sound recording

[nightshade]

I would like to (in a modest way i.e. cheap)begin to make recordings of noises,that i hear and cannot put an animal to
This would include bats ,so can anyone recommend suitable kit?
The smaller the better

[Owly]

what about an mp3 player, my daughter can record on hers, don't know how exactly, but it works, i think the sounds have to be quite loud or near the microphone bit. worth a try if you have one or can get hold of one. very portable too.

[StuartDH]

I was looking at a similar type of thing yesterday and thought about maybe getting a digital dictation machine from argos and then plug a good quality microphone into the mic jack.

While I was in Cornwall last week, I thought that it could have been useful to record the waves, thunderstorms, trickling streams, woodland sounds etc in 30/60 minute recordings that people could then download from the site to fall asleep to.

Not sure if it's anything like the best way to get digital recordings, so I'd be interested to hear alternatives.

[nightshade]

apparently there is a Sony m/c a small tape m/c but the better quality digital "jukeboxes"
are the thing provided they have a line in/out

[Boddie]

I agree with Stuart. I have a digital dictation machine which is triggered by noise so its not on all of the time - just when it picks up a noise. It wasn't cheap, but I did buy it a few years ago and think the prices have come down significantly. I use it mainly in the car to make note of anything interesting I see and the GPS position.

[nightshade]

can anyone recommend a specific product?e-mail me

[LonesomeTwin]

As a rule, most MP3 players don't record, most minidisc players do. You'll need a 'bat detector' to ever record a bat, do a google on the subject. As an alternative to MP3 stuff why not use a video recorder, the sound on these is pretty good as long as you use a proper external mike. You might like the birds on this track, before they are obliterated by my motorcycle (see left).

Vroom

[nightshade]

lonesome twin
i have a selection of bat detectors but i need a recording device(elektrickery puzzles me inordinately)to use with the detectors,heterodyne,and to record the strange noises i sometimes hear when i am out and about good suggestions thoug and i love the bike
i once put a low pass of a spitfire into a classical tape for my in-laws

[LonesomeTwin]

Glad you liked the bike

If you type portable recorder into ebay, you end up with a pretty wide cross section. On the other hand, if you want to drool over things you can't afford, try the Marantz PMD660, the Edirol R-1, or the Core Sound PDAudio. Korg do some nice gadgets too.

I would point out that with most cheap digital recorders you don't get control over the level. If you take my bike track as an example, the AGC would have pulled the level right up at the start, then dragged it down when the bike went past, creating a very unnatural sound. I use an ancient ex-professional Sony TC-153 cassette deck btw, very good, but very heavy.

[Tragus]

Hi Nightshade
I recently was 'donated' a bat detector (Mk 3 Batbox) by a 'batty' friend and like you wanted to record the echolocation calls emitted by the bats.
I couldn't think how to do it without carrying around some huge tape recorder which isn't practical whilst roaming around woods etc in the dark. I mentioned the difficulties of recording the sounds to my brother and he produced a dictaphone that he no longer used. It works!!!!

I am now the proud owner of a Phillips Executive pocket memo 491 and it so far has recorded Noctule's, natterer's, and Pipistrelle's (45) and (55).
Unfortunately I haven't yet managed to find a lead to fit the recorder to my bat box I probably will need an adaptor, but so far just holding the dictaphone near the batbox is proving okay for taping the sounds.
You can also get 30min or 60 min tapes for this particular recorder so I can record and keep my efforts!!
Hope this helps
Tragus

[nightshade]

hello tragus,welcome to the forum,I was beginning to think it was becoming
"wild about birds"!
with regard to recording, my trainers say use a mini disc or mp3 recorder, something to do with handling the frequencies but I agree with you a dictaphone particularly voice activated means you do at least Have a recording

[Boddie]

Hi Nightshade

This all depends on how remote or how sheltered the equipment is going to be. With my dictaphone which, as I said is voice activated, you could fit a lapel mic, which is also very small. Then I could just leave the mic in situ all of the time and the dictaphone would be at least the length of the mic end of the lapel mic. This would allow me to remove the dictaphone without getting too close to the bat enclosure. Also as it is voice activated the batteries are not getting used up when there are no noises. I am not sure MP3 players or Minidisc would give you this option.

Do you know what sort of format you want to record onto. i.e. do you want to have the noises on the pc or just for listening to on headphones?

Cheers

Boddie

[nightshade]

Sorry this thread is a little old sampling needs to be around 44kHz
The current recommendation is an Iriver IFP795 but there must be plenty more
suitable that will not break the bank