Bird Enthusiasts
Long-Range Microphone For Bird Watching
The Sound Shark microphone is ideal for capturing bird songs. Its long range allows bird-watching videographers to record their favorite birds from afar by recording audio that matches the close-up shots of the birds being filmed. With the Sound Shark, bird-watching filmmakers can produce videos that truly transport viewers into the bird's world.
Bird-watching experts know that a telephoto lens is essential for getting close-up shots of elusive birds, but if your audio sounds too distant, your video can be ruined. The Sound Shark is the perfect solution, providing the audio quality you need to match your great video footage.
The solution to my bird song identification problems!
I had been trying to use my iPhone with apps (BirdNET, Merlin, Song Sleuth) to identify my local forest birds. These apps allow you to use your phone to record calls and then offer ID suggestions. But it didn’t work – the bird calls were buried in the background noise of the recordings.
I looked into options to improve the recordings of my phone. Professions use parabolic microphones or shotgun mics and a dedicated recorder – kits costing thousands of dollars. DIY options required more audio engineering chops than I had or had time to learn. Even adding an external microphone and adapter could add horrible background hiss if not matched. There was no “Plug and Play” system for recording to a smartphone.
I found the Sound Shark – a portable parabolic receiver/microphone combination. They have great information on their website (kloverproducts.com/sound-shark/us/) and their YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/Sound SharkVideos). I contacted their Customer Service to ask what I would need to connect the Sound Shark to my iPhone and get adequate recordings. My email was quickly answered by the most knowledgeable, attentive Customer Service Rep I’ve encountered. I soon realised the “Rep” was Paul Terpstra, the company owner, and developer of the Sound Shark. Paul worked with me to get the system I wanted, even testing microphones and adapters.
Now, I have a handheld parabolic mic system that plugs into my phone and makes great recordings. We added a phone mount so I can watch the sonogram on the app while I aim the Sound Shark and record.
Sound Shark is a 9” consumer version of a 16” system Paul developed for Fox Sports. Sound Shark Audio (for Consumers)/Klover Products (for Professionals) are great companies. Sound Shark will set you up whether you want to use a smartphone or a dedicated recording system.They make the Sound Shark in Wisconsin, so they are pure, mostly.
Ann E.
Fredericksburg VA
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Have you used a Sound Shark in a unique way to record bird videos? Share your story with us, and we will send you a Sound Shark T-shirt!
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