{"id":1570,"date":"2010-06-24T22:40:21","date_gmt":"2010-06-25T05:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/?p=1570"},"modified":"2010-07-01T07:39:58","modified_gmt":"2010-07-01T14:39:58","slug":"preparing-for-a-field-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/2010\/06\/24\/preparing-for-a-field-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for a Field Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This weekend, I&#8217;m attending the 26th Annual <a title=\"Visit naturesounds.org\" href=\"http:\/\/www.naturesounds.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nature Sounds Society<\/a> <a title=\"Check out the details of this event!\" href=\"http:\/\/www.naturesounds.org\/announcements\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Field Workshop<\/a>. Held in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at an SFSU field research station, this year&#8217;s instructors will include\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check out Hempton's site, SoundTracker.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.soundtracker.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gordon &#8220;One Square Inch of Silence&#8221; Hempton<\/a> and others, with naturalist and illustrator <a title=\"Check out this incredibly talented man's website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.johnmuirlaws.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">John Muir Laws<\/a> as a guest lecturer.<\/p>\n<p>I thought it might be interesting to share what I&#8217;m bringing with me to this interesting outing. <span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em>(Well, OK, fine, I really needed to make a packing list and I just suckered you into reading it.)<\/em><\/span> Later this summer, I&#8217;ll not only share some recordings and photos from the field workshop, but will recap the gear used and how it all performed.<\/p>\n<p>So, what am I bringing?<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h4>Personal Gear<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Check it at REI.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/799526\" target=\"_blank\">Permethrin<\/a>-treated clothing, bug headnet, <a title=\"Check it at REI.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/686229\" target=\"_blank\">insect repellent<\/a>, and waterproof hiking boots. The Sierra Nevada had a very wet winter and the entire mountain region&#8217;s spring is about a month behind schedule. This will mean one of three things: Snow, soggy ground, or mosquitos (ooh, maybe all three!), depending on local conditions and the locations we travel to. Any recording will be ruined if I am rustling due to bug-laden distraction. <span style=\"color: #888888;\"><em>[Side note:DEET is pretty awful stuff, but I&#8217;ve tried many alternatives in the Sierra Nevada with zero success over the years. It can melt plastic on contact, so wearer beware!]<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Check it out at REI.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/765283\" target=\"_blank\">REI Trail Stool<\/a>, chosen to keep my behind high and dry for\u00c2\u00a0being the sturdiest, lightest-weight stool I could find.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Check it out at REI.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/749039\" target=\"_blank\">Petzl e+LITE headlamp<\/a>. While I use even lighter-weight LED lights for backpacking, the Petzl could be handy for navigation around camp and for gear setup, given that our wakeup calls could be as early as 3:30am. This&#8217;ll be clipped to whichever recorder I bring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Recording Gear<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/79497-REG\/Sennheiser_MKH50_P48_MKH_50_Microphone.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631 \" target=\"_blank\">Sennheiser MKH 50<\/a> and\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/79495-REG\/Sennheiser_MKH30_P48.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">MKH 30<\/a> mid-side stereo microphone rig. A variant on the nature-recordist standard MKH 40\/30 pair, I happened to invest in the MKH 50 because its hypercardioid pattern is much more useful the mono effects I capture in the field. This creates a bit more of a focused center stereo field, which I&#8217;m usually OK with. This rig will be mounted on a <a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/322613-REG\/Rycote_040207_040207_2_Module_Stereo.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">Rycote stereo suspension<\/a> and inside a\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/323223-REG\/Rycote_010904_Stereo_Windshield_Size_Code.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">Rycote windshield<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/255008-REG\/Rode_NT4_NT4_Cardioid_Studio.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631 \" target=\"_blank\">R\u00c3\u00b8de NT4 <\/a>XY stereo microphone. My one backup mic will be\u00c2\u00a0securely\u00c2\u00a0wrapped with a dessicant pack unless needed, in a bag with a <a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/579335-REG\/Rode_BLIMP_Blimp_Complete_Windshield.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">R\u00c3\u00b8de Blimp<\/a>. <em><span style=\"color: #888888;\">[Handy hint: Use a windshield like a mini box of its own. Use it to carry other stuff, from windbreakers to unmounted mics. Way smarter use of space in a bag or pack.]<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/429566-REG\/Sound_Devices_702_702_High_Resolution_2_Channel.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631 \" target=\"_blank\">Sound Devices 702 field recorder<\/a> and\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/429566-REG\/Sound_Devices_702_702_High_Resolution_2_Channel.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631 \" target=\"_blank\">Fostex FR-2LE field recorder<\/a>. Given how remote this area is and because, well, $#!% happens, I&#8217;m bringing the FR-2LE as a backup. I&#8217;ll have two batteries for the 702, and both a battery sled with NiMH AA batteries and a RC-style Tamiya rechargeable battery for the FR-2LE, all fully charged the day before I go. Both recorders will be in model-specific <a title=\"Check out Portabrace.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.portabrace.com\" target=\"_blank\">Portabrace<\/a> cases. I only use <a title=\"Check out sandisk.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sandisk.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">SanDisk<\/a> Compact Flash cards, and will have two 4GB and two 8GB cards with me.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Grip &amp; Cases<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Discontinued, but check it out at Amazon.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Slik-SPRINT-Travel-Tripod-Ball\/dp\/B00009R6QP\" target=\"_blank\">Slik SprintPro Tripod<\/a>. Does for my mics what the trail stool will do for my ass. \u00c2\u00a0I&#8217;m connecting the mics&#8217; Rycote grip to the tripod head using a simple 1\/4-20 to 3\/8&#8243; bushing and, as a backup in case that gets lost, a\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/554141-REG\/Manfrotto_323_323_RC2_System_Quick.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">Manfrotto quick release system<\/a> with a\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/554155-REG\/Manfrotto_200PL_38_200PL_38_Rectangular_Quick_Release.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">3\/8&#8243; QR plate<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Check it out on Lowepro.com\" href=\"http:\/\/products.lowepro.com\/product\/Magnum-200-AW,2137,22.htm\" target=\"_blank\">LowePro Magnum 200 case<\/a>. This will hold all the extras, bits, and bobs I might need: the R\u00c3\u00b8de NT4,\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/323579-REG\/Rycote_021901.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">Rycote Windjammer<\/a> and its comb, screw adapters, tools, 2 backup CF cards, <a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/556123-REG\/Remote_Audio_RMAN_REM_RMAN_Rainman_Boom_Mic.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631\" target=\"_blank\">Rainman<\/a> cover, and\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/292863-REG\/K_Tek_K_81CCR_K_81CCR_News_Pole_.html\/BI\/5129\/KBID\/5631 \" target=\"_blank\">boom pole<\/a>. This&#8217;ll probably live in the trunk of my car; I don&#8217;t anticipate shlepping it into the field.<\/li>\n<li>My trusty adventure-racing-style <a title=\"Discontinued but viewable at REI.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/734327\" target=\"_blank\">Solomon backpack<\/a> will carry all my personal effects for our outings, including extra sunscreen, clothing, rain gear, water, <a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/643178-REG\/Canon_3635B001.html\" target=\"_blank\">camera<\/a>, and snacks.<\/li>\n<li>Depending on the length of the hike to our recording locations, I may wear my recorder on my chest with a <a title=\"Check it out at B&amp;H\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/98677-REG\/Lowepro_LP35352_0EU_Chest_Harness_for_Topload.html\" target=\"_blank\">LowePro chest harness<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Wish me luck, and more info soon!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This weekend, I&#8217;m attending the 26th Annual Nature Sounds Society Field Workshop. Held in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at an SFSU field research station, this year&#8217;s instructors will include\u00c2\u00a0Gordon &#8220;One Square Inch of Silence&#8221; Hempton and others, with naturalist and illustrator John Muir Laws as a guest lecturer. I thought it might be interesting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,7,134,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1570"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1570"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1609,"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1570\/revisions\/1609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noisejockey.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}