Guidelines for Microphones
Rev 1.2.1
For protection against weather
Microphones should always be positioned so that they point slightly lower than horizontal. If you
expect wind driven rain, it is advisable to point them even lower.
Windscreens should be used for all deployments that could encounter precipitation. There is no
reason to remove windscreens regularly. Always leave an air gap between the end of the mic and
the windscreen as shown below. Windscreens should be used with the optional SMX-Horn also, but
no air gap is required.
Do not handle or remove a wet windscreen as it is easy to accidentally squeeze the windscreen and
push water into the end of the mic
For mechanical protection
Mount the mic using a cable instead of directly on the recorder itself whenever possible. When
used with proper strain relief, a cabled mic is less likely to be damaged by an animal hitting or sitting
on it
When disconnecting a mic from a cable or the recorder, turn the locking ring to unlock it and then
pull straight away from the cable or recorder. Do not twist the mic itself.
To avoid electrical discharge damage
Avoid mounting microphones on tall plastic masts (e.g. fiberglass, nylon, etc.) for deployments in dry
conditions because a breeze flowing over the plastic can build up a sizeable electrical charge much like
rubbing a balloon. Eventually, the electric charge will be strong enough to discharge with an attraction to
the mass of metal in the cable resulting in a spark that could damage the microphone. Instead, use wood
or metal masts.
If electrical storm activity is a possibility, you need to protect the microphone and equipment from
damage from electrical discharge. If the best path to ground is through the microphone and/or Song
Meter, then the microphone and/or Song Meter can be severely damaged. To protect against this, like a
lightning rod, you need to create a better and safer alternate path to ground. One way to do this is to
use a pipe clamp to clamp a heavy gauge (18AWG) wire from the microphone to ground (e.g. by securing
the other end of the wire to the metal frame of a grounded tower structure, or securing the wire to a
metal pipe planted 2 meters into the earth). The connections must be electrically strong (low
resistance). A local electrician might be able to help you with a specific installation. Additionally, it is
better to NOT ground the Song Meter or its power source so there is not a clear path to ground
THROUGH the Song Meter.
