Microphones have often been said to be half the equation when it comes to recording. Experts advise to spend an equal amount of money on the recorder and an equal amount on the microphone. A great recorder with a poor microphone is just as bad as a poor microphone with a great microphone.
Common types of microphones used in field work fall into three categories. Â These three types have the xlr connector attached that the better recorders require.
Microphones with XLR Connectors
1: Omnidirectional – I prefer this type of microphone when I leave my system unattended in the woods for an extended time. Obviously I will not know the direction of the sound so I must record in all directions.
Sennheiser MKH20 Omnidirectional Microphone
2: Directional – includes short and long shotgun style microphones. Many of my better bird recordings were gathered by walking through the woods and pointing the shot gun in the direction the bird song was coming from.
Sennhesier MKH70 Long shot gun microphone
3: Parabolic – this type of microphone has been used extensively in recording birds. There is a wide variety of microphones used with parabolic reflectors.
Telinga BioAcoustics Parabolic Microphone
Microphones with 1/8″ Connectors
For the smaller digital recorders requiring the 1/8″ connector a great reasonably priced stereo omnidirectional microphone.
Giant Squid Audio Lab’s – Podcasting Omni Stereo Microphone
or for top of the line in a stereo omnidirectional microphone.
