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Parabolic Stereo Microphone 25 cm dish 1+1 AOM 5024 capsules

ZOOM H1

First three Blackbir songs with a ZOOM H1 old type and small 25 cm stereo parabola;
last two songs with onboard Mics of ZOOM H1- AS RECORDED

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ALL NORMALIZED up to -3dB

Reading Time: 2 minutes

* UPDATE – I finally ran the test for the onboard microphones as well.

See the last two MP3 audio files with the recordings first as recorded, then Normalized to -3dB. See also the spectrogram image of the file normalized to -3dB for the differences in noise level.

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I performed a comparison test between three inexpensive handheld recorders: XVIVE XV1-r, ZOOM H1e, ZOOM H1n.
So far I have only tested the recorders for their Mic IN Plug In Power input, as I rarely use the built-in microphones on a recorder. I will try the built-in microphones as soon as possible.
XVIVE XV1-r is interesting because it allows you to choose between 24 bit and 32 bit float, while H1e is fixed at 32 bit float.
I used a DIY parabolic microphone assembled with two pairs of AOM5024 omni capsules with two stereo outputs, basically like having two twin parabolic microphones each with 1+1 capsule. In this way I am able to record simultaneously with two recorders and have an input signal as equal as possible between the two inputs.
I compared the two recorders in 32 bit float mode (XVIVE XV1-r and ZOOM H1e), both in 24 bit mode with H1n and XV1-r.
All audio files are downloadable: right click – download

postscript – In February 2025 Tascam began shipping the DR 05xp and DR 07xp models. The recording formats include 32-bit float, 24-bit and 16-bit. It will be interesting to test at least one of these.

See description below each audio file

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01_XVIVE_BlackBird_32bit_noLowCut

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02_H1e_BlackBird_32bit_noLowCut_AS-RECORDED

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03_H1e_BlackBird_32bit_noLowCut+6dB

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04_XVIVE_Blackcap_32bit_80HzLowCut

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05_H1e_Blackcap_32bit_80HzLowCut

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06_XVIVE_BlackBird_24bit_noLowCut_AS_RECORDED

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07_H1n_BlackBird_24bit_noLowCut_AS_RECORDED

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I finally ran the test for the onboard microphones as well. All Low Cut ON 80 Hz.
See these last two MP3 audio files with the recordings first as recorded, then Normalized to -3dB. See also the spectrogram image of the file normalized to -3dB for the differences in noise level.
Three singing calls (thirty seconds) for each recorder.

VX1r_H1e_H1n_AS_RECORDED

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VX1r_H1e_H1n_AS_RECORDED_NORMALIZED_-3dB

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VX1-r H1e H1n (-3dB Normalized)

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This is a wonderful recording by Grégory Chamming’s.
It is a perfect recording both from a sound and educational point of view, as it directly compares the song of two species that are often confused with each other: Sylvia borin and Sylvia atricapilla. The recording was performed using a very simple ZOOM H1e Essential recorder and a microphone system that I myself made for Grégory, the so-called TETA Microphone, a microphone that provides an excellent reconstruction of the stereophonic sound scene. The file has not been retouched in any way, except transformed into MP3 format and brought back to a reduced format in length from the original 9 minutes.
The perfect stereo separation allowed us to have the song of the Garden Warbler on the left, and that of the Blackcap on the right, therefore directly comparable in their emissions, but also separable if desired by selecting one of the two tracks of your choice: GREAT!
Thanks to Grégory for agreeing to share this “sound track” with everyone!

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(WITH wind) SD302+R05 Hand held Parabolic Stereo Microphone – 2+2 AOM 5024 capsules.

(WITHOUT wind) SD302+H1XLR Hand held Parabolic Stereo Microphone – 2+2 AOM 5024 capsules.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

I tried to make a stereo parabolic microphone setup as compact as possible.
I 3D printed a 12.5 cm dish with a focal point at 3 cm. I also printed a 6.5 cm diameter stereo baffle separator, inside which I placed two PUI AOM 5024 omni capsules in an “quasi PZM” position (see here for more info).
To remain consistent with the small size, a compact recorder I used an inexpensive Olympus LS-P1.
I then tried to make a recording at a Cattle Egrets roost (currently about 300 units, which will then double during the winter) located in my large garden at home.
Using headphones you can perfectly hear the blackbird and the robin, where they emit their calls in the midst of the herons’ cries, placed to the left or right exactly where they were in fact.
Clearly the amplification of the small parabolic dish affects only the few high frequencies recorded.
The stereophonic baffle assembly seems to work despite its extreme compactness.

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Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis and African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus roost at night in my garden (North Italy), here in the cold of the rime and the fog.

This is a recording made using a Mid Side Stereo Parabola. The microphones inside are AOM 5024 on the MID channel, and a JLI-1160 figure eight capsule on the Side channel.

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I’m very attached to old things and at the same time devoted to innovation, so I’m always torn between using one or the other.
For example, if I use a Mid Side microphone setup, I could use a Sound Devices 302 coupled with a Fostex FR2Le, such as the very compact FR-AV2.

The convenience of moving around with a single very small device Vs. a fairly heavy set divided into two units.

If I have to favor the Mid Side functions of varying the width of the field angle while recording, I must necessarily use the combination with Sound devices 302.
This function with the Tascam FR-AV2 only occurs when recording is stopped.

the OLD

Sound Devices 302 +Fostex FR2Le

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the NEW

Tascam FR-AV2

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A few weeks ago I did a simple test with an electronic metronome. The file is downloadable from Soundcloud. You can analyze the silence between one beat and another.

Finally, I measured EIN Equivalent Input Noise with the 150 Ohm resistor method as described here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdHn4L1TGds
Result for FR-AV2 is EIN -127.98 dB

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A few weeks ago I did a simple test with an electronic metronome.
The file is downloadable from Soundcloud.
You can analyze the silence between one beat and another.

Reading Time: < 1 minute