Sound recording for birdsong etc - equipment suggestions?

[Suffolk-Chris]

I'm often out somewhere and hear birds bellowing at each other but they are occasionally not in view so a visual ID isn't possible. I'm pretty hopeless at identifying by the song, but thought it would be interesting and helpful to me if I could record the song and bring it home to compare with recordings on websites such as the RSPB.

Is there anyone out there who does this and can suggest a low cost bit of equipment and accessories for entry level sound recording...... I suspect we have moved on from the cassette recorder and wired microphone of the 70s.

Thanks

[Kayleigh]

My camera on the video setting has a really good mic then you can upload to the computer and listen..

[Deb London]

I would dearly love to get into this but decided that I didn't have the funds. Have a read of some advice I was given:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...60-post30.html

[The Woodman]

There are a host of quality digital recorders out there to suit most budgets.

As in Deb's link, I use an Olympus LS10 almost nightly (now superseded by LS11), see my review on WAB.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/re...uct/669/cat/72

I chose this brand and model primarily to record from bat detectors in the field but use it occasionally for bird song and other sources. The reasons for my choice were handlability and ease of use. It's slim, very well built and easily operated with one hand. My other short listers were Edirol R05 and Zoom H2 for about the same money.

The quality of the recoding from the LS10 is excellent, as are the others as long as the same settings are used.

I'm not a techie but all my recording are in .wav format, all these machines can record in various formats.

I would have thought that one of these would do what you require and I look forward to the day when WAB allows sound files to be uploaded for reference and well as images!

You'r right about cassettes, I was glad to get rid of mine for the benefits of mini CD. I now have a top-of-the-range Sony mini CD recorder lying in its box virtually worthless. Embrace the digital age - it's fantastic.

[Red Robin]

I've never used my compact digital camera's vid+sound feature but have a Nokia mobile which has a dedicated recorder designed primarily for voice recording. Consequently its mic is excellent for bird's voices. The range is surprising and the field also very focussed.

I think you'll find that any modern mobile will have such a feature and it's a way of capturing bird sounds without investing in extra gear.

I've currently recorded my local Blackbird in full song and have transferred it into Logic on the studio Mac where I can edit/enhance it etc etc with a wide choice of plug-ins.

[RKB]

Have a look at Remembird. It's specificalyl designed for your exact need, and is an entry-level sound recorder for taking audio 'field notes'.

Here's a review of the first model. I think it's on version II now. It comes with a built-in audio-guide, so you can compare on the spot.

Alana Ecology RememBird II Europe

This is a review of the first model, showing how you use it in the field. The upgrades in v.II look much better.

Personally I've got a Fostex FR2-LE, and it's possible to spend vast amount of money on this stuff. But all you really need is something like the Remembird. Digital voice recorders are a bit iffy as they often don't have the sort of microphone that can pick up distant birdsong. They're made for recording voices (much lower frequency than birds) in close quarters with no weather interference, so avoid buying something cheap from Dixons and wasting your money.

[Suffolk-Chris]

Thanks Everyone - some great info and ideas there - will let you know how it goes!!


Oh.... just tried the last link and Alana Ecology pages seem to be no longer available....