Freesound Forums

The recorder was the easy part: Fostex FR2-LE.

Now, I'm trying to decide on a mic for around $300.

This is a tough choice, I have some ideas:

NT4
Audio Technica AT3032
Sennheiser ME62 omni
Sennheiser ME66 shotgun
Shure WL183 omni

I wonder if omni is the way to go. Any ideas ?

I would like to record ambient nature sounds, buzzing bees, bird call, rain, thunderstorms, etc.

Is it possible that 1 mic can do all of this decently?

And is the only way to record in stereo is to get 2 mic's (but that's just too much $ for me) or binaural mics?

A matched pair of DPA-4060 is a very flexible tool.

And is the only way to record in stereo is to get 2 mic's

You can get a stereo mic, such as the AT825, Shure VP88, Sony ECM-MS957 (the latter has a nice sound by is really just too noisy for nature recording)

A stereo mic tends to be by definition a coincident pair.

One mic cannot do all this decently. A pair of omnis or a stereo conincident pair will do the ambiences well. Bird calls are usually done with something more directional.

i've been looking at a fr2-le + rode nt4 setup, anyone know if this is a good way to go for live/amplified gigs?

also, has anyone here got any usefull info on the zoom H2 for the same application?

thanx,
sonicsurfer

morvak
The recorder was the easy part: Fostex FR2-LE.

Now, I'm trying to decide on a mic for around $300.

This is a tough choice, I have some ideas:

NT4
Audio Technica AT3032
Sennheiser ME62 omni
Sennheiser ME66 shotgun
Shure WL183 omni

I wonder if omni is the way to go. Any ideas ?

Of those you list, I have the NT4 and an AT3032 pair.

Frankly for most field recording something like a single-point stereo mic is more convenient and more useful...you can put them in a blimp and away you go. It's a rare day that you have the luxury of setting up a stereo pair (complete with 2X the wind protection and cables etc), whereas I find a blimp + NT4 is a great solution. It's portable and there are less decisions to make about mic placement/separation etc, all you have to worry about is where you point it, easy.

I'd be looking at the AT825 or the NT4 as a starter. Either of these + the Fostex will make some great recordings.

BTW: Here's a nice review wrt field recording

http://www.wildlife-sound.org/equipment/recorders/fostexfr2le/index.html

digifish