 месяцев назад

Can I record 3 or even 5 channels with the A10 if I attach a Zoom M3 stereo shotgun mic with the 3.5mm input and record along with the build in stereo mics?

@GeorgeVlad 9 месяцев назад

Nope, this is a 2-track recorder so you have to choose either built-in or external mics.

@8hoursofpeacefulsounds608 3 года назад

sorry for the newbie question, but why do you use external microphones and not the unboard audio recorder microphone? will it improve the quality sound? good ?

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Yes, good quality external mics will sound better than the on-boards. They also allow for more flexibility in terms of pickup pattern or stereo technique, and can be protected from wind and moisture more easily.

@ramprasadvlogs652 3 месяца назад

Sir please give one product for recording trees sounds

@grassrunner7983 2 года назад

Could I pair the Sony with video from an Insta360 one RS in post production?

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Yep, but the audio and video might go out of sync on longer files.

@diegoarancibia8552 4 года назад

Great video! which are the microphones? I didn't get that info.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

The mics are Lom MikroUsis: store.lom.audio/collections/microphones-accessories/products/mikrousi

@TheMilangudzik Год назад

what about just a random city audio recordings? is this device good enough?

@GeorgeVlad Год назад

Yep, it's good enough if you have good wind protection.

@peterwright650 3 года назад

Thanks for the informative video George. How is your set up be different when your gear is under the rain? Would you need to cover the mics in someway to stop raindrops hitting them I'm very curious how you get your great recordings for rain and storm

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Check out this video for more details on recording rain: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o-SHCvhFK7E.html

@sudhirsingh2937 3 года назад

Great explanation, Can you please tell me connect to connect ZoomH1n and Boya BY M1 lav mic to my smartphone so that I can record Audio and Video in together.

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Sorry, I don't think you can connect those units together. The best you can do is to clap in front of the phone and sync the image and sound later in post.

@sudhirsingh2937 3 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad thanks

@AlexanderBischof 4 месяца назад

some ideas for other mics as LOM uci/usi are sold out and it seems no longer available

@GeorgeVlad 4 месяца назад

Is this a question?

@AlexanderBischof 4 месяца назад

@@GeorgeVlad yes- Lom mics are no longer available. Do you have possibly different recommendations?

@GeorgeVlad 4 месяца назад

They are available every now and then but they sell out very quickly. You have to sign up for their mailing list to know when it happens. Otherwise I've mentioned a few other brands in this blog post: mindful-audio.com/blog/rugged-sound-recording-equipment

@swordfish00007 3 года назад

Hey George what do you recommend using when recording rain outside? Thanks

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Recording rain outside isn't exactly easy. Your mics will probably suffer if they're not sturdy enough or well protected. I did a whole video on the topic: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o-SHCvhFK7E.html

@va941 4 года назад

Hey, very interesting video, definetly Will try this And copy your handy little rig...a question, do you Have any experience of The Sony dci SX 2000 recorder? Or do you know If it is a good starter recorder For Field recording? Thanks you good sir.

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

No experience with the SX2000 but Designing Sound did a review before they shut down: designingsound.org/2017/05/15/sony-icd-sx2000-review/ I wouldn't recommend the A10 or D10 as a starter recorder for field recording though. I use them for very specific purposes and 99% of the time with external microphones. If you want a good all-rounder you should look into getting a D100, used if you cannot afford a new one. Check out my handheld comparison and review: mindful-audio.com/blog/handheld-recorder-review

@va941 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad i see....The D100 IS way expensive...maybe If i can find a M10 used...or The Tascam DRmklll with The microusi......actually....you reckon The micro uśi would work with My Android phone as The recorder, using a TRS to TRRD adapteri between The two?

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

@@va941 I wouldn't recommend recording on a phone. The technology isn't there and the preamps are crappy. Save up and get a used Sony if you can't afford a new one, it will serve you well for a long time.

@va941 4 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad ok, thanks For The convo, Will try And find a used M10....all i find on eBay Are with Japanese scribing....maybe i could do with one of those If The menu still can Be in english 😅

@GeorgeVlad 4 года назад

@@va941 Not sure about that, do some research before you buy. OR learn Katakana/Hiragana :)

@projectb3117 2 года назад

07:30 Is the soundquality really about the same? Possible to record dj-sets straight into the mic-in from the A10 without distortion?

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Ir is the same but I have no idea if they're good for recording DJ sets.

@projectb3117 2 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Also low noise like the pcm d100?

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

@@projectb3117 Yes, when you use it with external mics. Check out my handheld recorder review for more details: mindful-audio.com/blog/handheld-recorder-review

@projectb3117 2 года назад

@@GeorgeVlad Ok. With the internal microphones similar to the D100?

@GeorgeVlad 2 года назад

Nope, they're not as good.

@jhonnycastro383 3 года назад

In your opinion whats the best cheap audio recorder on the market? People are talking about zoom h1n but i dont know. My goal is to Record mostly Rain and river sounds

@GeorgeVlad 3 года назад

Sony PCM A10 is the cheapest one I'd recommend. The Zoom H2n is ok too.