I was curious about the directionality, frequency range and general sound of the setup. Below you can see and hear sounds recorded on it, compared to ones recorded in the very same location a week before on Telinga mics.
Of course Sanken is a mono setup (but I was thinking of adding a pair of Usi Pro mics on both sides of Universal holder), but you can see how they compare.
Sanken recordings were done @192k whereas Telinga mic @96kHz. Each sound example on soundcloud is accompanied by pitch shifted versions, first, one octave and then two octaves below. To show the high end and this is what we use Sanken for!

The general answer is – it is VERY directional. Just like the original Telinga setup. It also has extended frequency range. Yet, not as one could expect from Sanken CO-100k placed close the source. It depends of the source – of course frogs aren’t ultrasonic for sure (yet you can hear some bats in the recordings), but the ability of pitching 2 octaves down, keeping the sound quite natural is amazing for sound design purposes.
It doesn’t have as much highs as closely placed microphone indeed, but hey – I was recording objects being around 6-8 meters away.
The samples were treated with eq and a touch of RX, to remove unwanted noises.
The dish also gives specific 300-500Hz resonance, probably more prominent than with the regular Telinga mics. But it all can be treated in mastering/mixing process really well.

So it works as a parabolic setup. From what I have learned so far, it has potential for extreme pitch shifting, yet you can’t expect miracles – air absorption with the distance and mic positioning narrows 100kHz magic. Probably Schoeps CMC6XT mics or Sennheiser 8000 series would sound similar. And – who would have thought that frogs pitch shifted one octave down become crows!
Now I just need some time to record more…

01 BIRD on Parabolic Sanken

02 BIRD on Parabolic Telinga

03 FROGS on Parabolic Sanken

04 FROGS on Parabolic Telinga

05 FROG on Parabolic Sanken

06 FROG on Parabolic Telinga

07 GRASSHOPPER on Parabolic Sanken

08 GRASSHOPPER on Parabolic Telinga

The intention wasn’t to cover vehicles driving, but to get isolated and very closely recorded mechanical elements of engines and exhaust pipes as a source material for sound design. There are many starts, idles, revs, offs, RPMs variations, backfires etc. Some are heavy and large sounding, some are small and funny. Tractors were captured EXT and most of stationary engines INT, but since they are very closely recorded there is just a little amount of reverb on most of them.

Most of engines are 1 or 2 cylinders and low horse power and their RPMs are also low. Thanks to this, many of those sounds aren’t tonal and can easily be used as additional layer with other design elements. They work great for adding vintage character, designing junky or funny vehicles, crazy huge steampunk machines or engines malfunction.

Sounds were recorded using multi-mic setup: Sanken CO-100k (most of the time pointing mechanical parts), Sennheiser MKH-8060 (mainly for isolated exhaust pipe), Schoeps CMC6XT mk41/mk8 (general image) and part also with Trance Audio Inducer contact mics (adding unique mechanical perspective).

Library is delivered as multitrack 192kHz files, as well as stereo mix of all microphones. Thanks to using microphones with extended frequency range, drastic pitch changes can be applied.
All files have extensive metadata created in Soundminer, including leg picker with microphone labels.

Sounds were recorded multi-mic and from different perspectives, giving large variety for designing purposes. We used microphones with extended frequency range (Schoeps CMC6XT MS kit, Sanken CO-100k) recording on 192kHz sample rate, shotgun mics (Sennheiser MKH-8060, MKH-815T, Neumann KMR81/KM120 MS kit) as well as Trance Audio Inducer stereo contact microphone (which was very useful in noisy environments and which also has very wide frequency range). We used Sound Devices 702, 744 recorders with MixPre, Zoom F8 and Sony PCM D-50.

Sound are delivered as 192 & 96 kHz / 24 bit wave files with extensive Soundminer ready metadata.
Part of sounds is delivered as multitrack waves – PLEASE USE iXML LIBRARY OPTION in Soundminer, to use it fully as shown below:

If you don’t use Soundminer, don’t worry – sounds are delivered as multi-mono tracks and you can import and audition them one by one.
COAL MINE


Conveyor Belt – 3 files
Coal-Cutting Machine – 3 files
Planer – 6 files
Pump – 2 files
Rotary Planer – 3 files
Conveyor Chain – 5 files
Shearer – 5 files
Cement Mixer – 3 files
Coal Trolley – 3 files
Vantilation Fans – 5 files
Elevator Shaft Engine Hall – 6 files
Antique Huge Steam Machine – 9 files
Mine Elevator – 5 files

ZINC MINE


Underground River – 4 files
Vantilation Fan – 1 file
Diesel Loader Trucks – 51 files

ZINC SMELTER 1


Galvanizing Hall – 3 files
Foundry Hall – 8 files
Gantry Cabin INT – 3 files
Gantry Winch Engine – 4 files
Cutting Machine – 7 files
Hammering on Molds – 3 files
Grinding Mill – 11 files
Pneumatic Air Releases – 8 files
Mills – 9 files
Loader Truck – 1 file
Conveyor Belt – 1 file
Sand Movements in Pipes – 2 files
Lye Hall Machines – 18 files
Lye Hall Liquids – 5 files
Metal Plates – 5 files

ZINC SMELTER 2


Crusher – 4 files
Conveyor Belt – 4 files
Mining Shaft Engine Hall – 15 files
Mining Shaft Engine Hall Basement – Pressure Releases – 8 files
Mining Shaft Engine Hall Basement – Wooden Wheel – 5 files
Mining Shaft Debris Drop – 7 files
Freight Elevator – 7 files
Heavy Mills – 14 files
Liquids – 2 files
Metal Textures – 3 files

ZINC SMELTER 3


Train Car Reverse Machine – 4 files
Sizzling Parched Metal – 2 files
Hammering Machine – 7 files
Metal Cover – 2 files
Saddest Machine Ever – 7 files
Machine Hall – 5 files
Clods Falling – 3 files
Vibration Machine – 1 file

SCRAPYARD


Scrap Loader – 12 + 6 denoised files
Scrapyard AMB – 15 files
Crane Winch Engines – 8 files

TRAMS REPAIR WORKSHOP


Milling Machines – 7 files
Frame Saw – 1 file
Guillotine Shears – 7 file
Welder Generator – 1 file
Tram Electric Engine – 3 files
Huge Tram Gantry – 2 files
CNC Lathe – 1 file
Blasting Machine – 1 file
Ventilation Engine – 3 files
Compressor – 1 file
AMB – 1 file

TRAINS FACTORY


AMB – 4 files
CNC Laser Cutter – 18 files
Train Gantry – 4 files

STEELWORKS


Large Blocks Roll – 2 files
Hot Rolling Mill Engines – 4 files
Rolling Mill – 16 files

VULCANIZER


Pneumatic Servo Engine – 1 file
Pneumatic Air Releases – 6 files
Pneumatic Arm Movements – 3 files
Pneumatic Drill – 6 files
Pneumatic Lifts – 2 files
Pneumatic Hose – 1 file
Tire Balancing Machine – 1 file
Tire Grinder Drill – 10 files
Tire Washing Machine – 1 file

QUARRY


Conveyor Belt – 1 file
Dump Truck Belaz 51 – 43 files
Quarry Loader – 6 files
Crushers – 2 files
Drilling Rig Machine – 15 files
Wheel Loader CAT 972M – 34 files
Wheel Loader Stalowa Wola L34 – 53 files

Available soon…

• Timpanis
• Taiko Drums
• Gran Casa
• Orchestral Toms
• Orchestral Snares
• Chinese Gongs
• Chinese Wuhan Gongs
• Chinese Opera Glissando Gongs
• Burmese / Thai Gongs
• Metal Plates
• Vibraphone
• Crotales
• Bell Tree
• Lion’s Roar
• Ocean Drum
• Rainstick
• Ratchets
• Vibraslap
• Flexatone
• Tibetan Bowl
• Glass Chimes
• Bamboo Chimes
• Temple Blocks
• Alpine Bells
• Musical Saw

• Schoeps CMC6XT MK41/MK8 MS kit
• Sanken CO-100k
• Sennheiser MKH-8060
• Trance Audio Stereo Inducer contact microphones
• Sound Devices 702, 744, MixPre

Available here:

https://www.asoundeffect.com/sound-library/performed-orchestral-percussion/

Three sessions, recorded in super quiet big field, were recorded extremely close to birds. The intention was to grab very isolated and rich sounds, useful for sound design. For this sessions we used Sanken CO-100k and Sennheiser MKH-8060, which were super close (just a few centimeters away from brids beaks) and Schoeps CMC-6XT MK41 a bit wider for more natural/open sound. Although sometimes Sanken and Sennheiser sound very similiar (they were in similar position), we left both files. Sanken recordings (@192kHz) are amazing for pitch shifting, yet sounds recorded by Sennheiser are very natural in neutral pitch.
When pitch shifted, all sounds become very evocative and emotional sound design sources.
All sounds were recorded on Sound Devices 700 series recorders.

Bird species recorded:
* Harris Hawk (Male)
* Harris Hawk (Young Female)
* Northern Goshawk
* Saker Falcon
* Indian Eagle-Owl
* Bald Eagle
* Barn Owl
* Buzzard
* Eurasian Eagle-Owl
* Great Horned-Owl
* Tawny Eagle
* Kestrel
* Red Kite

All files contain natural sequences and rhythms of calls. There are also close wing flaps, movements and even sounds of birds eating recorded in macro close POV.
The library is extensively metatagged in Soundminer.

Gear used:
Sanken CO-100k
Sennheiser MKH-8060
Schoeps CMC-6XT MK41
Neumann KMR-81
Sound Devices 702 & 744

Available here:

https://www.asoundeffect.com/sound-library/predatory-birds/

http://sonicsalute.com/product/predatory-birds/

https://sonniss.com/sound-effects/predatory-birds/

So again, lots of old wooden doors, with metal bolts. Starting from small to large heavy barn doors, both INT and EXT. Some Background Activities on different kinds of wooden floors, recorded from different POVs, like one floor below, or next door. Some interesting props movements.
We also performed some of the objects (like doors), creating rhythmic sounds which could work well for any antique rotating, whirling machines.

We also recorded old machines with gears, which could be very useful for sound design. Using some pitch shifting changes them into another palette of antique sounds.

Sounds were recorded on:
Neumann KMR 81 & KM 120 MS kit
Schoeps CMC6XT MK41 & MK 8 MS kit
Sennheiser MKH 8060
Sennheiser MKH 815T
Barcus Berry Plenar Wave 4000
into Sound Devices 702 and 744 with Mix Pre
and Sony PCM D-50

All library is delivered as stereo 24/96 wave files with well grounded metadata in Soundminer.
MS recordings were decoded to stereo. If you need just directional sound, you can sum both channels to mono, which will return just the M channel sound.

Total amount of files: 375 (some categories might overlap) (8,9GB)
Total run time: 5hrs, 32mins
Doors: 258 files
Window: 10 files
BG Activities: 37 files
Furniture: 10 files
Mechanism: 73 files

OLD COTTAGES:
http://sonicsalute.com/product/old-cottages/
http://www.sonniss.com/sound-effects/cottages/
https://www.asoundeffect.com/sound-library/old-cottages/

Outdoor Museum of Old Cottages – Dobczyce

Outdoor Museum of Old Cottages – Kielce

Photos by Wojtek Iskierka

Another important part of the library are Background Activities.
Editing sound for films, I always find myself in need for adding some background life to scenes. We all love great foley, but having isolated background activities recorded in real spaces adds another level of realism. So wherever I found interesting spaces, we performed some activities and movements on old stone or wooden floors.
It’s not supposed to substitute foley, syncing it step by step. But it will help to create separate layer of atmospheres.

We also found medieval Torture Chamber, which inspired us to record some of the tools, distant movements of chains etc. but also some screams, all with real dungeon reverb.

All library is delivered as stereo 24/96 wave files with well grounded metadata in Soundminer. It was recorded on Neumann MS kit: KMR 81 & KM 120 microphones, on Sound Devices 702 recorder.
This mic setup has beautiful roundness and natural tone, which works very well in films.
Sounds were decoded from MS to stereo. If you need just directional shotgun mic sound, you can sum both channels to mono, which will return just the M (KMR 81) sound.

Total amount of files: 243 (7,48GB)
Total run time: 3hrs, 33mins
Categories:
Doors – 145 files
BG Activities – 49 files
Props – 20 files
Furniture – 16 files
Screams – 12 files

CASTLES:
http://sonicsalute.com/product/castles/
http://www.sonniss.com/sound-effects/castles/
https://www.asoundeffect.com/sound-library/castles/

Castle 1 – Dobczyce

Castle 2 – Wieliczka

Castle 3 – Niepołomice

Castle 4 – Żywiec

photos by Wojtek Iskierka

Here’s a link

Big thanks to Paul for the invitation.