Discreet microphones for field recording
If you practice field recording and are looking to expand your equipment kit, then you should consider looking into lavalier microphones.
Ambisonic Microphone Equipment
Interested in recording ambisonic sounds ? Here's a selection of suitable microphones.
Ambisonics capture and reproduce sound in 3D space, meeting the needs of virtual reality, video games, and immersive music and film projects. Here’s a selection of ambisonic microphones, suitable for a range of budgets and uses, to help you achieve immersive recordings in formats tailored to your projects.
Different Microphones On The Market
- Type : 1st order ambisonic microphone with 4 capsules, integrated recorder
- Features : Capable of recording and decoding sound directly into B-Format, ready for post-production processing.
- Price : Around 250€
- Type : 1st order ambisonic microphone with 4 capsules
- Features : Less well-known, the TetraMic is a quality ambisonic microphone suited to creators on a tighter budget. This mic uses an A-format file that needs to be decoded afterward, but it delivers precise and pleasant sound.
- Price : Approximately 600€
- Type : 1st order ambisonic microphone with 4 capsules
- Features: Uses SoundField capsule technology (A-Format), offering good sound quality and a robust design at an affordable price.
- Price: Around 1100€
- Type : 1st order ambisonic microphone with 4 capsules
- Features : Sennheiser is renowned for mic quality, and the AMBEO VR Mic is no exception. Known for its broad frequency response and ease of use, it’s often recommended for creators seeking a natural sound.
- Price: Around 1400€
- Type : 2nd order ambisonic microphone with 8 capsules, USB or Dante connection, with integrated software
- Features : Designed for computer-based recording with a USB port, ideal for virtual reality and studio work. It includes encoding software and allows B-format capture with various spatialization options.
- Price : Around 1000€ for USB version, 3000€ for Dante version
- Type: 3rd order ambisonic microphone with 19 spherical digital capsules and integrated software
- Features : Designed for computer-based recording with a USB port, ideal for virtual reality and studio work. It includes encoding software and allows B-format capture with various spatialization options.
- Price : Around 1500€
- Type: 1st order ambisonic microphone with 4 capsules
- Features: A lesser-known microphone among the general public but used by professionals. It is recognized for its build quality and excellent sound.
- Price: Around 2700€
Considerations For Choosing Your Microphone
- Format A vs. Format B : Some microphones record in A-format, requiring conversion in post-production. B-format is ready for use in 3D audio processing software, though some recorders like Sound Devices offer a plugin for in-device conversion during recording.
- Compatible Software : Some free software is available directly from manufacturers (like SoundField by RØDE). Paid options, such as Harpex, are also available.
- Portability : USB-connected microphones are more suitable for studio use. For outdoor use, a microphone with an XLR output is preferable, allowing connection to a compatible recorder (with at least 4 inputs).
Which Microphone To Choose ?
Some of these microphones are sold as part of a complete set including a recorder, wind protection, and a suspension mount. However, the efficiency of this wind protection and the quality of the microphone suspension are crucial elements not to be overlooked, and they are sometimes of average quality when sold with the microphone. Nevertheless, using a larger wind protector makes the equipment less discreet and can sometimes be harder to conceal for 360 filming.
Personal Feedback
Based on my field experience, and for outdoor use, the wind protections that come with microphones are often insufficient, even in moderate winds. This is an essential factor to consider if you want to avoid affecting sound recording quality. Therefore, it’s recommended to plan on purchasing a suitable suspension and wind protection in addition to the microphone for optimal use. However, be cautious : not all suspensions are compatible with all microphone models mentioned. Brands like Rycote and Cinela offer quality options, but not necessarily for each microphone on this list.
In the end, you’ll need to adapt the equipment to your specific needs.
Have you ever experimented ambisonic sound in the field ? Share your stories in the comments below !
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