What are /r/fieldrecording's favorite Products & Services?

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What you want is something that will diffuse the rain drops, and below that something that will prevent the water from reaching your device. Since the professional tools for this cost more than your recorder, I suggest https://www.walmart.com/ip/Flanders-SM1006-20-x-12.-75-inch-NaturalAire-Furnace-Filter-Cut-To-Fit-With-Natural-Fibers-Pack-Of-6/16225736 as a good choice, with some neoprene or similar underneath. It's important to keep some space around the mics so you will need to create a stand, maybe with coat hangers.

As mentioned, ORTF is for cardioid mics, such as the 4021s, which I have. And they are quite nice for the cost. Here is a recording from the 4021s in ORTF: http://www.freesound.org/people/Corsica_S/sounds/184797/

hearthis.at is what I use. Not as limiting with the uploads, good usability for free.
Lacking in the community / algorithm aspect, but not really an issue if you're just looking for somewhere to point your audience to.

https://hearthis.at/timothy-glenn-hatfield-ii/5.12.2020-back-field.grass.birds.wind/ Here is a link to what I got!

For Clippys I use these: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B08MQ3WNTJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not too bad, for sure not Rode quality but they are ok...

Note: the correct size is 1cm

We still don't know enough about your intended use. With your bottom-end budget, you won't get Cadillac, and you'll have to balance tradeoffs - halfway durable vs decent-sounding vs easy to use.

As a starting point, risk a $20 on an inexpensive lav like this.

I don't know how to go about mounting it on an ipad.
You could get a small tripod like this: https://www.amazon.com/MT-16-Extendable-Adjustment-Lightweight-Portable/dp/B08LGGXH1J

and/or a grip like this, which may be able to be mounted on a hospital bed: https://www.amazon.com/ULANZI-Monitor-Ballhead-Adapter-Ronin-M/dp/B09C882D4M

Why won't holding the microphone work?

I ran into the same issue with my h4n pro, I ended up getting a camera handle like this one, since the screw on the back is the same type that a camera uses for tripods.

Had the same issue on Mac. It was something associated the usb cables. I tried this one and it worked well, my need disconnect/connect to get it to Mount.

90 Degree Right Angle Micro USB... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GF3SV2Z?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

It seems Audition supports VSTs! Here are tutorials on how to install them: https://www.shutterstock.com/support/article/how-to-install-vst-in-adobe-audition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUb02pcaX6k

The sampling of the noise-feature is present in most noise reduction software. It works on some sounds, some sounds not, or produces too many sound artifacts which you don't want. It's pretty hit-and-miss.

Always try to do as much in the recording stage as you can and then MANUALLY in the post processing. Presets work sometimes, but remember every recording is unique and requires unique approach.

Always keep copies of the original raw, non-processed recordings. So when your recording and processing skills improve, you can go back to edit them better.

I'm a former owner of a 05x and I would walk around to make recordings and would hear these kinds of sounds as well.

Your second link is saturated in the digital sounds, mine wasn't quite that bad, but still bad enough to ruin a recording.

Eventually my 05x screen had issues that would have been expensive and impractical to fix, so I just threw the thing away.

Honestly, it was hard for me to make a recording and not assume it would have a bit of the electromagnetic sounds in it.

Here's a book you may want to check out: Listening After Nature

Here's a review on it: https://thequietus.com/articles/32041-mark-peter-wright-listening-after-nature-field-recording-ecology-critical-practic-review

Sorry, I actually posted the wrong link. (I don't have my tripod near me, or else I'd just look it up.) Here's the kind of thing I'm talking about: https://www.amazon.com/UURig-Extendable-Invisible-Accessory-Camera（50-7）/dp/B09V7SHC7P

It seems there's a whole bunch of 'webcam stands' or 'projector stands' on Amz that may fit your purpose. Of course, go with a name brand if you want quality and reliability.

I own something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Tripod-Camera-Vlogging-Streaming-Fliming/dp/B09NPHZQKY/

I'll admit I've mostly used it for a camera, but it seems like it would work well for a small recorder or mic.

I'm prob to late but you can also get this https://www.amazon.nl/Sennheiser-Ambeo-Smart-Headset-zwart/dp/B073TTRB9F?th=1&language=en_GB

They look like pretty normale in ears and you can plug in into your phone.

Great for making sneaky recordings.

I’ve been using the Gutmann windscreen since April 2022. Love it! I found it more effective than Tascam’s WS-11. FYI, they come in different colors. Excellent build quality and materials. This is the one I purchased: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SF8HZK1

I bought this...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08CH99JG6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's got micro usb and usb-c inputs, and was £7.64 when bought 4 months ago. Seems to be more expensive now. It was bought specifically for my Ikea batteries. The Ikea charger died for no apparent reason within a week of purchase after one use!

>So, thanks for the input and I apologize if I led anyone astray.

No worries.

Yeah the h6 isn't great for field.

It does work pretty well for voice over. With that said, I still had to denoise and boost.

>However, it appears field recording is a much more varied animal.

Yeah it really is. Music (guitar, drums, etc.) is totally different than field recording. Basically the bass is boosted. In field recording the high end is key - you get all the really subtle sounds (wind, birds, water).

As I told the OP I got an Olympus ls-10 that was designed for lectures and a Sony Mic (ECM-MS907). Both (I think) are geared toward video and I guess I just sort of lucked out.

I would spend as little as possible on this stuff and aim for video - or go in the opposite direction and just get an SM57 : )

The SM57 is definitely for sound and you'll need an audio interface.

I went with the Sony and Olympus because it was all 1/8 inch with an SD slot, and it sounded great (no need for a dedicated interface).

Also, check my other post (in this thread) about these: https://www.amazon.com/SOUND-PROFESSIONALS-EAR-BINAURAL-WINDSCREENS/dp/B002IEWG3K

No problem.

p.s. I also got a pair of these: https://www.amazon.com/SOUND-PROFESSIONALS-EAR-BINAURAL-WINDSCREENS/dp/B002IEWG3K

Basically they're in ear mics. I know it's weird, but for street recording they are totally amazing. To anyone else it looks like you're listening to music, but in reality you're recording. Binaural. Mine broke due to some harsh handling, but when they worked they sounded amazing.

The preamps in the H6 are kind of noisy.

I rented one for a short film and basically got the pleasure of denoising and then amping basically every shot I took : (

I knew I would have to after the first shot and I was specifically using low levels.

I'd go for something else. I've heard the F series is much better, but I've never used one.

A million years ago I go an Olympus ls-10. It was produced for lectures, but I found it was really good at nature/street/ambient sounds.

There's one at Amazon for $137: https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-LS-10-Linear-PCM-Recorder/dp/B0012754UG

I use an old Sony ECM-MS907 (bought at the same time as the Olympus): https://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMMS907-Digital-Recording-Microphone/dp/B00001W0DT

Basically these are the only two pieces of electronics I've bought that increased in price over time. They're both ancient and I'll never use anything else unless one of them dies.

Overall I would avoid the H versions of Zooms - go for the Fs or get something else.

i used a similar setup with a Zoom F5 and UsiPro's on a shoulder bag... but be aware and warned, mics clipped to the strap or bag will pick up a ton of noise from vibrations.

Nowadays, i've switched to a backpack and have the Usi's clipped to a flap on the top so they point over my shoulders. Much less noise that way.

If you own an iPhone and want to go super simple and stealth, consider these:

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-AMBEO-Smart-Headset-Ear/dp/B08F72P94X

It's going to be hard to fight the humidity unless you seal it somehow. It might be a bit of a stretch (pun intended) but an unlubricated condom would work for that. Getting it on would be a hassle, though. You know your weather better than I do so you'd have a better idea of how necessary this would be. Where I live, I'd skip it.

A furry windjammer would help with rain and dust, both. This one claims to work with the Snowball: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Windscreen-Windshield-Snowball/dp/B07RPXGG4W

You can DIY something similar, but sewing fur can be a bit of a pain and at less than $9 it's hard to beat the pre-made solution.

If you think you're going to be getting a lot of horizontal rain, you can make a rain cover out of something like a hogs hair filter. They're largely acoustically transparent and should stop any drops before they hit your mic. When planning the design, think in terms of where the water will go when the thing is saturated. Be sure that the rain cover doesn't drip on the mic when wet!

Cool project! Let us know how it works out.

For a simple check, this would be enough. But what about noise, rumble that gets "filtered" by the codec. Had a pair of BT Transmitters that did a weird kind of compression that sound awful.

Anyway, I know that the Zooms are very sensitive to handling noise, when using the top mics. I have build an handle with these rubbers between two plates:

https://www.amazon.com/Mirthobby-Anti-Vibration-Absorption-Damping-Quadcopter/dp/B07WGPVZM6

HP cable in a loop tied to the handle.

These seem like they'll do, for the moment:

https://www.amazon.es/Protector-parabrisas-micr%C3%B3fono-artificial-exteriores/dp/B07YYV5LRZ/ref=sr\_1\_1?\_\_mk\_es\_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1Q5YQJNQBX0FW&keywords=Lavalier%2BWind%2BMuff%2B5%2BPack&qid=1655980297&...

Another option and less money.

https://smile.amazon.com/Tarantula-Tools-Multi-Angle-Measuring/dp/B077DWKHVX/ref=sr_1_50?crid=23P4N8XKV08LQ&keywords=strongman+tools+angle+measuring&qid=1654214591&sprefix=strongman+tools+angle+measuring%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-50

Of course, there's a bazillion options on Amazon.

That says it's a 1/4" mono to 3.5mm stereo so I don't know how it's wired inside. This might be a better match:

https://www.amazon.ca/MyCableMart-3-5mm-Female-Adapter-Plated/dp/B01LXATIY4

It's mono to mono, which is what you're after.

It's weird how hard it is to convince Amazon not to show TRS and stereo adapters! Their search engine seems to be fixated on everything but mono.

I brought out my various tripod quick release plates, and none of them had long enough studs to reach through the hanger hole and engage the socket threads of my recorders (or anything else threaded, for that matter). The hanger is 3/32“ (2.35mm) thick. Now, with a 1/4”-3/8” male stud and female spigot adapter pair, there was plenty of length, so I think you could use those in conjunction with a quick-release, to make a sturdy horizontal mount. That would also solve the clearance issue with the arm pivots near the hook. I use folding light stands (Manfrotto nano-stand 5002b) for my mics, and this arrangement of mics and recorder is definitely light enough to mount horizontally, too. (I have a picture of my test setup, but of course can’t post it here directly). Here are examples of the adapters: Stud and spigot adapters

I've heard others say that as well. The Tascam site indicates that they were discontinued in the Americas. I got mine on Amazon after they stopped selling them here. (I am in WI, USA) I see them on Amazon now for $400 - that's a bit more than I paid for mine a year ago, but not outrageously so. It is an amazing piece of kit. I would pay $400 for it. https://www.amazon.com/DR-100mkIII-2-Channel-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B01I1L136Y/ref=sr\_1\_2?crid=DPNOZF7MD6ZO&keywords=tascam+dr100+mkiii&qid=1652304117&sprefix=tascam%2520dr100%2520mkiii%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-2

I used these instructions on making my own dish with the one from Wildtronics. I used a cage handle like this instead of the mini tripod. It came out great!

Every handheld recorder has handling noise "issues". You really can't handle it while it's recording. The HPF will help, but not much. Also if you are handling it, unless you move it really slowly and/or use wind protection, there will be wind noise at the mic capsules.

All the cheap devices sound cheap, and none of them are particularly durable. Don't drop it.

Is H1N good enough for your purposes? Probably, if you really learn how to use it well. I do think Zoom recorders have a kind of ugly coloration to the sound that I don't notice on my Tascam. If you can try some out & compare that might be helpful.

You will also need some other basics for your use cases, but can also be gotten relatively cheaply.

• A windsock / blimp -- the Rycote stuff is expensive, I happened to find this thing on Amazon and it is a legit, high quality windscreen for a decent price. It just took quite a while to get delivered to me. Good for gentle breezes but you need a blimp if you are gonna be out in actual wind
• A decent tripod, and perhaps a sandbag or two
• Headphones with a long extension if you hope to monitor in real-time (which is really helpful when you are learning)

I would like to share the app "USB Microphone Recorder" with the unique ability to record 32 bit files, extremely useful with 24/32 bit microphones, as other apps truncate at just 16 bit.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.majinsoft.usbmicrophonerecorder

I’ve had no issues with gain. For batteries, I use this TalenCell with this cable. With external batteries, watch for ultra high frequency noise. Ive seen some batteries introduce a whine/noise well above 20k. Not an issue unless you’re planning to record at 96 or 192 but it’s something to look out for.

TalentCell Rechargeable 12V... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ME3ZH7C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Alvin's Cables 4 Pin Hirose Male... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KK8MY5U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thanks for the food for thought.. The Bubblebees are ridiculously expensive. The european Amazon has a different stock but I found these

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/product/B08MQ3WNTJ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AHR9Y3OT5M74L&psc=1

These would propably suffice and are 5 x cheaper! Im planning to DIY a blimp for windier occasions.

I have never left a rig for the birds yet, but thanks for the heads up :)

I really like Bubblebee Windbubbles, especially their tight short weave of the outside shag. The generic fuzzy windscreens I most often use have much longer fuzzy shag and are oft mistaken by birds and wildlife for edibles and hence I'll have knocking sounds often from a critter trying to eat the windscreen. This happens though from time to time with Windbubbles too. I always buy the largest size available for lavs either in Windbubbles or in generics because it is so much easier to put them on the clippys. And they stay on here in the coastal marshes where I use them, which are quite windy. I really can't tell a lot of difference in wind mitigation between some of the higher quality generics I've purchased off Amazon and I've noticed that the Windbubbles seem to stay a bit waterlogged longer than some of the generics, I think due to the tighter weave of the shag so a slower wind dry. I started out with strictly windbubbles but now I just use the generics. I'll typically put out 8 recorders per night so that's 16 windscreens to cover the clippys and mikrousis. For the sound small quality difference (to me) v cost I find the generics to be my best choice. I do achieve some great recordings with the generics. Again, I use the largest sizes for ease of slipping them over the mic in the field. The smaller sizes can be so aggravating to get on, if not literally impossible, sometimes. Here is a link to those I use currently: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DJ3RDCS/ref=cm\_sw\_em\_r\_mt\_dp\_YTDH3G8N5RMBX31VDD2N?\_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Amazing, thank you for your help :) - just to clarify, any TRS 3.5mm plug I get will do since by nature it would have tip, ring and sleeve contacts?

Would this do? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baoblaze-Female-Microphone-Unbalanced-Stereo-Black/dp/B07DMBDKXT/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=unbalanced+aux+to+trs+3.5mm+cable&qid=1642332674&sprefix=unbalanced+aux+to+trs+3.5mm+%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-3

The only time my Mikrousi or Clippy mics quit in the field was with Windbubbles. That said I do like certain aspects of Windbubbles, such as the tightness of the weave. However they are expensive as you are well aware. My go to lav windscreens for tropical storms and rain in the Coastal swamps here in Florida are a type someone here recommended a while back from Amazon. They are $10 for 5 & I always get the .4 inch size to fit Clippys. They have been through all sorts of ferocious rainstorms and have been attacked by wildlife but they hold up. I think they do just as good a job at reducing wind noise as Windbubbles. For ten bucks what can you lose? Here is the link and good luck. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DJ3RDCS/ref=sw\_img\_1?smid=&th=1

I stopped buying windbubbles. They are amazing quality. I buy these others now and they preform just as well as best as I can tell. These are a larger size and fit over my MikroUsi and Clippys too. Lavalier Wind Muff 5 Pack Lapel... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DJ3RDCS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thank you for your thoughtful advice! I was recommended this power bank by someone else on Reddit, I assume it will work.

These are my thoughts and levels of exposure, given the topic, but I'm more than welcome to other suggestions from anyone since I'm sure there's other, possibly better(?), ways of doing this.

I don't know of any metadata system that works the way as described (that are free or cheap, anyway), so these are mainly raw storage solutions listed.

--

Possibly quickest way:

Use Google Drive. I think they have pretty good rates for 1TB, I don't remember exactly.

Quick and dirty way:

Upload to Bandcamp (dependent on file size), and publish as private. You can upload other "bonus" materials (pdf, pictures, etc), and the description could serve as a note system too.

The complicated* way, but yields the best ratio for savings to usage (imo):

Use Restic[1] and back up to Backblaze[2]. Backblaze is a storage service that offers a Ridiculous™ amount of space on the cheap, and when coupled with a tool like Restic, it makes storage off site (if an $80 TB drive isn't an option) very tempting.

--

• Depending on where one comes from, complicated may be simple or impossible. command-line tools aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I thought I would put it here regardless. Maybe it'll help someone out either way. c:

[1] https://restic.net/ [2] https://www.backblaze.com/

Here is the audio if anyone wants to check it out! : https://hearthis.at/timothy-glenn-hatfield-ii/storm-5162020/ Other than some clipping on some of the thunder (unfortunately) it seems like everything came out OK.

I recently went down this path before deciding to buy a dedicated field recorder, but almost pulled the trigger on this. It's a bit more expensive than you want,but considering the alternatives, I wouldn't spend less:

https://www.amazon.com/Shure-MV88-Digital-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B010W6W8OW

According to a review I read on Amazon, a similar product by Rode introduces a lot of noise. Is there a converter that introduces no additional noise? One of the main points of using a recorder like F6 is its low noise floor, and if such a converter takes away from that, might as well use a lesser recorder that comes with a 3.5mm jack by default...

Rode converter: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Rode-Microphones-VXLR-Adaptor-Black/dp/B071LNDKBJ/

>Can anyone recommend a good app that will allow me to check and set levels and record from a single mic in stereo?

It will never be a stereo recording, even if it's in two channels.

Recforge has pretty good recording controls on android devices (assuming the Samsung is android).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dje073.android.modernrecforge

The H1N is the very bottom tier of the Zoom devices and capabilities. I don't think you can adjust headphone routing in the device itself, or change input routing. Those are functions some of their higher-end devices do, but this is a limit here. I still don't understand why you think you need to do so, but you could try a mono to stereo adapter. Some of these may double the signal (this one looks promising).

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-107160-Stereo-Adaptor-Plated/dp/B001RCZ14U/

Those are cool. Could you recommend a tripod head / way to attach this to a tripod? I have this for travel and would like to find a way to attach them to this. Sorry for the random question.

I flew w a camera, pcm-d10, couple mics, tripod, and some other odds and ends (only within the US not sure about international). Worst thing was just having to remove the recorder/camera from the bag to go through the scanner when checking in (not a big deal). I was able to fit it all into my gear backpack and keep it as my “carryon” while all my clothes were in my overhead bag. Flew delta and didn’t even get charged extra. YMMV depending on how much gear and clothes you need to pack. But if your gear can fit in something roughly the size of a medium sized book bag (which is what my gear bag is) you might be good to go interms of domestic flights atleast. Here is the exact bag I used: Endurax Large Camera Backpack Waterproof Compatible with Canon Nikon Photographers Camera Bag for DSLR with Hardshell Protection https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZ6SPH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_PZV749SPEXVTV27Y7AFJ

Highly recommend Audio Culture. It’s a collection of essays about music and sound. A ton of heady ideas about environmental sound, the nature of music, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Culture-Revised-Readings-Modern/dp/1501318365/ref=nodl_

https://www.amazon.com.mx/Neewer-Handheld-Stabilizer-Panasonic-Samsung/dp/B018LQEFL4/ref=sr_1_27?__mk_es_MX=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=estabilizador+gopro&qid=1617579021&sr=8-27
do you know if i can i attach the zoom h5 directly with this? i think is 1/4 inches

Interesting and unique upload. Thanks, George.

Would love to read a snippet detailing your excursion to such an adventurous place. If you hiked in with gear, how remote it was, any chance encounters along the way, etc.

Also, there's a great book you might enjoy. The author walked across Borneo:

Stranger in the Forest: On Foot Across Borneo Paperback – Illustrated, November 14, 2000

Ok so maybe not the coolest solution in the world, but what about something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/TINYAT-Waterproof-Concerts-Sports-Travel/dp/B07XBR9T8H/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=clear+fanny+pack&qid=1612045896&sr=8-5

With it being clear you would still be able to see the display and prehaps be able to operate the controls from the outside, plus with how cheap it is you could modify it without worry, perhaps cut holes to feed your cables through etc.

Highly considering Anker based on the replies on here and other threads. First time I heard of RavPower, so I'll check it out! It seems like 20000mAh will be more than enough for me in the long run, so I've been eyeing Anker Powercore 20000mAh currently. Thanks for the quick maths!

I added this to my set up, works nicely!

Movo SMM5-R Universal Microphone and Portable Recorder Shock Mount

Yep. But the issue isn't just about it being recognised, but rather the speed and consistency - at least in my case. I'm recording 6 channels (4 ambiosonic + 2 mono for monitoring) at 48 or 96 kHz and 32 bit... that's 18mb/s (lowercase mb) to disk. That doesn't sound a lot, but doing so reliably for hours on end for multi-gigabyte files seems to be beyond some SD cards as they stutter enough for the MixPre to run out of buffer. I fear this is my issue actually but we'll see when I get the files back.

By the way these are the cards I got https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H42L4TJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I believe the 64-256GB range all use the same chips. I went for multiple 64GB as it suits my workflow.

There's a long thread on one of the recording tech forums (not reddit) where some members test out difference cards but I don't have it to hand right now. I do recall that both Sound Devices and that forum both report issues with the Pro (red and black one)

Hope that helps

I'm not sure. I've successfully made a load of <1GB recordings no problem but my friend maybe not so much. Because of covid lockdown I can't get out and record currently so he's doing it for me (I shipped the equipment to him). He's done about 60GB of recordings now including one that ran for 8 hours. It seems to have recorded everything but he tells me it's chopped into a few 1.3GB files. I'm not sure if he's confused by the UI or whether or not there's a problem. I'll have to wait until he mails me the cards.

I have this battery and a fast charger or it takes something like 8 hours to charge https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07SQ5MQ6K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1 It fits nicely in the MixPre bag (noting that I don't have any wireless equipment or anything like that) and I use a short USBC cable to connect it to the recorder without having too much loose cable lying around.

Unfortunately they don’t make hooks that fit the mics perfectly - so I came up with a DIY solution: I got a pair of EARBUDi ear hooks for Apple buds off Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/EARBUDi-Adjustable-EarPods-Activity-Designed/dp/B00A7VYO90) but instead of EarPods, I take the 4060 heads and wrap them around the white part of the hook with some tape. This allows the mics to sit right over my ears when I wear the clips, and the result is a surprisingly realistic binaural effect!

I got this : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JZ6SPH6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1

I have really enjoyed it for my use/what I need.

There aren't a lot of cardioid lavalier mics, and most are expensive. If you're looking for something really cheap that doesn't suck for it's price range, the JK Mic-J 055 (at about $30 each) isn't too bad. I sounds a lot like it's sister mic, the JK Mic-J 044, but with noticeably less reverb because it's cardioid instead of omnidirectional. The capsule is the size of a small planetoid, but if it's not on-camera, I don't think that matters.

Some further interesting reading is Pierre Schaeffer’s book ‘In Search of a Concrete Music’ which details his musique concrète approach to sound classification.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520265742/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=In+Search+of+a+Concrete+Music&amp;qid=1598961271&amp;sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DFU9BRK

But that's on US Amazon. With shipping would probably be too much. It's about 305 pounds on the UK site, but it looks like that actually includes import fees. (Don't know why it says it has Bluetooth.) Might have something to do with the fact that Zoom Japan recently had to change distributors in the UK. Also, the UK site says

The 58 and 57 are dynamic mics. You want condenser mics that can capture the finest details. Even a cheap condenser mic would be much better than a super expensive dynamic one.

Do you already have the zoom?

Because if you don't, I'm sure you'd get better quality preamps and DA converters with something like the ART Dual pre connected to a smartphone (or a tablet) which you probably already have. It works with iOS devices using a converter and some Android devices with Lollipop and up using a super cheap OTG cable.

Thank you for the info. I'been looking at this http://www.amazon.com/DR-40-4-Track-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B005NACC6M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1440519293&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=tascam

as an option to start field recording. And I might just have to grab those mics as well!

Our pro audio app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stereomatch.mp3.audio.recorder

for Android is available on Google Play store.

Most of the features are free and it has no ads.

It includes some field recording features - like volume boost, and 3-band equalizer (which are all free).

You can record in WAV or OGG compressed (which is nearly as good as MP3). MP3 is a paid feature.

App now has a real-time voice changer with 11 voices (the voice changer is a paid feature, with free trial):

• Dark Father - not affiliated with Darth Vader or Star Wars
• Rylo Ken - not affiliated with Kylo Ren or Star Wars
• Dane - not affiliated with Bane or The Dark Knight Rises movie
• Exterminator - not affiliated with Dalek or the BBC
• Space Trooper - not affiliated with Stormtroopers or Star Wars (this one will be improved in the next update)
• Captain Phase - not affiliated with Captain Phasma or Star Wars
• Badman - not affiliated with Batman or DC universe
• Optimal Prime - not affiliated with Optimus Prime or Transformer movies
• Uldron - not affiliated with Ultron or Marvel universe
• P3CO - not affiliated with C3PO or Star Wars universe
• Collum - not affiliated with Gollum/Smeagol or Lord of the Rings series

Just plug in cable (male-to-male) and then press the Record button, and your phone becomes a voice changing microphone that can be used with external equipment.

Keep volume low initially.