The following is additional advice from Dan Dugan about getting started in nature sound recording. Dan is a board member and technical advisor to the Nature Sounds Society. Note that these opinions are Dan's, and the product recommendations are strictly his.

Basic Digital Audio Recorders

If you just want to grab sound "snapshots" in the field, there is a good selection of under-$500 field recorders available now, with new models coming out every few months. Models with built-in stereo mics include:

• Edirol R-09
• Zoom H2
• Olympus DS-30

Separate Microphones

Built-in mics are convenient, but they're difficult to hold quietly, and difficult to protect from wind, a constant problem in the field. They also tend to have too much self-noise (hiss). The next level of expertise is to use separate mics, like:

• Sony ECM-MS957
• Rode NT-4

Microphone Wind Screens

The foam windscreens provided with mics are almost useless outdoors. For a dramatic improvement, you can cover the foam windscreen with a long-haired wind cover.

• Rode "Dead Cat," $40.00
• Home Made [picture]

Advanced Digital Audio Recorders

These do not have built-in microphones.

• M-Audio Microtrack 24/96, flash card recorder
• Sony MZ-RH1, HiMD disc recorder
• Fostex FR-2LE

Resources

• www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/
  Rob Danielson's University of Wisconsin site is a great place for information about getting high-quality results out of economical equipment
• www.minidisco.com
  The "minidisco" on-line store is the best place for the Sony Hi-MD recorders and all kinds of stereo mics.
• tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists/
  The Nature Recordists list.
• www.naturesounds.org
  The Nature Sounds Society.