6 Best Uses for Contact Microphones in Field Recording
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Contact microphones, also known as piezo microphones, are designed to pick up vibrations from solid objects rather than airborne sound. This unique capability makes them invaluable tools for field recording, especially when capturing subtle or hidden audio sources that standard microphones might miss. Whether you are a sound designer, musician, or nature recordist, understanding their best uses can elevate your recordings.
Capturing Vibrations from Surfaces
One of the most common uses of contact microphones in field recording is to capture vibrations directly from surfaces. This includes resonating objects like metal fences, wooden beams, or glass panels. By attaching the microphone to the surface, you can isolate the sound of its internal vibrations without interference from environmental noise. This is especially useful in noisy outdoor environments.
Recording Mechanical and Industrial Sounds
Field recordists often use contact microphones to document the inner workings of machines, engines, and industrial equipment. Because the mic is physically connected to the object, it can pick up fine mechanical details like motor hums, gear clicks, and frictional sounds. These recordings are valuable for sound effects libraries, documentaries, or experimental music projects.
Exploring Natural Soundscapes
In nature, contact microphones can capture vibrations from trees, rocks, and even frozen lakes. Attaching a mic to a tree trunk, for instance, might reveal the creaking and groaning caused by wind or internal moisture shifts. Similarly, placing one on ice can produce eerie cracking and shifting sounds as the ice expands or contracts.
Creating Unique Percussive and Musical Textures
Musicians and sound designers use contact microphones to experiment with unconventional instruments or found objects. Recording the vibrations of strings, metal sheets, or ceramic surfaces can produce textures that are rich in character and completely different from airborne recordings. These sounds can be used in music production, live performance, or sound design for film and games.
Capturing Underwater Vibrations
With waterproof housing or by coupling with hydrophones, contact microphones can be used to capture vibrations in shallow water or inside submerged structures. This opens possibilities for documenting the sound of flowing streams, aquatic movements, or structural resonance beneath the water’s surface.
Reducing Environmental Noise
Because they detect vibrations rather than airborne sound, contact microphones are effective when you need to record in loud environments but want to focus on a specific object. For example, in a bustling urban setting, a contact microphone attached to a street pole will record its vibrations without capturing much of the background chatter or traffic noise.
Final Note
In field recording, contact microphones offer creative ways to explore sound beyond what the human ear typically hears. By focusing on vibrations, they allow recordists to uncover hidden sonic worlds, transforming ordinary objects and environments into rich sources of unique audio.
