R/E/P Community

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?  (Read 3600 times)

ShadeyK

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?
« on: April 11, 2013, 11:32:14 PM »

Hello Folks,

I've been asked to record a friend's bee hive.  The bee hive is actually a box similar to

http://vegtrug.net/2010/10/21/new-beehive-storage-box-for-2011.aspx

Placed outside
Approximately 30 yards away from the fence blocking off the street.
10 yards from a house.
The other fence is about 50 yards away against another garden.
Traffic is light during Sundays.

I will be using a mic stand and connecting the mic to my apogee duet 2 and recording into Logic on my MacBook Pro.

I will lower the mic into the hive from the top.

I am considering the Rode NTG-2 (with windscreen).

Suggestions on mic and technique to record would be most appreciated.
Logged

Jim Williams

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 599
Re: What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2013, 01:02:21 PM »

I suggest a long cable and a good stiff mic stand. Place it at night unless you want extra "attention". Use a decent condensor with good moisture resistance. If there are any enviromental noise sources, use cardiod patterns with the null side facing the noise source.

Record early in the morning after the sun comes up and the bees are active, it's quieter than later in the day when everyone gets up and runs their stuff.

Wait until nightfall before removing the mic and stand. Keep a tube of "Sting-Eze" handy, you may need it.
Logged

ShadeyK

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
Re: What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2013, 07:57:30 PM »

Awesome.

thanks!
Logged

Dinogi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 104
  • Real Full Name: Dean Giamette
  • Wow! A third star! I'll try to be worthy of it.
Re: What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2013, 06:12:09 AM »

Along with the hyper-cardoid Rode perhaps add a lavaliere* inside the box (Full beekeepers suit probably a good idea)
Generally these mic's are omni directional, which would give a different perspective to the recording.
* Where the hell are you located? This sounds like a ton of fun. I have several Sony ecm77 lav's, a pair of Countryman Isomax miniature mic's, as well as a couple of 1960's Sennheiser MD211 omni - dynamic cardioid pencil mic's.
olduncledinogiammattei
Logged
I'd trade everything I own now for a good sounding room and a bucket of 57's.

Jim Williams

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 599
Re: What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2013, 01:00:56 PM »

Try to place the mic inside against a wall to avoid too many bees landing on the mic itself. I would avoid any foam windscreen as the bee feet will be picked up walking on the foam.

Just use a metal mic with a smooth surface, they won't land or walk on it so much and you won't hear them tapping their feet.

Try not to get any pollen or honey on the end of the mic, it's a bitch to clean out of the grill.

If set inside, use the omni patterns. That way you will avoid proximity effect and any thumping sounds that may be amplified.

Yeah, use a bee suit if you set anything up in the daytime, that's why I suggested after nightfall.
Logged

Dinogi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 104
  • Real Full Name: Dean Giamette
  • Wow! A third star! I'll try to be worthy of it.
Re: What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2013, 03:08:16 PM »

"tapping their feet"
I'm gonna be giggling at that mental image all day.
Listen real close and you might hear them singing "Putting on the Ritz"
I actually have some old Beyer lavs that I would sacrifice in a heartbeat to do something like this.
olduncledinogiammattei
Logged
I'd trade everything I own now for a good sounding room and a bucket of 57's.

Benno

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6
  • Real Full Name: Ben Worsey
Re: What is the best mic/technique to use to record a bee hive?
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2013, 06:56:00 PM »

With a shotgun from as as far away as possible  :P
Pages: [1]   Go Up
 



Site Hosted By Ashdown Technologies, Inc.

Page created in 0.028 seconds with 20 queries.