My Current Kit

Sound recording can be a very expensive hobby or profession. Much like photography, professional gear, including microphones, recorders, preamps, mixers, cables, plus the computers to edit the sounds can run into tens of thousands of dollars. But it is possible to start recording on a budget, which is all my finances would allow. Because I am very interested in recording quiet places, I’ve been continually upgrading my gear to higher quality. I have a kit now that I really like, and serves me in most situations.

Recorders

I’ve used several different recorders during the last few years, as I’ve refined technique and upgraded equipment. Currently in use:

Sony PCM-D100. This is my “portable” recorder for using with PIP mics, as it has no XLR ports. It has good on-board mics, good pre-amps for external mics, and long battery life (I can easily record overnight with it). Discontinued.

Sound Devices MixPre 3. This is my fanciest recorder. It’s not as convenient as the Sony D100, but the pre-amps are better and it has more features. It also supplies phantom power for professional mics. The extra weight of the mics and heavier cables and bigger batteries mean I usually use this recorder when I’m recording close to or from the back of my car. The MixPres have multiple options for powering, including AA batteries, Sony NP batteries, hi-rose, and USB batteries. Discontinued, replaced with the Sound Devices MixPre-3 II 3-Channel / 5-Track Multitrack 32-Bit Field Recorder” data-wplink-url-error=”true”>MixPre 3ii.

Tascam DR-100 mkIII. It is similar in size to the Sony D100, but a bit heavier and comes with XLR inputs, in addition to a 3.5 mm jack and onboard mics. It comes with a rechargeable battery plus a battery compartment for an additional 2 AA batteries. These together don’t provide quite enough power for an overnight recording session with external mics attached to the recorder. It can also be powered from USB, and I’ve found that a small 5200 mA cell phone charger can power it for at least 12 hours. The preamps are almost as quiet as those on the Sony D100, but the build quality is substantially less. Unfortunately, like the Sonys, it’s been discontinued.

Zoom F3. This recorder has become very popular among field recordists. Although a little tricky to set up, once set, it’s very easy to deploy and use in the field. It has nice quiet preamps and seems to be built very well. It only powers XLR mics (no PIP). I use it with an Anker 20000w power brick, which lasts overnight with no problem.

Tascam DR05x. This is my most portable recorder. It’s a bit noisy, but easy to deploy in noisier areas, and works great for a “tree ears” set up. The batteries easily last overnight.

Smartphone. This has included the Samsung S3, the Moto G5S and the Google Pixel 5a. I use this for recording ultrasounds and as a backup for emergencies. See “Options for recording ultrasounds.”

Tried but no longer in use:

Zoom H4n . This is a very handy device, which includes some decent stereo mics in an X-Y configuration. Some of my recordings were made with just the onboard mics. It is, however, a rather noisy recorder, with rather noisy mics and pre-amps. It does have a lot of features and includes 48v phantom power. A newer model is available, with a better build and quieter preamps, the Zoom H4n Pro.

Sony PCM-M10. This recorder is smaller and lighter than the Zoom H4n and has better pre-amps. It does not have phantom power. The 3.5 input jack on mine died, and sadly it is no longer made. It occasionally can be found on Ebay.

Microphones

DIY mics made with EM 172 capsules and Clippy mics (EM-172/272). I have several sets of these little capsules, both homemade and versions from Micbooster.com. I use them in “tree ears” and in spaced arrays, and in my parabolic dish. The capsules are a bit “bright”, but the self-noise is quite low, they are very convenient and inexpensive. The Clippy mics are better built than I can make, so I seldom make my own mics anymore. I have both PIP and XLR versions of Clippy mics.

Audio Technica AT2022. This is a stereo mic configured in an X-Y. It doesn’t require phantom power, so it can be used on most pro-sumer recorders. It creates a decent stereo image in a single housing (at 90 or 120 degrees), rather than carrying 2 different mics and figuring out how to set them up to obtain the ideal stereo image. It is a bit noisy, but when paired with a MicBooster preamp, it’s a nice, quiet mic.

Audio Technica AT4022. I recently acquired these lovely sounding omni mics and tried using them in a DIY SASS. The mics are very sensitive to changing temperatures and humidity. I sent them back to Audio Technica, and after extensive testing, we concluded they were not good mics for the type of recording I do. I replaced the pair of AT4022 with a BP4025.

Audio Technical BP4025. I love the sound of this mic. It’s very quiet with nice stereo separation. It handles cold and moisture very well.

Audio Technica AT897. Short shotgun mic. This allows me to better focus a recording by reducing sounds from the side and rear. It is mono, and I mainly use it for trying to get vocalizations of a single species. I would not recommend this mic for use with one of the smaller recorders, it produces a pretty weak sound, in my opinion. It works pretty well with the SD Mix Pre 3.

Dodotronics Ultramic 200k. This is a USB mic that records up to 100 kHz. It’s a bit noisy at the lower end, so I mainly use it to record ultrasounds. Plugged into a smartphone with the Bat Recorder app, it makes a nice ultrasonic recorder.

JrF Hydrophone. This is a relatively inexpensive, but highly sensitive contact mic for recording underwater. It has a 3.5 mm jack so I use it with my Sony D100.

Wind Protection

I use either a Rycote Windjammer or Moto windcover for my portable recorder onboard mics, and I use a Rycote Windjammer over Baby Ball gags on my Clippy Mics. I also use a Baby ball gag for my AT 2022. I use a Cinela Pianissimo for my BP4025. And I use Bubblebee lav covers for my Clippy Mics when I’m using them as tree or bush ears.

Pre-amps

Felmicamps SK3.5. This is an in-line amp that takes an unbalanced XLR signal and plugs into the 3.5 mm jack on a portable recorder. Perfect for the AT2022, and boosts the signal at least 20 dB. Because the AT897 is a balanced line, it took another adapter to use the SK3.5, but Felmi Communications provided one at a relatively low cost. Many of the sounds I record are pretty quiet or far away, so a pre-amp is a life-saver.

Parabolic Dish

A shotgun mic can help focus the sound, but to really bring sounds closer, you need a parabolic dish. I acquired an inexpensive dish on eBay (no longer being sold), and rigged some Primo EM-172 capsules to fit inside. This is a great way to record wildlife! I recently added a foldable dish from Wildtronics, and use the same Primo capsules in it.

Miscellaneous

Cables (up to 50 ft.), tripods (photo tripods and gorilla pods), a variety of wind gags, plus notebooks and smartphone for recording location, batteries, more batteries, and battery chargers. Spare memory cards for each recorder, as well as 1-2 portable hard drives to back everything up. Velcro tape, electrical tape, duct tape or Gorilla tape. Camo cloth to cover the mics and camo dry bags to carry equipment in and leave recorders in for overnight use. B & H Photo is one of my favorite gear shops but also check out Sweetwater.com and Gotham Sound (with great customer service!). Pro Audio LA is a good source of custom cables.

What I typically pack on the trail

Sony PCM-D100, Clippy mics and wind screens, small notebook, smartphone, camera, and extra batteries. Easily fits in my daypack..