What equipment can I use to amplify bird sounds in the field? (1 Viewer)

[Punchy71]

Greetings,
Being a beginner to birding by ear in the field, I was wanting to know if there is any equipment I could take with me and use in the field that would help amplify bird sounds rather than just strictly record it? Maybe perhaps in the future I could put a recorder in-line to this hypothetical amplification gear, but for now just use it to help me hear bird sounds a lot better, especially sounds way off in the distance?

Thanks

 

[HarryJ]

Hi Punchy,
Let's see what you would need? Somekind of earplugs or head phones.These you would need to connect to some sort of electronics - an amplifier to boost up the sound and possibly more electronics - some sort of a microphone (possibly directional). The internet is full of "sound aids" and "spy devices" that claim various amplifications and huge distances. I have listened to many of these and am not impressed.

I mu humble opinion the best general amplfiers come, in most cases, with a recorder. You can get an amplifier without the possibility for recording but that is not worth the extra hassle. I use my directional mics or parabolic dish quite often just to listen, and hit the recorder if I hear something intetesting. In a sense if you get a reasonable and handy amplifier, you end up often geting an recoder as a bonus. There are lots of threads discussing what kind a recorder is reasonable one.

I woudl very much welcome opinions differing to my personal one.

Regards
Harry J

 

[iveljay]

I'm afraid that Harry is absolutely right, there is virtually no market for high quality, domestic, stand alone, directional listening devices.

The two theoretical exceptions are basically toy devices, and general amplification systems for the slightly hard of hearing, and despite the various names they are sold under most are of the same design. I too am unimpressed with them. (Though great fun for kids)

The manufacturers R&D goes where there is a likely profit and in the past few years there has been a growth in reasonable cost, lightweight, music or news media recording equipment, right now that seems to be changing to provide good, cost effective audio for the bigger(?) slr video market. Some of this new stuff is really simple to use and has also finally dispensed with the stupid little loudspeaker that has no real value to me personally. (Either make them bigger or ditch them altogether!)

A good microphone system will cost whatever you can afford and if you pick the right compatible recorder you will have an excellent amplifier.

I also find that picking the right headphones makes a tremendous difference to both what I hear and my personal comfort, however we are all different, and its really whatever works for you.

So sorry for not disagreeing with Harry, but vitually the only non-recording listening devices you will see these days, tend to be in 1970's films used by a PI who gets shot in the second reel. (And most of those were connected to a reel to reel tape recorder!)

If there is anyone out there who disagrees please feel free to educate me also.

J

 

[HarryJ]

Thanks for your comments,
there are devices that connect to in coming mics and that you can listen to or monitor with your headphones. You can use these also to connect to other devices, but in principle they are available (e.g. http://www.sounddevices.com/products/mixpred/ ) and possibly some of the ones on a review page
http://www.head-fi.org/t/214588/rev...mpared-final-update-12-20-10-added-rsa-sr-71b
The link is a bit old, but may give some ideas. I have not tested any of these. Note however, that the prices are close to the range of good audio (44.1 KHz or more, PCM/WAV) recorders.

I think we all would be interested in learing if anybody has experience with any of these protable "good" amplifiers for nature recording.

Regards
Harry J