Muuuh Nature & Wildlife

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Sound Recordings Outdoors and Indoors

Last modified on 2023-09-24. This page is dedicated to nature lovers and wildlife photographers. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in and around Montreal.

Our primary goal is to avoid depending on sound and music provided by third parties for our videos. Therefore, we must prioritize the creation of high-quality sound, voiceovers, and music ourselves. This article describes the various setups we use in the field and at our desks.

Available Gear

Over the years, I accumulated an impressive collection of gear for sound recordings.

  • Shure SM7B w/ CL-1
  • Rode NTG-2 and Rode NTG-3
  • DJI Mic
  • Zoom F3, Zoom H4n Pro, Focusrite 2i2

Outdoors

To expedite video editing, we primarily record all in-field sound directly in the camera using the Rode NTG-2 shotgun microphone connected to the camera via the Zoom F3. Occasionally, we record stereo in-field sound by connecting both the Rode NTG-2 and Rode NTG-3 microphones to the camera via the Zoom F3. The varying sound levels of the NTG-2 and NTG-3 are then balanced within the Zoom F3.

For in-field streaming, we initially used iPhone earplugs with a microphone but have since switched to the DJI Mic. This change was prompted by the improved sound quality and the added flexibility in camera setup, as we no longer need to be constrained by the length of the earplug cable.

Please note that outdoor recording presents its own set of challenges. There is virtually no corner on Montreal Island where you won't hear the constant roar of cars on one of the highways, resulting in a persistent background noise that must be addressed. Furthermore, when you stumble upon something interesting to record, you can count on having nearby photographers who are shooting in high-speed burst mode: click, click, click... try to eliminate these clicks from the recording!

Indoors

After experimenting with different combinations of microphones and audio interfaces, I reached my breaking point and acquired the Shure SM7B, a Cloudlifter, and a Focusrite 2i2 for voice-over recordings and streaming. I had encountered numerous issues in the past, such as high noise levels and inconsistency in recordings, which necessitated extensive post-production editing. The solution I ultimately settled on ensures consistent, high-quality recordings without the need for extensive sound editing."

For creating background sounds, I use a keyboard connected via USB to the desktop and Garageband as my audio interface. I'm looking forward to acquiring Logic Pro in the near future for better instrument emulations.

Sometimes, background sound is also created with Sonic Pi, a live music coding application used by Algorave musicians. It serves as a kind of instrument that enables me to generate electronic music: Experiment 4