Wednesday



new addition to the specialist range of field recording equipment available from JrF

parabolic reflector / dish

£50 inc. UK POSTAGE ONLY !
(if you'd like a quote for overseas shipping please contact me before ordering)

sold out (again) !

Designed and built by a highly respected maker, now retired - LIMITED NUMBER of his remaining stock left 




parabolic reflectors are an essential addition to the kit for any serious field / sound recordist. In essence the act as a natural 'zoom' for sound - noise-free amplification enabling the listener / recordist to isolate the sound of distant sound sources. Developed with the wildlife recordist in mind these dishes have been used for years to record the sounds of birds for example and are used all over the world by film, tv and radio crews.

The 'parabolic curve' is a specially designed shape, scientifically formulated to provide natural amplification.

I use one to not only capture natural sounds but to achieve interesting creative effects in all kinds of environments - such as locating small sounds in busy locations.

These particular reflectors are supplied ready for you to adapt for your own microphone option & without pre-cut holes. They have a focal point of 4 inches (this is the point where the beams of sound hit the microphone capsule) & are 23inches diameter, 7 inch depth. They were built by a respected sound recordist who has recently retired.

Constructed from vacuum-formed ABS thermoplastic.

For more information on the use of parabolic reflectors there is an article on the website for the Wildlife Sound Recording Society - click here to read.

please note: these come as just the disc itself & one has to create / attach ones own mic system (hence the lower cost). However a chap on one the recent courses I teach on came up with a really handy way to do this: basically it's an industry wide standard fitting for (wait for it) a toilet flush handle & when you mount one of those (complete with its handy collection of washers & twist caps) as a handle on the dish the 'bolt' of the handle protrudes into the dish to a height of 4inch - which is the focal point of the curve ! Then one can mount small microphones either onto that bolt or use it as a point at which to structure a further mic holder. I'm not sure if toilet handles are the same size in the rest of the world though ! (but I could always get one & supply it with the dish if not).
below are some photos of one of these dishes being set up with the above handle / mount solution:




reflectors will be sent in double-walled card boxes by standard parcel service.

& here's another microphone mounting solution sent to me by Gisle Tveito (norway) - the picture shows field recordist Fredric Vogle (norway) using one of these parabolics with an AKG480.

14 comments:

hermannhesse70 said...

you can't ship one to the u.s.?

Jez riley French said...

yes - its possible but the size of the box makes it expensive. If you'd like a quote email me at: tempjez@hotmail.com & i'll let you know how much the post office here charge for global economy airmail. thanks.

Calandrella said...

I bought two of these dishes and I'm really satisfied with them. I got some great bird sound recordings with a home made stereo microphones placed inside. The deep of the focus of 4" is really interesting to reject sounds from the background more than a 6" parabolic dish; it also don't weight so much, so used on hand is really comfortable.
Fast shipping to Italy.
Thanks a lot to Jeff.
Marco

Jez riley French said...

thanks Marco - glad you like them (ps. it's Jez by the way - not sure who Jeff is - ha !)

Unknown said...

Do you have it in stock again? How much will it cost shipping to Portugal?
Best, Pedro

Jez riley French said...

Hi Pedro,

nope - i'm out of stock for now. I might have some more made up but it will be nearer the summer.

ta.

Emma Jones said...

Hi, I am searching far and wide for a parabolic reflector that doesn't cost hundreds of pounds for a research project, this is the only one I have found in the UK! Is there any chance you have any in stock/anymore going into stock soon?
Thanks, Emma.

Jez riley French said...

Hi Emma,

i'm out of stock right now but should have some more soon - email me at: tempjez@hotmail.com to be added to the list of folks waiting.
ta.

Unknown said...

Are any more reflectors being made? You say the maker is now retired. Is he prepared to supply the moulds to another manufacturer?

Jez riley French said...

hi,

i'm in the process of having a new mould made - should have some more reflectors in the next few weeks. ta.

Ruina_Partum said...

Hi Jez, will you be stocking any of these again in the near future?

Cheers,
Sid.

Jez riley French said...

indeed - but i'm in the process of updating the design & material so it might still be awhile.

THE BRIDGE said...

Hi Jez,
any news on the new design / arrival of the parabolic reflectors,
thanks Colin

Jez riley French said...

nope - i've had to put the project on hold for now due to other things. sorry about that.