Survey: microphones for wildlife.
 

Hi folks, I'm thinking of getting a shotgun mic. What microphones do you folks use for recording wildlife sounds?

If the budget is not a limiting factor, Sennheiser mics is the best solution. Azden shotguns are a good compromise, if one does not wnat to invest that much in the mics.

Grant, I'm using a pair of Sennheiser ME-67/K6P, link:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation
For wind protection I use this Rycote softie:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...alue=92912_REG

This gives you a very nice setup in most settings. I have this with me every time I'm out filming. I use a tent pole which I have taped to the handgrip to fasten them to to the ground.
Used with 25 ft cable they can be placed well away from you, avoiding to record any camera operator noice!
The ME-67 have a very directional recording, nice when you want to record specific species.

The lowest self-noise field mics are the Sennheiser MKH series, but they are expensive. How quiet are the sounds you are after and what will you record into? If it is a "prosumer" level camcorder, the mic preamps are probably too noisy to take advantage of the MKHs. In that case, the aforementioned Sennheiser ME series, the Rode NTG-1, the AKG Blue Lines, the Audio-Technica 4073 and others should all work fine.

Best wishes,
Peter
______________________
http://www.parkfilms.com

I'll be recording on to a Canon XL2. My main target will be Common Guillemots (Murres) on a cliff about 100ft away from the camera. And there will be sea and "waves on rocks" sound in the background.

The Sennheiser ME67 is within my budget, but I wanted to get an idea of what other people use.

I use the XL2 mic and a pair of Audio Techica AT815a very long shotgun mics on both short and long XLR cords and fur wind-cats:

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wi...f6b/index.html

I also use two complete Sony Freedom WRT 805A and WRR 805A Pro Radio microphone systems with two long-range receivers and two senders on belt packs, both with Sony ECM77 clip mics and fur wind cats.

http://vmi.co.uk/equipment/product-details/?pid=107

Scroll down the Urban Fox site and the Sony Freedom WRT & WRR radio mic kit is shown halfway down the page under Radio mics:

http://www.urbanfox.tv/articles/came...cessories.html

I had some really nice results shooting with an AT897 last weekend. I was picking up duck/goose sounds, water sounds at a park.

I use 2 Samson Micro 32 RF mikes with lav's. They allow me to "plant" a mike near my quary's haunts. Up to 200+ feet. Plus, the second mike allows me to use it for voice over or ambiance.

The sound quality is quite reasonable. I always use them with wind covers out doors.

I am using the AT897 also with good results.

Regards,

I was told by a very good source the XL2 mic is a Sennheiser mic.....can't remember which model though...!

Whatever you choose it is essential to get a windjammer and decent shock mount so that you can isolate the mic from handling and wind noise. Even lower end mics are capable of good results provided that you shield them and that you use good quality screened cables.

Sennheiser produces a really good windjammer that will last for years and improve your recordings no end.

Rode sells a good, cheap boom pole that will help even more.


James

Thaks for all the info.

I just got a second hand Sennheiser ME67 with a Rycote zeppellin and dead cat. It arrived yesterday so I'm still trying it out. I'll let you know how I get on.

Grant

I used a Sennheiser shotgun mic for years when I was studying wildlife. Then I switched to using a pair of mics- Sennheiser MKH30 and MKH40, to record ambience in stereo. I prefer having stereo recordings, but with this pair, you can have the best of both worlds, since one of these mics gets a good directional signal. It used to take a special box to MS decode them, but now it's a few seconds procedure in Sony Vegas. As others have said, you also want to be sure to use the Rycote, etc. And monitor recordings with headphones to be sure you aren't having any mic or recorder problems. I have always liked Sennheiser mics, so good luck with your new Sennheiser.

Mic selection depends on what it is you are recording.
For ambience I use a Neumann USM69i, which is a stereo
mic. For distance I prefer the Schoeps MK41 kit that
also includes the CUT1 low roll off filter and Collette body.
I do also own a Sennheiser 416. The Senn. ME67 is too hissy
for my taste. I like the Rycote windscreen kits.

Question about dual mics
 

Curiously, How do you attach two shotguns to the xl2 so that you can easily capture into adobe premiere pro 1.5.

I used the camera mic on 1&2 and a wireles on 3&4. then found out 1.5 doesn't take 3 or 4 channel audio. Purchased scenalyzer, but would rahter work straight in 1.5 on 1 and 2, can you do that with two shotguns??