Gear Tips

Field recording gear is available with all types of performance and cost considerations. I was fortunate when starting out. When were were living in South Florida I purchased a Tascam DR-44 series recorder, then after moving to Pensacola in 2017 I obtained a Sony PCM D100 and a stereo set of LOM MikroUsi lavalier microphones originally, from Ebay to use out across the dunes in the National Seashore.

The Tascam unit was a great handheld stereo recorder to learn with. I recorded rainstorms, birds and the miniature children's (and adventurous adults) train along it's half mile track at Lakes Park in Fort Myers. The Tascam also saw field use in the Corkscrew Swamp nature area.

The purchase of a Sony PCM D100 was a great step up in quality for me and this unit was responsible for inspiring me to learn DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) programs. I started out with a free, open source DAW program, Audacity. I will discuss Audacity more under a future DAW section but I do highly recommend this basic but easy to learn and use program. A field recording enthusiast can produce excellent WAV and MP3 recordings and I still often use Audacity today.

In addition to Audacity I use FL Studio, a DAW program more geared to creating music. I am working on using wildlife sounds from my field recordings in nature beat type songs. FL Studio does have a cost associated with its use however it is an amazing digital audio workstation.

After moving to Tallahassee I came across about a half dozen older Sony PCM-M10 recorders and an Olympus unit along with a variety of lavalier microphones my father had used during his engineering career to record interviews and meetings across roadway construction sites. These Sony PCM M-10 recorders, though approximately ten years old, form the backbone of my field recording equipment collection today. They are rugged in construction and with 96kHz/24-bit recording performance, rival recorded audio from more expensive recorders. Additionally, the M-10 recorders use two rechargeable AA batteries and can accept up to a 32GB microSD memory card, making it perfect for field recordings up to 15 hours in duration.

Rounding out my recorder collection are two Sony D100s, a couple of small Sony PCM A-10s, a larger Sony PCM D-10 for use with XLR cabled speakers and a Sound Devices Pre-Mix 3.

If I were just starting out today with field recording there is no doubt I'd find a used Sony PCM M-10 on Ebay, Craigslist or FB Marketplace as my first recorder. The advantages of this classic recorder include:

  • overnight continuous recording capabilities with two quality rechargeable AA batteries. I like using IKEA's LADDA rechargeable batteries and more about batteries in the sections following.

  • 32GB microSD card compatibility. Though Sony recommends 16GB I find that the 32GB micro SD cards performs seamlessly. I've tried 64GB but with no luck, however 32GB allows me to record as long as my batteries hold out. On a typical 15 hour recording session in the field I find the PCM M-10 uses about 18-20GB in 96kHz/24-bit recording mode

  • easy to use gain adjustment knob

  • decent built-in microphones. I do however always use Plug In Powered (PIP) lavalier microphones. More on microphones below too

  • light weight and compact size - fits easily in small gaming cases I pick up at thrift stores

  • excellent audio file recording at 96kHz/24-bit levels rivaling much more expensive recorders

There are many approaches to field and nature recording, from real time recording of on-site wildlife, birds and nature events to timed, long play recordings throughout the day or night and even for multiple days at a time.

My style of field recording involves setting up Sony recorders in weatherproof containers, hooking up two small omni-directional lavalier microphones to the recorder's 3.5mm microphone plug supplying PIP or Plug In Power and covering the microphone capsules with fuzzy windscreens called Windbubbles (alternatives discussed below).

After ensuring my gain control is set appropriately for the environment at hand I initiate the Record commands and then lock the recorders with a Hold switch. I always double check the LCD display to make sure the recorder is working correctly and the batteries have full charge, then seal the protective, weather resilient bags, with the recorder inside. These bags are usually the roll up top type and microphone wires fold into the bag rolls eventually protruding from the final Velcro or latch type seal.

I usually start my recorders late afternoon, just in time to catch the evening bird choruses, allowing the Sony to build audio files throughout the night and into the next day's sunrise choruses. Making my way back to the recorders using GPS the next morning I note relevant weather and wildlife information, take photos of the recorder and microphones hanging in the bush or tree where they had been set up the previous night and power down the units.

This is just the way I field record. There are many other valid field recording approaches. Every artist has their own method(s) at creating what they envision. With new equipment releases, shared information and techniques across the world-wide web and improved understanding of our earth, field recording art is constantly evolving.

Remember, your approach to interpretation of Nature's languages is as valid as anyone else's. The best way to get involved is to go outside and record!

All audio and images contained within this website are copyright protected, Kevin Songer, 2022. Please enjoy the nature audio for non-commercial, personal use.