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Wildlife microphone

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B J:

I have three trail cams I have built up myself.  Enjoying all the pics.  Now I want to build a system to record sounds.  Any suggestions on a good inexpensive microphone  that is sensitive and has  good sound quality?     Thanks

sam[PS]:
I'd look for a good quality piezo capsule. "Measure" grade ones are basically flat in response so they are very precise but don't realy "sound good" because to human ears flat response tend to sound boaring nowadays. However it's easy to post process them. Philips used to make good ones if you can find them. Tcheck on EEVBLOG youtube chanel there is a video series on designing mic frontend and i belive one of the video cover that type of mic.
For outdoor use don't forget wind blocking fluff.

Just my 2cts ...

B J:
Thanks Sam  --  At this time I am building a system using the WM61A.  From what I have read, it looks like it is a good place to start.  I will keep your suggestion in mind as I progress, and may come back and take a second look at it.  Also your wind fluff is something I have thought about, but at this point need to do more head scratching.

Buriedcode:
That Panasonic capsule is remarkably good for the price.  There is a "mod" to improve its SPL handling, but unless you're recording massive music venues or close micing drums, its not needed.

I'm wondering if you'll need any compression or limited in case something "loud" is near your mic.   Probably best to get something working and adjust the gain to give a good balance between distance sounds, amplifier noise, and close sounds, and then add on if needed.

What are you recording with?  Or are you biulding that part too?

B J:
Too hot to do much outdoors, so I am hanging around the computer and picked up on your return already.  Thanks.  Your thinking is right along where I have been at, as far as the SPL thoughts.

To start with, will be using an old battery cassette machine.  With a little circuitry, I can have it turn on and off with sounds that are picked up  As far as a little AGC, if needed, I will probably just use an averaging peak detector, and drive a LED into a photoresistor.  Something very simple that I can play with, yet get good results.  Will be putting in another Op Amp and can put the LDR in the feedback circuit very simply. 

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