Recording environmental sounds like singing birds, wild animal calls, water running through a stream bed, or the chirp of baby birds is one of the more fascinating (and challenging) aspects of audio recording. Some of the same audio recording techniques apply when recording things like car noises, lawn mower engines and other man made sounds, but you don’t always get a chance to do a second take with nature like you do with machines.
Getting started in recording nature sounds requires three basic things:
- A digital audio recorder, which could be your Android or iPhone, but you are likely to get better results with a dedicated recording device.
- A stereo microphone or stereo microphone pair
- Headphones for listening to what you’re recording
The big reason to use a digital recorder is that the models made today offer more control than most iPhone apps and they come with frequently come with built-in stereo microphones that are high enough quality that you don’t need to purchase additional external microphones. There are some portable digital recorders from either Zoom or Tascam.
The stereo microphone or pair of microphones result in a recording that will sound more realistic for the listener, creating a sound that will feel like they are experiencing it with their own two ears. If you don’t opt for a recorder that includes stereo microphones and opt to use your phone, there are options like the one pictured here from Rode. One downside is that the higher quality microphones tend to be as much as a high end digital recorder.
A microphone windscreen is also useful for cutting noise from wind while recording. If you use larger external microphones, you can make your own windscreen.
The type of headphones you choose will depend on which recording device you choose and whether or not the device has a bluetooth connection for using something like AIrpods.
You also need a good dose of luck and patience in order to find the specific species of bird or animal you’re hoping to record. One key thing is to get the microphone as close to the sound you are attempting to record so that you avoid capturing extraneous sounds that need to be edited out after finishing the recording.
For a great overview of what’s required for recording sounds from the wilderness, the Wildebeat Podcast has a great interview on recording the sounds nature with Kurt Fristrup (of the National Parks Service Natural Sounds Program) and Dan Dugan (of the Nature Sounds Society). Two great tips from the podcast are how to find places free from unnatural sounds and some of the basic techniques for getting a good sample of the sound you hope to record.
One of the best places to get a quick foundation in how to record nature sounds is the Nature Sounds Society. Their Question Bird service provides a solid foundation of answers for people looking for specific recording techinques and additional audio gear recommendations for recording specific kinds of natural sounds. Assuming you have an internet connection when you are out in the field recording, the Merlin app from Cornell University is a pretty great tool for identifying specific bird sounds in case you’re uncertain about what you are hearing.
