Field Recording of Bird Song

[Dinusaur]

I am a birder/bird photographer and keep my life list through eBird reporting. I'll be in India in January 2025 and will be going around to see and photograph birds, especially the migratory birds that visit India this time of the year. Though in the past my focus was in capturing photos of a new bird. Now I want to get into field recording of bird calls/songs. The idea is to take photo and also record bird calls/songs at the same time. I plan to use: a Sennheiser MKE600 shotgun microphone sitting on my Z9 Hotshoe and then running the cable to:

1. the Z9 with 60PF lens attached. This way I take video of the bird and/also record their calls/songs on Z9 (picture below).
2. a Sony PCM D50 audio recorder keeping the microphone still set up on the Z9 Hotshoe and attaching the microphone cable to PDM D50 which hangs from my side while in the field.

The advantage of 1: simpler setup, the originator of the bird call/songs is clearly identified through video and associated audio, I can switch off the video and still take static shots for attaching to eBird.
The disadvantage of 1: Quality of recording, as I am not sure how powerful Z9 pre-amp is compared to Sony PCM D50 and I don't see any control button on Z9 for raising record level.

The advantage of 2: I can adjust the level of recording, and the quality of sound is better.
Disadvantage of 2: One extra item to carry, has to put some marker on the recorded audio so that later I can associate the PCM D50 audio with photos taken on Z9.

I would appreciate your comments/suggestions for field recording with the setup I described above or is there a better way?

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[Nimi]

I am a birder/bird photographer and keep my life list through eBird reporting. I'll be in India in January 2025 and will be going around to see and photograph birds, especially the migratory birds that visit India this time of the year. Though in the past my focus was in capturing photos of a new bird. Now I want to get into field recording of bird calls/songs. The idea is to take photo and also record bird calls/songs at the same time. I plan to use: a Sennheiser MKE600 shotgun microphone sitting on my Z9 Hotshoe and then running the cable to:

1. the Z9 with 60PF lens attached. This way I take video of the bird and/also record their calls/songs on Z9 (picture below).
2. a Sony PCM D50 audio recorder keeping the microphone still set up on the Z9 Hotshoe and attaching the microphone cable to PDM D50 which hangs from my side while in the field.

The advantage of 1: simpler setup, the originator of the bird call/songs is clearly identified through video and associated audio, I can switch off the video and still take static shots for attaching to eBird.
The disadvantage of 1: Quality of recording, as I am not sure how powerful Z9 pre-amp is compared to Sony PCM D50 and I don't see any control button on Z9 for raising record level.

The advantage of 2: I can adjust the level of recording, and the quality of sound is better.
Disadvantage of 2: One extra item to carry, has to put some marker on the recorded audio so that later I can associate the PCM D50 audio with photos taken on Z9.

I would appreciate your comments/suggestions for field recording with the setup I described above or is there a better way?

View attachment 102788

Unless you are very close to the bird, I'm doubtful you'd get much useful audio, certainly not internally. At minimum you need a parabolic setup.

 

[Dinusaur]

Unless you are very close to the bird, I'm doubtful you'd get much useful audio, certainly not internally. At minimum you need a parabolic setup.

Thanks. That's a good point; I have to limit myself within 10-15 meters of the subject as I can't find an appropriate hotshoe mounted parabolic microphone that is not too cumbersome to carry while in trails.

 

[Nimi]

Thanks. That's a good point; I have to limit myself within 10-15 meters of the subject as I can't find an appropriate hotshoe mounted parabolic microphone that is not too cumbersome to carry while in trails.

@Calson is an expert (and I am not), hope he chimes in.

I think most would put sounds from a library in post. Certainly without a lot more equipment, focus on either sound or sight, not both.

 

[Garfield]

I am a birder/bird photographer and keep my life list through eBird reporting. I'll be in India in January 2025 and will be going around to see and photograph birds, especially the migratory birds that visit India this time of the year. Though in the past my focus was in capturing photos of a new bird. Now I want to get into field recording of bird calls/songs. The idea is to take photo and also record bird calls/songs at the same time. I plan to use: a Sennheiser MKE600 shotgun microphone sitting on my Z9 Hotshoe and then running the cable to:

1. the Z9 with 60PF lens attached. This way I take video of the bird and/also record their calls/songs on Z9 (picture below).
2. a Sony PCM D50 audio recorder keeping the microphone still set up on the Z9 Hotshoe and attaching the microphone cable to PDM D50 which hangs from my side while in the field.

The advantage of 1: simpler setup, the originator of the bird call/songs is clearly identified through video and associated audio, I can switch off the video and still take static shots for attaching to eBird.
The disadvantage of 1: Quality of recording, as I am not sure how powerful Z9 pre-amp is compared to Sony PCM D50 and I don't see any control button on Z9 for raising record level.

The advantage of 2: I can adjust the level of recording, and the quality of sound is better.
Disadvantage of 2: One extra item to carry, has to put some marker on the recorded audio so that later I can associate the PCM D50 audio with photos taken on Z9.

I would appreciate your comments/suggestions for field recording with the setup I described above or is there a better way?

View attachment 102788

To be honest, the MKE 600 is overkill for a direct-record Z9 setup IMO, but it will work since the 600 has an on-board battery to power the XLR output. The problem is the Z9 (and Z8) has weak pre-amps -- you can adjust the volume sensitivity (loudness) but that's it. A cheaper shotgun mic would likely work just as well, but the 600 it will work just fine. But if you want a quality recording you'll need to use a separate audio recorder, but that creates a whole new set of options and complications as you know. How far do you want to go down this rabbit hole?

 

[Terry]

Might want to check out Morton Hilmer's video. This guy is sharp!

 

[DaveMC]

The only difference's between your set up and mine is I shoot an 800mm and I use a Rode VideoMic Pro+. I've found the key to getting better audio out of my setup is to rely more on the gain from microphone than the camera pre-amps. FWIW, I also have an extension on the camera hot shoe (Movo DSE6) that allows me to get the microphone as far out in front of the camera as possible. Mostly because it keeps my forehead from hitting the back of the microphone when shooting still images. It has has actually worked out so well for me that, because of the audio associated with the video clips, I've landed licensing deals that have paid for the microphone and given me extra spending cash to boot. I travel internationally too and have a PCM D50. I used to take it with me everywhere for the same reasons you mention, but never once took it out to use. Needless to say, it only gets used close to home anymore.

With all of that being said, I've found that an on camera microphone to be more than sufficient for my needs. I'd go with Option 1. YMMV.

 

[Dinusaur]

Thank you so much Dave for confirming that this set up will work within some limitation of course. International travel is one reason why I want to go light. Photographing a new bird is what I need for my life list; however, there are times (off-breeding season) when many birds look alike and only difference is their song or call.

Mostly because it keeps my forehead from hitting the back of the microphone when shooting still images.

Ha ha, I had the same reason for not using the Hotshoe mount that came with Sennheiser, I went for this elevated mount from Smallrig so that I can use the view finder for taking photos.

When I plan to record externally, I will attach the PCM D50 to a Ztowoto side strap and hang it from one side of my body. I've acquired a longer XLR to 3.5mm cable to connect the Sennheiser to PCM D50. I'll have the camera hanging from the other side using a Blackrapid strap.

 

[DaveMC]

You are very welcome. Most of what we photograph and make video of overseas is in South Korea. It always turns into a fun journey of surprise and discovery of new birds. I hope India is the same for you too!

 

[Richard Wright]

Well you have a great mic and for most purposes will NOT need a parabolic mic - depending on ambient noise. Pre-amps are often the issue, as some have said, but you could add aux. pre-amps as I have on my D850. Beachtex have some good pre-amps that willnot break the bank. But, all that said, it a whole other craft and skill set and a lot more gear to back, which is why a sound tech is my first or second addition to my crew when feasible.

 

[Dinusaur]

Well you have a great mic and for most purposes will NOT need a parabolic mic - depending on ambient noise. Pre-amps are often the issue, as some have said, but you could add aux. pre-amps as I have on my D850. Beachtex have some good pre-amps that willnot break the bank. But, all that said, it a whole other craft and skill set and a lot more gear to back, which is why a sound tech is my first or second addition to my crew when feasible.

Thanks for the info about Beachtex - I'll take a look.