Recommended Recording Gear

Recording bird sounds can be as simple as taking out your phone and pressing “record.” But when you want to improve the quality of your recordings, questions arise: what recorder should you use? Do I need a special microphone? Is it worth investing in more equipment?

This guide compiles recommendations based on years of experience recording birds in the field. You don’t need to spend a fortune to make good recordings, but choosing the right equipment can make a big difference.

Three key concepts before choosing equipment

• 32-bit float: lower risk of clipping a recording
Modern recorders allow recording in 32-bit float. This reduces the risk of clipping the audio or recording too quietly. In practice, it means you can focus on pointing the microphone correctly —regardless of the distance to the bird— and adjust the volume levels later in editing.

• Cables with TRS vs XLR connectors: portability vs robustness
TRS connectors (3.5 mm mini jack) are lightweight and are easy to replace, making them very practical for field recording. XLR connectors are more robust and offer better shielding against electrical noise. They also allow powering microphones via phantom power (48 V), though with higher battery consumption.

• The microphone matters more than the gain
The preamplifier —built into recorders— amplifies the microphone signal to a usable level, but boosting gain electronically does not replace a good capture. In bird recording, it is usually more effective to use a directional or parabolic microphone or to get closer to the bird.

Recorders

We analyzed some recorders with a very good price-to-quality ratio. All of them support recording in 32-bit float.

Zoom H1 essential — Affordable and portable

An excellent entry point for beginners. It is ultra-compact, fits in your pocket, and supports 32-bit float recording. It includes good-quality built-in microphones and a TRS input for external microphones.

✔ Stands out for:
Being affordable · ultra-compact · with built-in omnidirectional microphone · easy to use

Zoom H1 XLR — Versatile for external microphones

Similar to the Zoom H1 Essential, but adds an XLR input in addition to the TRS, allowing the use of professional shotgun microphones without needing a larger recorder.

✔ Stands out for:
Being affordable · compact · with XLR and TRS inputs, making it a good option for shotgun microphones

Zoom F3 — Professional quality

Offers quality comparable to much more expensive professional equipment. Includes 5-second pre-recording, XLR inputs with Phantom power, and simple controls.

✔ Stands out for:
Excellent recording quality · robust build · accessible price · XLR with phantom power · pre-recording buffer

TASCAM FR-AV2 — Professional standard

With XLR and TRS connectors, this recorder offers excellent sound quality, intuitive controls, and a screen that allows monitoring gain during recording. It also offers more advanced configuration options than others.

✔ Stands out for:
Exceptional sound quality · build quality · excellent interface · good preamplifier · optimal battery consumption

Microphones

A directional microphone considerably improves recording quality. Shotgun microphones are the most versatile option to start with.

Røde VideoMic Go — Entry-level option

A great way to improve audio compared to the phone’s microphone. The VideoMic Go offers a real improvement over the built-in microphone of a phone or recorder. It is small, affordable, easy to use, and connects via 3.5 mm mini-jack.

✔ Stands out for:
Being ideal for beginners · Can be connected to a smartphone

Røde NTG2 — Best price-to-quality ratio

One of the most widely used microphones by bird recorders. Offers excellent quality for its price and can run on either Phantom power or an AA battery.

✔ Stands out for:
Good sound quality · accepts AA battery or Phantom power · can be connected to a smartphone (requires XLR to USB-C cable)

Audio-Technica AT8015 — High directionality

A very interesting long shotgun for isolating the sound of specific birds in noisy environments. Its greater length gives it higher directionality than many short shotguns.

✔ Stands out for:
Being highly directional · reasonable price · trusted brand

Røde NTG3 — The next step

A high-quality directional microphone with greater directionality than short shotguns like the NTG2. Requires Phantom power, so it does not work with smartphones.

✔ Stands out for:
Being highly directional · robust construction · trusted brand

Sennheiser MKE 600 — Compact and reliable

The Sennheiser MKE 600 is a good-quality short shotgun, with the advantage of supporting both phantom power and an AA battery option. It is a solid choice if you are already familiar with the brand and are looking for something compact and reliable.

✔ Advantages
Good sound quality · phantom power + AA · recognized brand

Parabolic dishes

Parabolic dishes are the preferred tool of many sound recordists who specialize in birds. Unlike shotguns —which work by cancellation— they concentrate sound at a focal point and amplify it naturally.

Wildtronics Pro Mono

Professional parabolic dish with integrated microphone. The Feather Light dish is rollable and easy to transport; the Standard version has a more rigid dish but is more durable. Connects to the recorder via TRS or XLR.

• Advantages: excellent quality dish · the Feather Light model is ideal for travel • Disadvantages: records in mono only · accessories sold separately

Crake Sound Stereo Focus

Professional parabolic dish developed in Argentina with a compact design that allows mounting the recorder directly on the system, creating an integrated setup. They provide both flexible and rigid dishes. The connection to the recorder is via TRS cable.

• Advantages: records in stereo · all-in-one system · all accessories included • Disadvantages: TRS cable only · delicate parabolic dish

Recommended combinations

Below are some equipment combinations that deliver good results for bird recording, based on experience level and budget.

Beginner ~$270
Smartphone + Røde NTG2
→ A huge improvement over the phone’s microphone and lets you get started on a small budget.

Semi-pro ~$630
Zoom F3 + Audio-Technica AT8015
→ Portable professional-quality equipment with good directionality for isolating birds.

Pro (compact parabolic) ~$700
Zoom H1 essential + Crake Sound Stereo Focus
→ Lightweight and easy-to-transport system for parabolic recording.

Pro (maximum quality) ~$1,090
Zoom F3 + Wildtronics Pro Mono
→ One of the most widely used setups for obtaining very clean recordings.

Final thoughts

Keep in mind that equipment matters, but technique matters more. Knowing the bird’s behavior, being in the right place, and pointing the microphone well usually make more of a difference than having the most expensive equipment 😃 Happy recording!