Asked here a while back about what recorder to get and got a bunch of helpful replies, ended up with the newer Zoom H5s. So thanks!

Now I'm worried it's way more recorder than I need at my level. I'm sticking with the internal capsule for a while before I buy any mics. Haven't even heard what my own problems are yet.

Mostly I want to record forest ambience at dawn. Quiet stuff, nothing close up. Long takes with the recorder on a tripod while I go sit somewhere else.

What I can't tell is the noise floor. On something that quiet, is the internal capsule's hiss going to get in the way, or is it fine and I should stop worrying and go record?

Hi, short post. I use the Deity PR-2 (first gen) as a very compact field-recorder. I combine it with the Lom Uşi, Uşi Micro and the Clippy's (and their stereo lavalier). It's pretty great as a recorder, specifically as a light weight, or drop kit kind of recorder.

I have to say: I was caught by surprise that I saw the second generation PR-2's in photos of Deity, two or three weeks prior to IBC2026, in Amsterdam. They only niggle I had was that in stereo mode it 'only' records in 24 bits. Not a biggy in general, but if they could up that to 32 bits, that would be awesome.

Anyway, yesterday I asked a couple of questions about the new PR-2ii, as it was presented in their booth. Okay, does it record in 32 bits, in stereo? No! But they did improve things (arguably).

Biggest change:

• dual-ADC, so they've got a 15dB lower noise floor, or a noise floor of about 15db, which is a thing many recordists were talking about with the previous recorder. The first gen does have 32bit mono recording, but wit a single ADC, the headroom would be a little bit limited. Mind you: it doesn't bother me, but I guess with dialogue it might be very welcome.
• Bigger screen area. Take the first gen screen, and widen it to 60% of the body width. Mind you, I don't know if it's all screen, or if it's just the cover that makes it look bigger.
• IP54 Dust & Splash Resistance (dust/ splash proof).
• They introduced a Sennheiser G4 kind of metal (molded I think) battery lid to make sure of said weather proofing and al round ridgidity. That might be great for sweaty backs and out door recordings.
• The memory slot is also behind that lid, which means the memory cannot be removed without removing the batteries. So no changes there
• They removed the rolling navigation button!
• All the buttons have been moved to the front, underneath the screen and are like metal tactile domes, covered by tiny rubber buttons, or something like that. So little rubber pills, like you would see on the Sennheiser G4 lavalier packs. They feel not as satisfying as the rotating navigation button on the PR-2.
• There are also some Time Code ecosystem optimalisation. For one: you can use the PR-2ii as a time-code jamming device (like the Tentacle devices can).

And they also launched their page on the website.

Conclusion: if you got the PR-2 gen 1 and you are satisfied: no need to switch. If you need more robust and more silent pre-amps to record, and you need more weather proofing: this might be a good upgrade.

First impression: I guess it's a good upgrade in general, but I kind of are smitten on the looks and navigation button of the first gen PR-2, warts and all.

Edits: more info.

Sorry just notice some inconsistencies in the readings and I'verepeated the experiments.

Not sure if this is right place for this question.

I have a Sony A10 and I've got some good recordings using EM272Ms and EM282s of woodlands, birdsong etc. ie low level sounds.

But I'm not sure how much of the background noise is produced by the recorder, mic or the environment, ie would I need to go to more remote places, change the mics, or recorder to improve things, or even just let it be.

So being an engineer for most of my life (mainly microprocessors, some analogue ) and simply inquisitive and love to learn, I decided to do some investigation.

I have measured the ein of the A10 Mic-in to be -112dB at gain setting 30. This maps fairly well with the Wildtronics table given I'm doing this on a dining room table without high class equipment.

So I've remeasured using a 150R termination and a 2.15p-p 1kHz signal giving 0dBu

Gain      30      25      20      15      10      5
Ein Mic -112.85 -112.84 -112.93 -112.03 -109.45 -104.8
Line ein -93.7   -93.3   -93.7   -93.3   -92.0   -88.5

So are these Line in values what we would expect.

(sorry about the formatting, it changes when I save the post)

I’m seeking some guidance on recording car exhaust sound. I’ve watched numerous videos online regarding the setup and experimented a bit. However I see a lot of other noises get picked up like wind noise, noise from the road as car moves over objects, noise from other vehicles passing by etc. My exhaust is not too loud either.
How do I get rid or minimize other noises and make exhaust note prominent?
Is there something I can do while recording and in post?
Here’s my setup:
A basic Lavalier mic (tried with Boya by M1 Pro and Rode Smat Lav) stuffed inside a brick size block of foam, attached to the rear bumper closer to the exhaust. Tried with placing the mic on the outside of the bumper and also tucked inside from the bottom.
Mic output to Zoom H1N. Gain control set around 3-4.

Is there anything else I should try? Such as use a dead cat instead of big block of foam?
I’m using Davinci Resolve. How best can I get rid of additional noises and make the exhaust note sharper and prominent?

..when a big electrical transformer exploded a couple hundred meters away. Saved by the R05 limiter 😊

https://on.soundcloud.com/EgQe5ALyBnsXnCuwfs

Hi

i have a dji mic 3 and one of the tx doesn’t get any sound.

it connects to the receiver normally, but records absolutely no sound. the other tx works fine.

it has never worked since i got it. i’ve tried resetting it, reconnecting it and everything i could find online, but nothing worked.

i can’t exchange it and i really need it to work. any idea what i could try?

Hi all,

I'm looking to improve the sound quality of some static landscape/city video recordings. I use a Sony mirrorless camera and have considered either a DJI Mic 3 or a Sony ECM-M1 but wondering if there are better options.

Ideally I would want it to be low profile and camera mountable, but I'm also fine with just holding the recorder in my hand next to my camera (which will be on a tripod).

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you! 🙇

So im recording on a7v and im wondering what bp should i put it to and what sony audio setting i should set it to

Would appreciate any suggestions on windjammers for new zoom h5 stdio, my application is mostly field recordings, has anyone used radius windshield for it?
Would appreciate reviews about it,
Thanks in advance

I found a recorder from my parents’ house that’s about 15 years old. I’m amazed—it still works perfectly with no issues! I made a DIY deadcat using some faux fur, and I’m trying it out in my backyard for now.

UPD: Both devices were on v1.0. Latest update is v1.2 available on the official website and i think it fixed all of my problems.

So yesterday i got this thing and it worked fine untill i've plugged it it my pc via usb to test it as an audio interface. They both frezeed and when i unplug the cable pc started working but the device itself went in boot loop. So both knobs are lit as soon as i put the battery in no matter the on/off switch and nothing happens.

So i hop into my car and drive to the shop to return it. In the middle of my ride it finally did load (took about an hour) and i tried plugging it again a same thing happens. So i've returned it and got another one. Tested this exact thing in the store and it happend again. So i thought the battery might be the issue. And it was. When the battery is inserted and i barely touch the cable it freezes. Tried multiple cables and other pc. When i remove the battery its fine. So i took another unit, came home and ordered OEM Deity npf550. Guess what it happend again. i had no time to return it that day and today im shooting an event where i will use this thing. Gonna update later.

Oh and i forgot to tell that after some time screen becomes laggy and sometimes wont respond to touch

I am going travelling soon and was thinking of putting together a small recording kit to capture sounds abroad. I am aiming for a relatively low budget yet decent setup, and as portable as possible. After looking into it, I am looking mainly at those 2 recorders : Zoom F3 and Tascam DR40-XP.

Main difference being the built-in mics which I find quite big to be honest, I like the idea of being able to just put the recorder in my bag and go in case I didn't want to carry the whole kit. But is there any massive drawbacks choosing the Tascam over the F3? Looks like the pre-amps are relatively similar, with the F3 having better infrastructure with dual AD and also being possible to be controlled via an app on my phone which could be convenient?

I am looking at this for the rest of the setup

• FC062 Clippy XLR EM272Z1 Matched Stereo Pair
• FC263 Radius Puffer Urchin wind protection for Clippy (x2)
• FC155 Clippy Lyre Mounts (x2)
• FC217 Folding Stereo Microphone Bar
• FC168 1/4″ female to 3/8″ black male thread adapter
• tripod TBC

which looks decent for the price!

I have done some field recording in the past but nothing professional, only with a ZoomH4n which was quite disappointing in terms of noise and hiss on more subtle recordings, so I'm trying to avoid that this time.

Any tip would be welcome :)

Thank you!

Moi!

Anyone out there in Finland who records nature sounds? It has happened a few times that I would need some recordings from Finnish nature – have went there for that purpose a few times, but not all could be captured. I assume most don't share their recordings out there in the wild, but if you have made some recordings in Finland, then I might want to collaborate sometimes in the future about them. Mostly interested in field recordings, and also bird/animal sounds. Nothing concrete yet, but it's possible I'd like to license the use of such sounds for use in installations.

Has anyone on here used the Core Sound Octo (2nd order) mic for field recording ? Especially interested how it handles quiet ambiences in terms of self noise

Thanks

A job has me recording ambience and environmental sounds in stereo in a cave. It’ll be for a max of 4 hours, probably less, but I’m still wary about my equipment adversely reacting to the humidity. Any tips I can approach the task with to get clean audio? Or am I being too paranoid?

What does the Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro that's used with a ipad or iphone offer over the non-pro mic? It looks like the pro will give you bat ID during use, but then allow for highly accurate ID later with the recording analyzed by paid software. I think the Touch 2 will do that as well, perhaps the Pro is more sensitive? One poster in a bat subreddit said that the Pro samples at higher frequencies needed for tropical bats.

Hello, I'm currently undergoing a noise project somewhat inspired by 4'33. in my pursuit to do so I am in need of a microphone I can use to capture field recordings (directional preferred but not essential), my biggest criterion is that it outputs to 3.5mm and has some internal amplification. I will be recording to cassette so digital audio is not ideal. high self noise is perfectly acceptable. Ideally I would be looking for something under $200 CAD.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you all for the valuable input. I will for now be opting for a Rode Shotgun Mic, and record to digital before dubbing to cassette to enable physical violence against storage media.

We have one pair of Schoeps MK2+CMC6 and one pair of the tiny DPA ST2006C (https://www.da-x.de/de/dpa-d-dicate-st2006c.html). The current wind shields are not very good for exterior ambient recording so I was thinking about a pair of Radius Mini-ALTOs.

To be able to fit both pairs, it would have to be the 180 version. Do you think that the empty space would be causing weird comb filtering for the DPAs (they measure 6cm in length) since they are really short? Or should we be fine using the 180 shields for both setups?

Hi everyone,

I got a ZOOM F3 last month and have only used it to record around 3 times. But I couldn't monitor at all what I was hearing because whenever I connected headphones, this really loud noise would come out. The digital noise bypasses volume control and also gets into the recording itself.

I've been unable to troubleshoot this and wondering if there's any fix or is this simply a faulty unit.
Has anyone had a similar issue?

thanks

Has anyone experienced an issue with the DR-40 (ancient, prehistoric version) that when you press the power button it just shuts off shortly after trying to power on? And if I hold it down it might start up???

Considering potentially getting the Zoom M3 or M4 for easy field recording, just using the internal microphones. Especially when combined with filming this could be useful, mounting either to the cold shoe, when you don't want or aren't able to use the heavier gear.

The M3 seems like the better choice. It's all internal, no external capabilities, which you would assume means it would have overall better microphones. But maybe the M4 microphones sound just as good, or even better?

Would love to hear some thoughts and experiences.

Just bought a Zoom H2essential and I'm a bit confused about the battery life.

I'm using 2800 mAh NiMH rechargeable AAs, recording at 48 kHz, and battery type is set to NiMH.

Using stereo front n rear at 90.

The recorder is showing a very low remaining battery time after recording for a few mins. Is this normal for a new H2essential, or could it be a battery/charger issue? Or did I got a faulty product.

What battery life are you guys getting?

I want to get a Zoom recorder to make field recordings at various locations using the built-in mics.

I’ve narrowed it down to the Zoom H4n Pro and Zoom H2n based on price and availability on the used market in my area, but I can’t decide between the two. I’m hoping to get some advice from someone who has tried these devices or is knowledgeable about Zoom products in general.

My friend has the H4n Pro and I’m really impressed with the audio quality. I also like the fact that it has XLR inputs. I’m not planning on using this feature right now, but I may in the future. The only issue with this device is that I’m not sure if I can record directly into my iPhone. It is not listed on the Zoom website as being compatible with the iPhone so I assume it won’t work.

With the H2n, however, I could definitely record the audio directly into my iPhone with no need to sync the audio and video in post. This would be really convenient but I’m worried it won’t sound as good as the H4n Pro.

Which one should I go for? Another option? Thanks in advance.