Field Recording — Ambisonic Mobile Rig

Ambi — a portable ambisonic field recording rig

A quick update on a project I’ve been working on recently. ‘Ambi’ is a portable ambisonic field recording rig that I created to facilitate immersive recordings in a wide range of locations. It’s built using an assortment of parts from the studio, including a Zoom F8n Pro field recorder, Rode NT SF-1 ambisonic microphone, a lightweight Manfrotto tripod, Beyerdynamic headphones, a mic stand boom arm, a stereo bar, and an assortment of thread adapters holding it all together.

The beauty of Ambi is that it can be remotely controlled from my phone or iPad using the F8n’s built-in Bluetooth module and Zoom’s F8 Control app. In addition to the fundamental operations of starting/stopping recording/playback and searching forward/backward, this app allows the adjustment of trim levels and mixer pan and fader settings.

The Zoom F8n is a 32-bit float recording device which essentially means no recording can ever clip, as long as the microphone capsule itself can handle the intensity of the sound pressure levels being recorded. In the case of the Rode NT SF-1 there are four microphone capsules capturing a 360-degree surround sound. 32-bit float can come in extremely handy in the field where you only get one take at a recording and nothing is ever planned, a quiet ambience can be followed by a loud truck passing by. In other recorders this would likely mean the recording will quickly run out of digital headroom and distort, unless you are very quick with the gain adjustment.

The end result is a versatile and lightweight ambisonic recording rig that can be brought just about anywhere. And it kind of reminds me of the Mars Rover which is nice too.

The ultimate 360-degree surround sound recording tool

Ambi is built on a tripod and boom arm, both of which can be extended if needed