Equipment Question
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BClever
- Member
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- Joined: 17 Jan 2006 04:49
Equipment Question
I have seen ads for 'bionic ear' and for hand held 'disks' with microphones in the center. They profess to pick up sounds from pretty far away. Has anybody ever tried them? What was your opinion? Do they work as the ads say they will?
BClever
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learnhownow
- Kingpin
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- Joined: 22 Dec 2005 18:55
Re: Equipment Question
Hi BClever,BClever wrote:I have seen ads for 'bionic ear' and for hand held 'disks' with microphones in the center. They profess to pick up sounds from pretty far away. Has anybody ever tried them? What was your opinion? Do they work as the ads say they will?
The problem with directional amplifiers such as you describe is that they greatly increase ambient noise level, even though the directional component is operating flawlessly. You can clean the files up a lot with a good editing program, but for the most part, they deliver a poor product, unlike the ones on television shows that seem to be able to clearly hear a flea pass gas in stereo.
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mjj9994
- Knight
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As lhn mentioned... those type of microphones are only good for amplifying ALL the noise around you. For best results as an 'audiovoyer'... here are my general recommendations:
1) Get as close as feasibly possible (without raising suspisions) to the source sound.
2) Use a decent quality microphone/amplifier (prices/quality vary). For motels, probably a portable microphone/recorder setup is recommended. For neighbors... maybe a shotgun mic and amplifier.... depends on circumstances and environment (where can you hide the equipment.. is it close enough to record from your room, etc).
I believe some of the best recordings on here come from a portable type setup which can be accomplished from a portable elclectic microhpone of some sort, which has very good 'gain' and 'boost'... and usually does not require an additional amplifier.... place it as close as possible to the room, door, etc... and a portable mp3 type device with a 'mic-in' jack. This setup can be purchased for around $50(us) or so and the batteries can last up to 8+hours.
For more range, I would recommend a camcorder type shotgun microphone. I purchased one on ebay for around $60(us). These have decent gain at distance, but I would recommend an amplifier of some type if used over 50 feet. The advantage of shotgun over the "dish" type microphones is that they are directional and will reduce outside noise and interferance to an extent.
Good luck and happy hunting!
- Mark
1) Get as close as feasibly possible (without raising suspisions) to the source sound.
2) Use a decent quality microphone/amplifier (prices/quality vary). For motels, probably a portable microphone/recorder setup is recommended. For neighbors... maybe a shotgun mic and amplifier.... depends on circumstances and environment (where can you hide the equipment.. is it close enough to record from your room, etc).
I believe some of the best recordings on here come from a portable type setup which can be accomplished from a portable elclectic microhpone of some sort, which has very good 'gain' and 'boost'... and usually does not require an additional amplifier.... place it as close as possible to the room, door, etc... and a portable mp3 type device with a 'mic-in' jack. This setup can be purchased for around $50(us) or so and the batteries can last up to 8+hours.
For more range, I would recommend a camcorder type shotgun microphone. I purchased one on ebay for around $60(us). These have decent gain at distance, but I would recommend an amplifier of some type if used over 50 feet. The advantage of shotgun over the "dish" type microphones is that they are directional and will reduce outside noise and interferance to an extent.
Good luck and happy hunting!
- Mark
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mysx
- Kingpin
- Posts: 542
- Joined: 24 Jul 2006 04:23
- x 32
Equipments
I would like to see pictures and links to different equipments.
I posted Equipment & software because I didn't see this
section at first. It's now moved to "Know-How".
I posted Equipment & software because I didn't see this
section at first. It's now moved to "Know-How".
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mjj9994
- Knight
- Posts: 1027
- Joined: 20 Dec 2005 23:06
- x 175
Normally we will post a link if we find some unique or new equipment... but things such as shotgun/portable microphones and whatnot are usually not worth posting links since most of the community lives in different parts of the world and shipping/availability for someone in Mexico/USA may be different than for someone in Germany/UK.
If you are just curious and want to browse, any google search for security products or an ebay search for microphones should bring up a few of the items you are interested.
Most hardware issues are discussed here:
http://www.yeppie.org/ssl-forum/viewforum.php?f=11
If you are just curious and want to browse, any google search for security products or an ebay search for microphones should bring up a few of the items you are interested.
Most hardware issues are discussed here:
http://www.yeppie.org/ssl-forum/viewforum.php?f=11
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regnen11
- Member
- Posts: 165
- Joined: 09 Jan 2006 19:17
- x 5
microphone link
I've used product from the following web site...
The cardioid mono-microphone to be exact.
http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/
Reg
The cardioid mono-microphone to be exact.
http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/
Reg
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El Ciego
- Kingpin
- Posts: 142
- Joined: 09 Oct 2006 06:36
- x 2
My setup
Hey B. Clever, RP et al...
Great question.
I use a pair of tiny electret condenser mics which use phantom power from the minidisc portable recorder. The mics cost around US$60.00 and are extraordinary! For one thing, if using a pair of omnidirectional mics, the 360-degree sound field is perfectly captured. In headphones, it sounds as if you are there in the midst of the action. The company ( http://www.coresound.com ) also sells the binaural mic pairs in cardioid pattern, mono versions of either the omni or cardioid pattern mics, and attenuated versions of all microphones (which are suitable for recording loud music/concerts etc.) One advantage of using these microphones is that in addition to superior performance, they are tiny. Each microphone capsule is smaller than a rubber erasaer affixed to a pencil. The cables are thin enough to conceal without much trouble.
I use these particularly in situations where I'm part of the action. I am about to re-encode a WAV file I made of a session with a local escort; for that recording I simply clipped the mics to opposite ends of my suitcase, put the recorder inside and closed the lid. It worked great.
Shotgun microphones and amplifier combinations can be excellent, but a truly excellent shotgun microphone will be very expensive.
While the tendency of the average audio voyeur is to just grab the sound by whatever convenient methods, then try to "fix it in the mix" using software etc. Unfortunately this usually doesn't yield the best results. A better raw recording will inevitably yield a better final product, so try to get the best sound you can. I say this, because removing noise from an otherwise good recording can be nearly impossible. We want to hear the moans and sighs, the slapping thighs, the happy cries...but we don't want to hear the television, number 7 bus, or that kid pumping hiphop through his portable radio.
In my opinion, the following list should be considered. I've listed my most important requirement first, then listed the others in decreasing order of importance:
1. Audio fidelity and quality
2. Ease of use
3. Portability/concealability
4. Price/cost of equipment
5. How well will the equipment interface with the rest of my studio, including computers?
Hope this helps.
Great question.
I use a pair of tiny electret condenser mics which use phantom power from the minidisc portable recorder. The mics cost around US$60.00 and are extraordinary! For one thing, if using a pair of omnidirectional mics, the 360-degree sound field is perfectly captured. In headphones, it sounds as if you are there in the midst of the action. The company ( http://www.coresound.com ) also sells the binaural mic pairs in cardioid pattern, mono versions of either the omni or cardioid pattern mics, and attenuated versions of all microphones (which are suitable for recording loud music/concerts etc.) One advantage of using these microphones is that in addition to superior performance, they are tiny. Each microphone capsule is smaller than a rubber erasaer affixed to a pencil. The cables are thin enough to conceal without much trouble.
I use these particularly in situations where I'm part of the action. I am about to re-encode a WAV file I made of a session with a local escort; for that recording I simply clipped the mics to opposite ends of my suitcase, put the recorder inside and closed the lid. It worked great.
Shotgun microphones and amplifier combinations can be excellent, but a truly excellent shotgun microphone will be very expensive.
While the tendency of the average audio voyeur is to just grab the sound by whatever convenient methods, then try to "fix it in the mix" using software etc. Unfortunately this usually doesn't yield the best results. A better raw recording will inevitably yield a better final product, so try to get the best sound you can. I say this, because removing noise from an otherwise good recording can be nearly impossible. We want to hear the moans and sighs, the slapping thighs, the happy cries...but we don't want to hear the television, number 7 bus, or that kid pumping hiphop through his portable radio.
In my opinion, the following list should be considered. I've listed my most important requirement first, then listed the others in decreasing order of importance:
1. Audio fidelity and quality
2. Ease of use
3. Portability/concealability
4. Price/cost of equipment
5. How well will the equipment interface with the rest of my studio, including computers?
Hope this helps.
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mjj9994
- Knight
- Posts: 1027
- Joined: 20 Dec 2005 23:06
- x 175
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El Ciego
- Kingpin
- Posts: 142
- Joined: 09 Oct 2006 06:36
- x 2
Covert ops
MJJ,
Yeah, I get your point. It's very tough these days to be an auteur. How do you convince the cop or security, "Hey, I was just trying to share a little joy here... I'm not a bad guy, I just like to record other people having sex?" These guys have no sense of humor about peepers of any kind.
Yes, I suppose having stealth equipment is nice, but to me what might be a better idea is to learn some basic surveillance skills. Dressing for success, learning to blend in with a group, finding multiple paths of exit, rethinking microphone positioning and so on will help us all get better audio.
In most jurisdictions, I believe many of the described routes to sound gathering (ahem!) are illegal. I urge everyone to peep with caution.
Yeah, I get your point. It's very tough these days to be an auteur. How do you convince the cop or security, "Hey, I was just trying to share a little joy here... I'm not a bad guy, I just like to record other people having sex?" These guys have no sense of humor about peepers of any kind.
Yes, I suppose having stealth equipment is nice, but to me what might be a better idea is to learn some basic surveillance skills. Dressing for success, learning to blend in with a group, finding multiple paths of exit, rethinking microphone positioning and so on will help us all get better audio.
In most jurisdictions, I believe many of the described routes to sound gathering (ahem!) are illegal. I urge everyone to peep with caution.
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mysx
- Kingpin
- Posts: 542
- Joined: 24 Jul 2006 04:23
- x 32
wall mic?
I just want to post this while I'm thinking about it. I haven't seen a similar post so far but I'm almost sure
it's somewhere. About apartments with "cement walls": all who have pressed their ear against the cold wall
should know the hard walls is leading sound very good. So I think the mic has to be attached to the wall, at
least in some hard situations where you cannot have a mic without to be discovered or something else.
I've had it once and the recordings was quite good even it was a cheap mono mic. I just covered the mic
with some "adhesive clay" on the wall. In that way all surrounding noise was gone, except when someone
used the bathroom... So it doesn't always has to be very expensive microphones
Edited September 19, 2011 - my bad english... what a mess, heres more to do I guess, hehehe
it's somewhere. About apartments with "cement walls": all who have pressed their ear against the cold wall
should know the hard walls is leading sound very good. So I think the mic has to be attached to the wall, at
least in some hard situations where you cannot have a mic without to be discovered or something else.
I've had it once and the recordings was quite good even it was a cheap mono mic. I just covered the mic
with some "adhesive clay" on the wall. In that way all surrounding noise was gone, except when someone
used the bathroom... So it doesn't always has to be very expensive microphones
Edited September 19, 2011 - my bad english... what a mess, heres more to do I guess, hehehe