Best products from r/fieldrecording

We found 19 comments on r/fieldrecording discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 13 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

Top comments mentioning products on r/fieldrecording:

u/eegsynth · 2 pointsr/fieldrecording

I just came back from a hiking holiday in Scotland, and brought the Zoom H6 + all accessory mics and stuff that I carried around a fanny pack with me to do some field recordings. It taught me a lot, first hand - or rather first-ear. It taught me many many limits of that setup, but those are unavoidable. Anyway, I will write a long blog about my experiences and compose something from of my recordings to share as soon as I can get to it. But for now, to respond quickly to your questions:

​

- The shotgun mic was great for what it intends to do. I got the new one with the center and surround and that makes it really very flexible. Record in RAW and you have both to mix up later how you want.

- It was a great educational experience, so that might be, for the budget (I got the shotgun for 113 Euros if I remember correctly) not something to disregard. Sound quality might not be perfect etc., but you have to start somewhere, right?

- It all stuffs easily in a fanny-pack, so makes it easy to carry around 'wherever you go' , which has a lot of charm.

- Sound ain't bad I think, and me and everyone else who listened to some recordings (first time listeners so field recordings, amateurs, but still regular humans with regular ears) have been very impressed so far. However, the noise floor of the H6 (and the mic?) is pretty bad for low volume sounds. Don't expect to be able e.g. to record faint distant bird sounds without (very) audible background noise. But, with a good sound source, and foreground+background sounds there is no issue. Anyway, that's a limitation you can work with, and not sure how much you can improve with an external mic given the Zoom's peamps, without spending a lot on a new recorder...

- You ABSOLUTELY need a way to remove handling noise since the mic is attached. I've been happy with this Rycote handle for the Zoom, but still requires a lot of care in handling. It also allows you you to attach this tripod which I love, which is the best way to remove handling noises of course. And again, a lot to learn here, about attacking loose cables, even to not wear swishing clothes... For this, it's just not an ideal setup with with the grip and some practice I've been able to manage.

Anyway, I'm planning on continuing working with this setup for my own education and enjoyment for a couple of years more I hope before I will allow myself to shell out for a complete new kit. I hope to share more soon, and hope to hear more from others with similar setups.

u/aaronbrownsound · 4 pointsr/fieldrecording

Haven't used the SOMA, but enjoy EMF recording.

The cheapest gateway into EMF is the $6 Telephone Microphone Suction Pickup. Very usable as long as you have something like an m10 or D100 that it can plug into.

https://www.amazon.com/Telephone-Microphone-Suction-Cup-Pickup/dp/B0034I75IK/

The next step up would be a Lom Elektro Usi for $30, but they are hard to get.

After that you can go stereo with a Mini City DIY or ElektroSluch 3 for about $70-$130. The stereo possibilities allow movement in the noises as you record which opens up performative recordings in a fun way.

https://store.lom.audio/collections/elektrosluch-accessories

For $140+ you can get the Priezor which is designed for more ambient EMF instead of closer to the sources.

​

It's all super fun. I'd recommend starting with that $6 pickup as it's extremely usable. Then upgrade to the Lom Elektro Usi which does have a stronger output and seems to have a better signal quality in general. Devices above that add stereo functionality and capturing at longer distances which should only be explored if you enjoy working with the $6 pickup first IMO :)

If anyone has compared the SOMA to the LOM I'd love to hear it!

u/pier25 · 1 pointr/fieldrecording

The 58 and 57 are dynamic mics. You want condenser mics that can capture the finest details. Even a cheap condenser mic would be much better than a super expensive dynamic one.

Do you already have the zoom?

Because if you don't, I'm sure you'd get better quality preamps and DA converters with something like the ART Dual pre connected to a smartphone (or a tablet) which you probably already have. It works with iOS devices using a converter and some Android devices with Lollipop and up using a super cheap OTG cable.

u/ubermoo2010 · 1 pointr/fieldrecording

Most people i've seen doing this use one of those little AA battery inline bias boxes.

I'm really not sure how you're plugging in the rolands to that mic interface, isn't your phone's mic input mono!?

A separate audio recorder would allow you to plug the mic jack into a proper powered interface and plug the headphones into the monitor socket and you can record AND monitor at the same time... it's a much better setup and that's how i use my CS-10EMs

I use a sony M10, but a cheap zoom h1n would do the trick and will sound far, far, far better than your phone's recording capability, and permit you to monitor as well. You also can use the zoom's inbuilt mics to record voice/music without the odd binaural feeling if you wish

u/fairlyclose · 2 pointsr/fieldrecording

another alternative that is very good is the sennheiser binaural mics - but they only work with apple products so far. You might be able to get a set secondhand . I had a try of someone's and they seemed pretty good https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-AMBEO-Smart-Headset-iOS/dp/B0744PC5J8

u/Mandoflex · 2 pointsr/fieldrecording

A few observations:

The Minijack (TRRS) to Lightening adapter that comes with your iPhone allow stereo OUT (intended for headphones) and mono IN (intended for the telephone conversations). You cannot get stereo into your iPhone through this adapter (or any TRRS connection for that matter)

The Tascam interface you link to, appear to be a mono interface - it has one XLR input (one channel) and a male TRRS minijack connection. It also provide "phantom power" which is not the same as "plug in power (PIP)". In other words - it doesn't work because it does not provide PIP which is a requirement for the microphone. Even if it provided PIP, it would only give you a mono signal.

To get a stereo signal into your iPhone you need an external AD converter that that is designed for stereo and plugs directly into the lightening port - and in this case you need to verify that it in fact provides PIP in order to use your microphone.

​

The most straightforward and easy (but pricey) way to to make binaural recordings on your iPhone, would be to get a Sennheiser AMBEO smart headset. https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-AMBEO-Smart-Headset-iOS/dp/B0744PC5J8

A more economical and yet easy way for you to make recordings with your current headset, would be to get a Zoom H1n - or a H1 - the latter model is discontinued and is only interesting if you can find it at a price around 30% lower than the newer H1n.

​

u/i_am_omega · 2 pointsr/fieldrecording

If you are on a true budget, (ie. you are broke like me and don't consider the $100 range to be "budget" equipment) let me suggest the HTDZ HT81. For $36, it's a pretty damn good and well made microphone.

HTDZ HT-81 Mic Microphone 14.37 inch Professional Electret Condenser Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DGRUVKM/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_3M0qxb95JYC69

u/WeLoveJuice · 1 pointr/fieldrecording

You want a Bluetooth transmitter. Your headphones would be the bluetooth receivers.
Something like this.

u/ScarletLark · 1 pointr/fieldrecording

I said I’m new to this, lol... but seriously, thank you for letting me know this is the issue. I’m 100% just barely figuring this out.

Am I right that this should fix it? (Lightning to USB3, USB to audio inputs; + external power)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F7KJDIM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_I9rxCb3QCWQNH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_H-rxCb1VQVS2A

u/adriankoshcha · 1 pointr/fieldrecording

As far as windjammers go I was thinking of getting a Rode Dead Kitten as it's rather inexpensive.