Shotgun mics for wildlife

Sean McHenry · December 15th, 2005, 03:59 PM

Hey Douglas,
looks like something a few bright folks should get together and make. Animal patterned wind fuzzies. I could see selling them to folks shooting wildlife and the occasional oddball wedding videographer. Tiger striped fuzzies, skunk stripes, leopard, alley cat and maybe a black velvet version with Elvis on it?

What do you think?

I was watching "Dementia 13" the other night when the boom mic dipped into the shot. Guess Stanley missed that shot in editing.

</hijack>

Sean

Steve Siegel · December 27th, 2005, 03:11 PM

If you want to save a lot of money on a mike, and don't mind carrying around a huge device that will not mount on your camcorder, Greg Kunkel's Birdsong Homepage has plans for a homemade parabolic mike. I built one by his plans for $54.00, and it works like a dream. It easily brings in sounds clearly from 50 yards or more, and since it is parabolic is highly focused. Only problem is , it's 18 inches across and will not fit in a suitcase.

Alkim Un · January 30th, 2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean McHenry

Yes. One should never attempt this with a live cat, or wombat.

Sean

hey is there really a way to do a windjammer from dead cats or is this a common coke ? if it is possible, the area where I will film is full of raod-kills of foxes and if there is a way (how to or picture?) , I can use their fantastic tails :)

alkim.

James Ewen · January 31st, 2006, 02:34 AM

Telinga of Sweden make a very nice foldable parabolic mic setup but it is pricey.

I use Sennheiser 416 and 816 long shotguns. They are pretty much a standard and are available reasonably cheaply second hand.

Sean- I like the idea of wildlife print furrys to cover the make but they suffer the disadvantage that you may find an amorous skunk trying to mate with your mic. This would make for great TV but would certainly render the audio unuseable.

J

December 15th, 2005, 03:59 PM	#16
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	Hey Douglas, looks like something a few bright folks should get together and make. Animal patterned wind fuzzies. I could see selling them to folks shooting wildlife and the occasional oddball wedding videographer. Tiger striped fuzzies, skunk stripes, leopard, alley cat and maybe a black velvet version with Elvis on it? What do you think? I was watching "Dementia 13" the other night when the boom mic dipped into the shot. Guess Stanley missed that shot in editing. </hijack> Sean __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

January 31st, 2006, 02:34 AM	#19
James Ewen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 91	Telinga of Sweden make a very nice foldable parabolic mic setup but it is pricey. I use Sennheiser 416 and 816 long shotguns. They are pretty much a standard and are available reasonably cheaply second hand. Sean- I like the idea of wildlife print furrys to cover the make but they suffer the disadvantage that you may find an amorous skunk trying to mate with your mic. This would make for great TV but would certainly render the audio unuseable. J __________________ Natural History Cameraman Earthmedia Film, Oslo, Norway

December 27th, 2005, 03:11 PM	#17
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 840	If you want to save a lot of money on a mike, and don't mind carrying around a huge device that will not mount on your camcorder, Greg Kunkel's Birdsong Homepage has plans for a homemade parabolic mike. I built one by his plans for $54.00, and it works like a dream. It easily brings in sounds clearly from 50 yards or more, and since it is parabolic is highly focused. Only problem is , it's 18 inches across and will not fit in a suitcase.