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low-cut filter during outdoor ambient recording
Hi everybody,
newbie question.
For outdoor ambient recording I use Sound Devices MixPre-6 with the Audio-Technica stereo mic BP4025, and to avoid wind noise (actually I’d say “normal air noise”) I use the Rycote Windshield 3 Kit (XLR-5F) without windjammer (I image that it’s useful in strong wind situation, is it right? anyway I hate handling fur…)
The purpose of this recording is capturing the sounds outdoor, not that particular bird sound, but simply a stereo image of the sound in a garden.Now, my question is: considering the blimp (but without deadcat), the location (outdoor) and the purpose (nature sounds) could be useful using the low-cut filter of the MixPre-6? Do you think it could reduce wind noise? Or do you think it’s better to remove low frequencies (if necessary) in post?
Thanks a lot.
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16 Replies
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My preference is to avoid doing a low cut in the field, unless specifically asked do so (rare). It is fairly easy to adjust audio in post these days, to carefully remove unwanted noise. When you cut out the low end in the recording, it’s gone for good. I would use the microphone protection devices you mentioned and avoid the low cut. Just me.
Bob
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Thanks for your reply Mr. Mark.
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Glad to be of assistance. :>)
Bob
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[Bob Mark] “My preference is to avoid doing a low cut in the field…”
Yep. About the only reason I can come up with for using low cut in the field is if the noise you are cutting is sufficiently loud that overloading the microphone is a danger.
I recorded interviews once in a hotel room that was right next to the main air handler for the floor. I got a ton of LF noise through the walls. Client picked the room, told me to do the best I could with it. Oh well… I walked the room listening for peaks and nulls, found a null, and put the interview chair there. Microphone on a boom, boom on a boom holder on a c-stand. Played with it enough that the interviewee and the mic were in the null. Then I turned on the low cut on the mic, and the low cut on my MixPre-D, resulting in a -24dB/octive low cut with a knee at 80 Hz.
I used the low cut on the mic because I didn’t want to take the chance on overloading the mic with LF crap, which would have in turn screwed up the higher (voice) frequencies. I used the low cut on the mixer because I was already committed, and I was thinking the extra -12dB/ octave might be enough that I wouldn’t need more in post. And that turned out to be the case.
But that’s the only time in years I’ve felt the need to use low cut in the field.
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You wrote a very smart tutorial!!! Thanks a lot Mr. Watson!
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Bruce,
Thanks for covering ALL of the bases.
Adriano….it’s not real fur, but he blimp by itself, will knock down most of the wind.
I usually want to try to knock the wind off before it takes up space in the recording itself.
Good headphones will let your ears know if the low frequency content is a problem. It may take a few tries before your brain can make sense out of what your ears are hearing.
Regards,
Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum LeaderWant better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog -
Sorry Mr. Ford, but my English is a bit inaccurate: When you say “it’s not real fur, but he blimp by itself, will knock down most of the wind“, what will knock down most of the wind? The fur or the blimp?
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Ciao Adriano,
You don’t like fur, but it’s not real fur. ☺
The blimp knocks down most of the wind the “fur” helps some more.
Regards,
Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum LeaderWant better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog -
Thank you Mr. Ford!
Yes, it’s not real fur ☺ Anyway my fur behaves like a true one: the first time I tried to dress the blimp, it lost a lot of hair in the air… on the blimp… on my clothes… (damn stupid pricey beaver…) Sorry, I know mine is not a professional attitude, but this little stream of consciousness gives the idea of my irritation ☺ -
My Dear Mr. Castaldini!
So sorry to hear about your loss of hair. That has not occurred with mine.
I’ve been irrational for years, but would probably be irritated.
Regards,
Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum LeaderWant better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog
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