VOR audio recording and positioning

[David]

G'day...

I recently purchased a voice activated recorder to try out in an area I am interested in and was wondering if anybody could offer their experience with the best way of housing, attaching and positioning the recorder? I have already received some advice with using PVC pipe but are there any other worthwhile methods? I note that tampering with set equipment seems to be pretty common so is it best to make the recorder obvious or camouflaged? Ground level or up higher? Would obvious be better to encourage tampering with the hope of vocalisation? Too many questions from a beginner but I would really appreciate any tips for a better chance of success. Cheers Dave

[The yowie Mrx]

All I can say is most animals follow routine,but this does not appear to be the case with the hair guys.Eg last year this time in a area I had footprints and so on.No activity this time.
First of all look for a active area or a fresh sighting report.
With the recorder it's all trial and era.I no alot of the guys on here have had luck with the recorder in the open.

My self,With the recorder in the open .I have had something playing with it.When hidden I got some weird vocals eg growl,grunt.?

[David]

All I can say is most animals follow routine,but this does not appear to be the case with the hair guys.Eg last year this time in a area I had footprints and so on.No activity this time.
First of all look for a active area or a fresh sighting report.
With the recorder it's all trial and era.I no alot of the guys on here have had luck with the recorder in the open.

My self,With the recorder in the open .I have had something playing with it.When hidden I got some weird vocals eg growl,grunt.?

Thanks. I plan to spend two days (1 night) having a poke around in an area I suspect so I thought I would try the recorder overnight. Maybe being there might stir something up. I think I will just go with Rusty's PVC pipe design and see how it goes. Cheers Dave

[The yowie Mrx]

I wish you all the best and I hope you get something.

I just got my new sony recorder today.And it has VOR but It has no USB inport.I stuffed up big time.

[NoPolys]

AustraOz;

Good luck with the PVC pipe method. It seems to have promise if you plan to leave the unit inplace over night or longer. My recorder has a very small internal battery that doesn't last long... but long enough in VOR to go for awhile when left on a wheel of a parked car (Don't forget it and roll over it.... bad for long term use!! ) .

Mr X;

Some have had success taking the line out plug and running it into the computer.... you may need to use one of those USB units to change the formats. No way for me to tell without gettin up close & personal with your equipment. The USB will change (most often) to an AVI format (or similar) and will play as an audio track on a video frame. Just something that may work well enough for you to put on the hard drive for review. Be aware that the impedance values may not allow a direct hook up to your computer from the line out on the recorder. Hope this helps. PM me if I can help ya.

Cheers

NoPolys

[andrew]

I think I will just go with Rusty's PVC pipe design and see how it goes. Cheers Dave

I prefer to use old polypropylene irrigation pipe as it smells less than PVC. Try to reduce smell, which I suspect attracts them. Hope that helps.

[David]

Thanks heaps everyone for your hints I really appreciate it. I have a crackpot theory of my area actually being a transport corridor between two dense habitats that have had reported sightings on both sides. There are also remnant fruit trees left growing wild from the early settlers before the area became national park. The trees are flowering now preparing to fruit. I plan to offer the same fruits as bait ahead of the trees fruiting. Anyway worth a go...

Yowie Mrx - Thanks I'm really not expecting to capture anything but I'm out there overnight so it can't hurt trying. I bought my VOR recorder via China (ebay) so I don't know how the quality is going to be in comparison to the sony. My expeditions definately have to operate on a budget more the pity.

NoPolys - The car wheel sounds like a great idea and I will keep it in mind when I can get the car close. Unfortunately my area of interest is a fair hike into the park. No vehicle access.

Andrew - Thanks. I'll check the polypropylene out. Might even see if I can find a piece of old weathered stuff. That might even have less smell perhaps.

I'll let everyone know how I went

[andrew]

Methinks we need to get together and chat. Hairylad and I are working an area here as well. So far we have a possible sighting, a probable footprint and a deep growl and a stomp. There is a corridor running N to S that starts at Wee Jasper and runs down the valleys towards Namadgi and beyond to Captains Flat and the Jingera mountains. There is much history of encounters the whole way since the early 1800's right up until a few years ago, as I am sure you are aware. Don't forget honey as a bait.

The piping I use is also old.

[David]

Methinks we need to get together and chat. Hairylad and I are working an area here as well. So far we have a possible sighting, a probable footprint and a deep growl and a stomp. There is a corridor running N to S that starts at Wee Jasper and runs down the valleys towards Namadgi and beyond to Captains Flat and the Jingera mountains. There is much history of encounters the whole way since the early 1800's right up until a few years ago, as I am sure you are aware. Don't forget honey as a bait.

The piping I use is also old.

It would be great to catch up for a chat and even better to get some local knowledge. I'll PM you.

And I've added honey to the list. Cheers

[NoPolys]

Try a PET container... like an old soda drink bottle. Cut off the bottom to give you the opening and overall length, put the cap on tight. PET has no "plastic" smell to it and is something you may normally have around also (milk bottles are translucent enough you may not "see" the stuff.. stuffed inside). Just a thought that may help keep the costs low. As with pipe, keep the opening somewhat lowered so water doesn't collect inside the container in case it rains. Cover with leaves and local flora (perhaps a bit of coverscent if you are so inclined) to cammouflage if you leave it outside of camp.

As an aside, don't hide it so well you can't find it.... I learned the hard way.

Cheers

NoPolys

[David]

Try a PET container... like an old soda drink bottle. Cut off the bottom to give you the opening and overall length, put the cap on tight. PET has no "plastic" smell to it and is something you may normally have around also (milk bottles are translucent enough you may not "see" the stuff.. stuffed inside). Just a thought that may help keep the costs low. As with pipe, keep the opening somewhat lowered so water doesn't collect inside the container in case it rains. Cover with leaves and local flora (perhaps a bit of coverscent if you are so inclined) to cammouflage if you leave it outside of camp.

As an aside, don't hide it so well you can't find it.... I learned the hard way.

Cheers

NoPolys

Thanks NoPolys. PET plastic. That gives me a lot of options because my recorder has a small, tapering cylindrical external microphone. I can contain the recorder in a PET container drill a small hole that the mic tapers into and out into the audio world. I knew they made PET bottles from having 20 (I didn't use them) plastic bottles supplied with a home brewing kit. I'm now wondering if they make a tupperware type container out of the same plastic or any small container really. I like the idea of sealing the unit and using the external. Cheers I'm really appreciating everybody's tips

[NoPolys]

AustraOz;

Talk with Andrew, he has some great equipment deployment ideas. Not everything needs to be expensive, it just seems that way most of the time

Cheers

NoPolys

[David]

AustraOz;

Talk with Andrew, he has some great equipment deployment ideas. Not everything needs to be expensive, it just seems that way most of the time

Cheers

NoPolys

Thanks NoPolys. I'm already in contact with Andrew. I'm hoping to learn a lot

[didgmaster]

AustralopithecineOz, mate what type of recorder did you get ? you mentioned that you purchased one with the external cylindricle mic, im after something similar...

good luck got my fingers crossed for ya...

Thanks Didg.....

[topender]

me personally

i cut around a 4 inch tree and removed a cylindrical piece of bark, it naturally wraps around the recorder and looks natural as well

[David]

AustralopithecineOz, mate what type of recorder did you get ? you mentioned that you purchased one with the external cylindricle mic, im after something similar...

good luck got my fingers crossed for ya...

Thanks Didg.....

I'm operating on a budget, family first, so I thought I'd try a Chinese (clone I suppose) off ebay. It doesn't have a brand name but was listed as '4GB 650Hr Digital Voice Recorder Dictaphone MP3 Player'. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/170674710665 (hope that works)

I haven't tested it in the field (because I can't say I have been in the field yet) but playing around with it at home the VOR seems very sensitive. It has three sensitivity settings with HQ using the most memory of course. It comes with accessories I'll never use for telephone recording but did come with an external microphone on a long 1.5 mtr cord. I only learnt yesterday that units could be buried to perhaps limit the smell so this might be useful.

OK cost... and everyone's going to think I'm a cheapskate... $19.95 + $1 postage and surprisingly from Hong Kong was delivered in 6 days. I figure if it proves a useful piece of equipment I can equip myself with more without breaking the budget. Anyway Didge I'm new to this and this is just me low cost experimenting so I don't know how well it will go in the field but the specs (and playing around with it) look promising... Cheers Dave

[David]

me personally

i cut around a 4 inch tree and removed a cylindrical piece of bark, it naturally wraps around the recorder and looks natural as well

Another great idea. I can visualise that perfectly. Thanks.

[Dion]

me personally

i cut around a 4 inch tree and removed a cylindrical piece of bark, it naturally wraps around the recorder and looks natural as well

That’s an excellent idea tops. I know Dean and the boys back in the day used to hide there IR cameras in logs and such making them inconspicuous, but alas as always is the way our hairy friends seemed to know where the cameras were.

On your tree idea though it may mistake the sound of the recorder in the tree for a witchetty grub and go CHOMP, CHOMP,