Does anyone know of any mics that work underwater?

[Merkaba]

Does anyone know of any mics that work underwater?

[Rishathra]

Yes I do!

I remember seeing something quite some time ago called a "HYDROPHONE" (no kidding.. that's really what they called it. ) I think it was made by B&K and it had something like a 100 foot cable that you could submerge under water all the way until the little XLR point at the end.

Hey I just did a search on Google and found it.. DPA makes it.. It's probably ungodly expensive, but what the hell...


Type 8010


Hydrophone, P48

The Type 8010 is the only 48 V phantom powered waterproof microphone specially designed to handle the high sound pressure levels and the high static ambient pressure in water and other fluids. The Hydrophone uses a piezoelectric sensing element which is frequency compensated to match the special acoustic conditions under water. A 10m high quality audio cable is vulcanized on to the body of the Hydrophone and fitted with a standard 3-pin XLR. The output is electronically balanced and offers more than 100dB dynamic range. The 8010 Hydrophone is the ultimate choice for professional sound recordings in water or under other extreme conditions where conventional microphones would be adversely affected. Use it on film shoot or broadcast for effects with great results.

[Nika]

Rish,

Bingo!


Actually, it depends on how far underwater you're going. Any of the DPA microphones will work fine underwater so long as the connector itself is not underwater. The capsule is fine being underwater. If you're going up to about six feet underwater you can use the DPA4060 series as the connector is on the end of a 6 foot cable. This will not handle the high pressure water situations that the hydrophone will, but it's used all of the time in hostile, sweaty, destructive environments like Junkyard Wars, all of the Disney shows that happen in puddles of chocolate, Nascar race engines, etc.

I hope this helps.

Nika.

[Rishathra]

So you are telling me that i can simply put a DPA mic in a river, walk away, come back in a week, and providing that no one has actually touched it, it will be fine? Just the thought of putting something like a 4003 underwater makes me want to cry.. what are those.. $2k each? jeez!

Something I've always wondered.. what are the real sonic differances the DPA mics have over say.. a pair of 184's (since I know those pretty well)? Or a pair of SR77's? Everyone says that everyone is dead flat.. if they were all dead flat, they would all sound the same!

unlock the mystery brave sir Nika.

rish baby Rish

[Nika]

Part one today. Part two to come shortly.

Yes, you can put a 4003 in a river and it will be fine in a week so long as the connector at the end of the barrel doesn't get wet!!!

This is a unique principle of these microphones, but because they are capable of being used in extreme environments (heat, humid, dry, cold, gaseous, etc.) and are designed for measurement purposes in those very conditions, they are well suited to audio recording that isn't as demanding - and they stay very flat and in very close tollerances within the applications that we use them for. Those microphones are designed to be in spec for 50 years, warrantied. And the spec is very tight in its tollerances, both with the EQ curve and sensitivity alike.

Anyway, give it a try. I've got a few. Wanna know how jello sounds? How about cheese? I wonder what a drumset would sound like if mic'd from within a block of brie??

Just a thought. I'll get to the rest of the topic shortly.

Thanx!
Nika.

[Rishathra]

actually.. if you knew my music, the brie wouldn't be out of the question! HA!
Rish

[Coerce]

I've heard some blokes will put a condom over SM-57s if they need to go underwater. Should work and not too expensive if it doesn't.

[Nika]

Just don't let a teenager try it. Condoms' success rates seem to decline drastically when teenagers are involved. There goes $100!

Nika.

[Coerce]

double bag that sucker!!

[Rishathra]

so does lubrication hurt or help an SM57 in this case? Does spermicide add to the crispness in the top end? hmmm...


maybe a mic "shoot out" is in order..

rish

[Futureman]

c'mon rishathra, you're giving the young kids ideas here....:rolleyes: