Microphones – some types

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Various types of microphones can be used to record sounds in nature, from a simple dynamic monophonic microphone (very few actually used in recent decades), to complex stereophonic systems, very often Do It Yourself, to adapt them to the specific needs of personal taste, or depending on of the environment in which one operates. Moreover, there are particular microphones that allow to record the frequencies in the ultrasonic band, these are the so-called ultrasonic microphones, actually quite rare in their placement on the market.

1. RODE NT1a Cardioid condenser microphone matched pair

Nightingale – nocturnal song – Rode NT1a stereo matched pair ORTF spaced- Fostex FR2 Le

2. SASS with Audio Technica AT3032 Omnidirectional microphone – matched pair

Here a 3D printed SASS you can find on Ebay
https://www.ebay.it/itm/235669361788

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Here some recordings by Grègory Chamming’s – Lozère (France)
It is a strong bad weather called DIEGO which occurred on April 8, 2022 with winds of over 100 km per hour
Mini SASS and 2+2 AOM5024 capsules – Zoom H2n recorder with headphones AKG K450

Photos courtesy Grègory Chamming’s – here in birdwatching with its Swarovski and Parabolic Stereo Microphone Naturesound – Zoom H1n – AKG 450 Headphones

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This recording was made in France, Gironde (33), on the jetty of the “Pointe de Grave”, in Le Verdon sur Mer. The microphones (handmade by my friend Marco Pesente, mini SASS microphones, for “Stereo Ambient Sampling System”), are placed at a height of 1 meter, in the rocks of the pier, on the side of the Gironde Estuary. At this point, at the mouth, the estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean, where strong currents are formed… 24 December 2022, at 18:10. Zoom H2n recorder, volume 60%, filter 100 Hz. Raw wave file, not processed.

This other recording was made in France, Gironde (33), at Lacanau Océan. The microphones are the same, SASS, for “Stereo Ambient Sampling System”. They are placed at 1 meter height, in the rocks of the very small pier, in the front of the ocean front. 28 December 2022, around 3pm. Zoom H2n recorder, volume 50%, 100 Hz filter.

Here Grègory Chamming’s with MiniSASS and Zoom H2n at the Lacanau Ocean

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Frog and Blackbird duet recorded with SASS

3. Sennheiser ME 66 super cardioid shotgun microphone – Matched Pair

4. TETA – DIY Stereo Microphone – AOM 5024L capsules

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Here Grègory Chamming’s with TETA Microphone and Roland R05 at Carcans-Maubuisson, 33121 (France) two excellent recordings on a group of more than 11600 cranes!!!

28-12-22, Carcans-Maubuisson, 33121 (France), a few hundred meters from the pond of Cousseau, dormitory of cranes, counted at 11620 this year in wintering. Atmosphere of the first flights of Grus Grus, 9h00.

In the background, on the right, the surf of the ocean, 5km away. 1’41” Shotgun blast from a hunter 2’22” Troglodytes troglodytes, in alarm The high-pitched whistles, heard in Grus Grus flights, are the calls of the young of the year. Their “syrinx”, the organ of song, is not yet fully formed, like that of the adults.