I performed a Mid-Side test by inserting a Primo EM283 figure-eight microphone and a Primo EM 172 omnidirectional microphone into a 53 cm diameter parabolic dish. This is in order to obtain a balanced Mid-Side stereo configuration in the dish. (see also here in Sundcloud in my channel https://soundcloud.com/marco-pesente/mid-side-recording-in-parabolic-microphone-common-nightingale-song).

MID - SIDE EM172 EM283 figure 8 Parabolic Microphone

My 8 x EM272 rig (going via a 9v battery box) is lower noise than a normal EM272 pair but it is also quite a bit more sensitive (around 7.5dB). 

In a very dynamic situation like a thunderstorm, I like to record at the lowest possible level to avoid clipping. On the Sony PCM-A10 you can set the gain right down to level 3 without introducing any additional noise (with a normal EM272 stereo pair). Levels 1 and 2 add quite a bit of recorder self noise.

I wanted to test recording at level 1 with the 8 capsule rig, to see if the lower noise of that rig would mitigate the effects of the increased recorder noise.

In this clip you hear a standard EM272 pair recorded at level 15, followed by the 8 capsule rig at level 1. Recordings were made simultaneously to two separate Sony PCM-A10 recorders and subsequently normalised to the same level using a 1kHz test tone played from my phone.

The result was positive. The 8 capsule rig still has less noise, despite the added recorder noise due to the low gain level.

Sony PCM - A10 Low Gain With 8 X EM272 Capsules

Midnight Storm In England

Full Album: https://acousticnature.bandcamp.com/album/nantahala-wilderness 

Blog Post: https://acousticnature.com/journal/ellicott-rock-wilderness-field-recording-trip 

On 4/22/22, I headed to the Ellicott Rock Wilderness in the Southern Nantahala National Forest in pursuit of capturing pure nature sounds.

This trip was incredibly successful, yielded many noise-pollution-free recordings, and treated me to the beautiful sound of spring in this remote region.

Equipment:
• Lewitt 540 SubZero pair
• Sound Devices 702T
• Zoom F3
• Telinga Modular
• Olympus LS-10

DEMO: Southern Nantahala Wilderness

The song of my favorite bird captured with incredible detail by the Telinga Modular with two EM272 capsules installed in stereo configuration.

Distance from the wood thrush was about 7 meters.

Telinga Modular Review: https://acousticnature.com/journal/telinga-modular-parabolic-microphone-review

Wood Thrush Song | Telinga Modular Parabolic Microphone

DIY SASS ( 4 AOM-5024L-HD-R)
 DIY Dead Cat
 Tascam dr-05x
A thunderstorm rolled in as I got home so I quickly put a bag over my SASS as well as my custom dead cat. Recorder also in a plastic bag inside of a neoprene bag. I didn't have time to mess with levels in fear I'd miss the thunder. I'll be paying closer attention to weather patterns this summer.

Quick Storm Test With SASS

I wanted to test my new stealth setup and what better of a place full of people than the farmers market in North Tonawanda, NY.

This stealth recording was captured using two custom diy omni AOM-5024HD-R mics with my Zoom H1n disguised on my backpack.

Farmers Market 7 - 16 - 22

ZOOM F3. Out of curiosity, I placed two AOM 5024 omnidirectional capsules angled at 45 degrees right/left, powered at 48v. I inserted a small separation baffle, something I had on hand without building anything for now. The result seems satisfactory to me.

Zoom F3 + AOM 5024 Angled mounted Digital Metronome test

Dummy head binaural recording of Coast Guard AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter in hovering flight over the sea and flies away at low altitude. 
In the background the sound of sea waves on the pebbles beach. 32 bit, 192 khz, stereo.  

Photo by Flight Sardinia Magazine (flightsardiniamagazine.weebly.com)

Binaural dummy head recording of AW-139 helicopter on pebbles beach

Oldham Street, Manchester. Ambience from the top floor of an apartment building. I recorded this from the rear of the apartment  which was surrounded on all sides by the neighbouring buildings. Almost all the sounds are indirect, travelling up from the street and over the buildings giving everything a soft, reverberant quality. I love these kind of indirect soundscapes.

Oldham Street Rooftop

Unlike the daytime song, the phrases are generally short, with longer periods of silence between one phrase and another. In general, the song is less frenetic and the notes are well-articulated.
The singer was recorded at the end of May 2010, near the Palude del Busatello, a marshland located at Gazzo Veronese, Verona, Italy, at approximately 3 AM.
These the coordinates 45.114178, 11.089153.

Nightingale - nocturnal song - Rode NT1a stereo matched pair ORTF spaced- Fostex FR2 Le

Field and other interesting (to me) Recordings. I'm an enthusiast recorder on a budget mainly using Tascam recorders and multiple mics including a homemade parabolic dish which gets me funny looks.

Quick Storm Test With SASS

Captured Sound