Parabolic Recordings

I recently acquired a Telinga Parabolic Microphone system. I paired this unit with a Sennheiser MKH 8020 Omni RF microphone, Zoom F3 recorder, green windshield, tripod mount, 1/4 camera mount clamp, and attached a shoulder strap to the pistol grip for on the go transporting. I am practicing species location and identification techniques at the Indiana Dunes National Park in preparation for my upcoming pure nature excursions in Belize and a species count project for the Alexander Skutch Bird Refuge in Costa Rica. There are more photos below of my different parabolic rig designs.

Person using a parabolic microphone in a sandy landscape.

Quad Microphone Array

I am currently creating different light weight travel rigs for quad and stereo microphone array recordings. This stereo bar allows me to expand to 6 microphones on one bar for portable surround sound configurations. In the photo: Sennhesier MKH 8020 matched stereo pair microphones, Live wire XRL microphone cables, velcro fasteners, Rycote Baby Ball gags with lyres, microphone bar, monopod, Zoom F3 recorder, Anker power bank, Sennhesier HD 280 headphones, and three 1/4 camera clamps.

Microphone setup on a stand with shock mounts and boom arms

32Bit Floating Point Overnight Drop Rig

I have recently added the Zoom F3 to my collection of portable field recorders. It is currently the smallest stereo 32bit floating point stereo XLR recorder on the market. I have paired it with an Anker power bank, Anker USB-C to USB-A cable, and stereo XLR to 3.5mm phantom power adapter for PIP microphones.

Zoom F3 field recorder connected to two microphones with cables on a wooden surface.

Stationary Parabolic Microphone Rig

Here is my stationary Parabolic Microphone Recording Rig for capturing nest and none moving habitats. In the photo: Telinga Parabolic Microphone System, Sennheiser MKH 8020 Omni RF microphone, Zoom F3 recorder, green windshield, tripod mount, three 1/4 camera mount clamps, phone with zoom mobile remote control, fluid pan/tilt ballhead, Anker powerbank, monopod, and shoulder strap.

Parabolic microphone setup with dish, microphone, and stand against a plain background.

Stationary Parabolic Microphone Rig in action

Here is the Stationary Parabolic Microphone Rig being used to record a flock of birds in the frozen lake at the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

Parabolic microphone setup near a pond with trees in winter

Binaural Dummy Head Rig

Meet Mandla (Zulu name meaning power or energy). Mandla is my binaural dummy head used for true stereo binaural and ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) recordings. Mandla has synthetic pinnae ears to resemble human hearing. In this photo: Dummy Head, windshield ear muffs, binaural microphones, monopod, 1/4 camera mount clamp, and Sony PCM M10 recorder.

binaural microphone head with headphones on a stand

Mandla in action

Here’s a picture of Mandla at the Maple Lake Forest Preserve. In the photo: Dummy Head, windshield ear muffs, binaural microphones, stage mic stand, Sound Devices 442 field mixer, Tascam DR-680 MKI multi-track field recorder, porta brace carry bag, and XLR cables.

Binaural recording setup in a grassy field, including a dummy head with microphones attached and audio equipment connected below.

X/Y Stereo Audio Anthropology Recordings

Here is behind the scene footage of my stereo boom microphone setup in the middle of the bush in Kenya. I used this rig for capturing Maasai ceremonies via audio and video. In this photo: Rode NT4, Rode Blimp, Rode windjammer, Rode boom pole, lighting stand, and boom pole holder.

Boom microphone in an outdoor setting with a group of people in traditional attire walking on a dirt path among bushes.

Maasai Audio Anthropology Recording Setup

Here is an image of me dressed in my Maasai clothing with tribal paint. I am setting up the video scene for the Maasai Morans ceremony.

Group of people in red clothing with tripods and camera equipment in a dry, bushy landscape.

Multi-Track Field Recording

My first full size multi-track field recording rig is the Sound Devices 442 field mixer (on bottom) paired with the Tascam DR-680 MK I (on top). Majority of my projects for 15 years was recorded on this device in the field along with the Sony PCM M10. This will remain my multi-track rig until a bigger project calls for more. I have my eye on the Sound Devices MixPre 10 II or Zoom F8N Pro. I own a Sound Devices USB PRE2 and can attest that both of my Sound Devices products are built to last and perform in very extreme conditions. I have owned a Zoom H3VR for about 7 years for ambisonic recordings and the mics are not that spectacular. The Zoom F3 is a less than a month old and so far the only thing I do not enjoy about it is the poor battery life and small buttons. I hear the Zoom F series recorders are very trustworthy so lets see.

Audio recording equipment with control knobs, buttons, and meters on a wooden surface.

My favorite everyday workhorse recorder - Sony PCM M10

The Sony PCM M10 is my favorite field recorder to date! It stays by my side when traveling the world to record pure nature, audio anthropology projects, presentations, ethno-musicology projects, DJ mixes, stage performances, and as a music player. My first trusty M10 recorder is the grey one on the right. I recently acquired a back up unit that is on the left. The white housing is a special edition series. This recorder paired with PIP microphones sounds great! I also have used the on board microphones with a windjammer and captured nice usable recordings. I wish this recorder was reissued with stereo 3.5mm and XLR jacks and 32bit floating point processing. I have heard amazing things about the Sony PCM D100, D50, and D10 recorders.

two Sony Minidisc recorders on wooden table

Stereo PIP Microphones - Clippys

I learned about these awesome PIP microphones from the amazing Dan Dugan (Nature Sound Society). They are called Clippys and are made by MicBooster out of the UK. I pair these with my Sony PCM M10 and Zoom F3 field recorder with 3.5mm to XLR adapter. In this photo: Stereo matched EM272 microphones, two lyres, two foam covers, and two green windscreens.

Microphone accessories on wooden surface; includes two shock mounts, connecting cable, two black foam windscreens, and two green wind muffs.

Early Morning Puerto Rico Bird Song

Rise and Shine in the Divine Puerto Rico mountains. This is an interesting active early morning bird chorus.

Recorded with the Sony PCM M10 and Clippys Matched Stereo Pair PIP Microphones

Run and Gun 32bit Field Recorder - Zoom F3

My new portable run and gun rig is the Zoom F3 field recorder paired with Immersive Soundscapes ORTF microphones with mini jecklin disk. The mics are 2 days old (written Jan 31st 2025) and recorder about 2 weeks old. From my experiences with a few field test this week (listen below), I am enjoying this addition to my collection. I will followup with my review after my Belize and Costa Rica adventures. Stay tuned!

Zoom F3 Field Recorder with windshields on microphones

Botanical Psithurism

Psithurism

Trees provide some of the most common and admired ways for wind to make itself heard. This sound has been termed psithurism (sith-err-iz-um).

Recorded at the Chicago Botanical Gardens with the Zoom F3 and Immersive Soundscapes ORTF Stereo Microphones with mini Jecklin Disc.

My DIY Weather Proof Drop Rig - Zoom F3 version (Open view)

I have created my own weather proof tree ears drop rig for extended over night field recordings. This array allows for 6 different mic placements and external microphone cable routing. It can be installed to a tree or left outside in an secure area.

My DIY Weather Proof Drop Rig - Zoom F3 version (Closed view)

I have created my own weather proof tree ears drop rig for extended over night field recordings. This array allows for 6 different mic placements and external microphone cable routing. It can be installed to a tree or left outside in an secure area.

My DIY Weather Proof Drop Rig - Sony PCM M10 version

(Closed view)

I have created a smaller weather proof tree ears drop rig for extended over night field recordings. This array allows for 2 microphone placements or external microphone cable routing. It can be installed to a tree or left outside in an secure area.

My DIY Weather Proof Drop Rig - Sony PCM M10 version

(Open view)

I have created a smaller weather proof tree ears drop rig for extended over night field recordings. This array allows for 2 microphone placements or external microphone cable routing. It can be installed to a tree or left outside in an secure area.

All pictures and audio recordings are copyrighted. Any usage of any audio and visual materials on this site and 3rd party sites without my permission is strictly prohibited.