I do a bit of sound design and build devices, instruments and contact mics. Thanks for this video. It answered a lot of questions I had and solved many unforseen problems. Saved me a lot of time. On the subject of piezo contact mics, it's often said that they are tiny and have a low cut response. This isn't strictly true, it's down to preamp in. Piezos are crystal mics, very old gear had high impedance of well over 1meg because crystal mics were more common. Modern gear doesn't have impedance anywhere near as high. You can buy a contact mic preamp $60-600+ or look up a schematic online, some are relatively simple 9v. You can look out for some modern gear that has a very high impedance. I use Digitech guitar pedals. They have an input buffer with 1meg. No true bypass, sound can only pass through powered up. Insert a battery or plug into power supply. Turn the effect OFF with the foot switch, increased low end and a free fx unit.
This is an old video, but yes, that would work. At that time, I wasn't ready to risk my phone. I've done similar setups since then and what I found worked well was to put the hydrophones in a bucket filled with water, and have a loud sound source, like an amp, outside the bucket. You get the same type of water characteristics and it's simpler / less messy.
Have you tired using vibration speakers for the sound source? You can either place them on the tub, or on a piece of floating styrofoam. Styrofoam works very well as a sound conductor. Other good materials are Lexan sheets or old snare drum heads. You’re also correct about pitching down the sounds. Sound waves travel about 4x faster in water.
Very interesting experiment. This is the type of stuff Im interested in, but never find. So thank you! What I’m wondering tho, did you supply hydrophones with appropriate preampflication? I understand they should be paired with specific piezo preamps to get the a fuller sound out of them. Also I believe a lot of bluetooth speakers exist that can be temporarily submerged under water. If you could negate the plastic bag this might up the quality dramatically as well. Just ideas. The experiment is impressive as it stands.
This seems like a really old video - but I I remember correctly, I had a Fireface UC at the time and the preamps were at their maximum. And I most likely de-noised with RX to get a better sound. And if i'm not mistaken bluetooth signals cannot travel through water, so even though a speaker can go underwater, it will not play. I've only had to do something similar to this a few years ago and I put an amp on the outside of a bucket, with the mics in the bucket. It was a very similar effect. I still record water sometimes, but I prefer using the geofon on something (like the bottom of a sink or bathtub) than using the hydrophone in water. Some how, mic IN water sounds less like water than a mic capturing the vibrations from the outside, most likely because in the water the mic is only capturing water, while if our ear are in water, the water vibrates through our head. (hope I am making sense). I also prefer pitched down water than normal pitch. I feel it sounds more natural that way. thanks for watching.
If you want to buy a LOM Geophone but it´s always sold out. There is a new Manufacturer in Town that makes almost exactly the same Geofon. I will soon Review it on my Channel.
Hey Maysun! Great video, I've been getting into hydrophones for a lot of my own music and my work (I'm a sound designer) one issue I had with hydrophones was like you said, the level is very quiet. I'm curious as to how much gain (roughly) you added, and how, as well as how you kept such a low noise floor. The hydrophones sound so beautiful when you were filling up the bath, I honestly don't know that mine would even pick that up. But maybe I'm just not boosting it hard enough. Thanks for any info you can give!
If I remember correctly, my preamps were almost at maximum, i was using a RME Fireface at the time. I used Izotope Spectral Denoiser from the RX series to clean it up. (if you don't have izotope RX, I really recommend it - a bundle that has spectral denoiser & de-click). I haven't used them in a while. The low geofon on the other hand had a really high signal level. A solution would be to make a small amp for the hydrophones (like the zeppelin design labs contact mics) OR link several piezos in series, in the same hydrophone. I think that would work.
@@MAYSUNmusic thank you! Yeah I typically use xnoise by waves but you're the second person this week to recommend rx so I think that makes me pretty much obligated to get it ahaha. Thanks again!
@@fragileyouth4302 I've had Xnoise for a while a few years ago, I prefer the RX. I'm now on RX 9 Advanced. It's $$$, but I use it a lot, there are often sales, or if you can get an item on sale or for free that is not RX, you will then get ''loyalty'' discounts which brings the RX price down.
@@MAYSUNmusic shit okay, that's a cool tip about the loyalty discounts. I have a bunch of izotope stuff already so I should be set up then. I'm curious how you'd get the noise sample though? I guess you'd just mute the mics and get the preamp noise that way, or take it before you put the mics in the water.
@@fragileyouth4302 I always record a bit of *silence* before or after a recording. The mics can be in the water if nothing is moving or before putting them in
Can anyone tell me of inexpensive, but fairly decent hydrophones that are still available for ambient recordings? I don’t have $500.00 to shell out for the expensive ones. Any suggestions for hydrophone websites or resources? Also, it would be interesting to add something to the water like corn syrup or jello to see how it effects the sound recordings.
Hi, i am not. But if you follow LOM on IG or sign up to the news letter they will tell you the precise time when they release new ones. And then you can get on the site and refresh non stop to buy it.
@@MAYSUNmusic I follow LOM and have tried to get a Geofon a few times, it's an absolute nightmare and highly frustrating. You are fortunate to have one. Nice video!
I do a bit of sound design and build devices, instruments and contact mics. Thanks for this video. It answered a lot of questions I had and solved many unforseen problems. Saved me a lot of time. On the subject of piezo contact mics, it's often said that they are tiny and have a low cut response. This isn't strictly true, it's down to preamp in. Piezos are crystal mics, very old gear had high impedance of well over 1meg because crystal mics were more common. Modern gear doesn't have impedance anywhere near as high. You can buy a contact mic preamp $60-600+ or look up a schematic online, some are relatively simple 9v. You can look out for some modern gear that has a very high impedance. I use Digitech guitar pedals. They have an input buffer with 1meg. No true bypass, sound can only pass through powered up. Insert a battery or plug into power supply. Turn the effect OFF with the foot switch, increased low end and a free fx unit.
The sounds of the tub emptying with the music is so good
hha yea this was fun
I do a bit of sound design and build devices, instruments and contact mics. Thanks for this video. It answered a lot of questions I had and solved many unforseen problems. Saved me a lot of time. On the subject of piezo contact mics, it's often said that they are tiny and have a low cut response. This isn't strictly true, it's down to preamp in. Piezos are crystal mics, very old gear had high impedance of well over 1meg because crystal mics were more common. Modern gear doesn't have impedance anywhere near as high. You can buy a contact mic preamp $60-600+ or look up a schematic online, some are relatively simple 9v. You can look out for some modern gear that has a very high impedance.
I use Digitech guitar pedals. They have an input buffer with 1meg. No true bypass, sound can only pass through powered up. Insert a battery or plug into power supply. Turn the effect OFF with the foot switch, increased low end and a free fx unit.
This was an incredible video. Very accessible, clear and helpful, and aesthetically pleasing :) Really appreciate you sharing.
thanks!
Very nice, I just ordered a hydrophone and seek to do a similar thing (but recording in a river).
nice!
This was so cool. Thank you so much.
Hey Maysun, really nice video! It's very interesting to listen to your process and see how you work. Cheers!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
good stuff, I defo want to do some experiments with hydophones, nice work!
Go for it!
Interesting experiment 👍
Such cool sound design, interesting filtering and distortion
Glad you like it!
How about both the phone and speaker in the bag? Should eliminate your connectivity issue.
This is an old video, but yes, that would work.
At that time, I wasn't ready to risk my phone.
I've done similar setups since then and what I found worked well was to put the hydrophones in a bucket filled with water, and have a loud sound source, like an amp, outside the bucket. You get the same type of water characteristics and it's simpler / less messy.
Such a cool video man!
hey thanks!
Nice experiment. Inspires some ideas
Have you tired using vibration speakers for the sound source? You can either place them on the tub, or on a piece of floating styrofoam. Styrofoam works very well as a sound conductor. Other good materials are Lexan sheets or old snare drum heads. You’re also correct about pitching down the sounds. Sound waves travel about 4x faster in water.
Good idea! Thanks
very cool i enjoyed this thank you!
thanks !
Very interesting experiment. This is the type of stuff Im interested in, but never find. So thank you! What I’m wondering tho, did you supply hydrophones with appropriate preampflication? I understand they should be paired with specific piezo preamps to get the a fuller sound out of them. Also I believe a lot of bluetooth speakers exist that can be temporarily submerged under water. If you could negate the plastic bag this might up the quality dramatically as well. Just ideas. The experiment is impressive as it stands.
This seems like a really old video - but I I remember correctly, I had a Fireface UC at the time and the preamps were at their maximum. And I most likely de-noised with RX to get a better sound. And if i'm not mistaken bluetooth signals cannot travel through water, so even though a speaker can go underwater, it will not play.
I've only had to do something similar to this a few years ago and I put an amp on the outside of a bucket, with the mics in the bucket. It was a very similar effect.
I still record water sometimes, but I prefer using the geofon on something (like the bottom of a sink or bathtub) than using the hydrophone in water. Some how, mic IN water sounds less like water than a mic capturing the vibrations from the outside, most likely because in the water the mic is only capturing water, while if our ear are in water, the water vibrates through our head. (hope I am making sense).
I also prefer pitched down water than normal pitch. I feel it sounds more natural that way.
thanks for watching.
Great video and great idea! I hope you sell water samples somewhere, I want some!
Edit: Good to know they are on Patreon!
yes everything is on patreon, thank you for subcribing
If you want to buy a LOM Geophone but it´s always sold out. There is a new Manufacturer in Town that makes almost exactly the same Geofon.
I will soon Review it on my Channel.
Hi. I would like to know if you tried the experiment with the aquarium and what were the results. Thank you
Hey! I haven't had the chance to continue this idea yet
Hey Maysun! Great video, I've been getting into hydrophones for a lot of my own music and my work (I'm a sound designer) one issue I had with hydrophones was like you said, the level is very quiet. I'm curious as to how much gain (roughly) you added, and how, as well as how you kept such a low noise floor. The hydrophones sound so beautiful when you were filling up the bath, I honestly don't know that mine would even pick that up. But maybe I'm just not boosting it hard enough. Thanks for any info you can give!
If I remember correctly, my preamps were almost at maximum, i was using a RME Fireface at the time. I used Izotope Spectral Denoiser from the RX series to clean it up. (if you don't have izotope RX, I really recommend it - a bundle that has spectral denoiser & de-click). I haven't used them in a while. The low geofon on the other hand had a really high signal level. A solution would be to make a small amp for the hydrophones (like the zeppelin design labs contact mics) OR link several piezos in series, in the same hydrophone. I think that would work.
@@MAYSUNmusic thank you! Yeah I typically use xnoise by waves but you're the second person this week to recommend rx so I think that makes me pretty much obligated to get it ahaha. Thanks again!
@@fragileyouth4302 I've had Xnoise for a while a few years ago, I prefer the RX. I'm now on RX 9 Advanced. It's $$$, but I use it a lot, there are often sales, or if you can get an item on sale or for free that is not RX, you will then get ''loyalty'' discounts which brings the RX price down.
@@MAYSUNmusic shit okay, that's a cool tip about the loyalty discounts. I have a bunch of izotope stuff already so I should be set up then. I'm curious how you'd get the noise sample though? I guess you'd just mute the mics and get the preamp noise that way, or take it before you put the mics in the water.
@@fragileyouth4302 I always record a bit of *silence* before or after a recording. The mics can be in the water if nothing is moving or before putting them in
Can anyone tell me of inexpensive, but fairly decent hydrophones that are still available for ambient recordings? I don’t have $500.00 to shell out for the expensive ones. Any suggestions for hydrophone websites or resources?
Also, it would be interesting to add something to the water like corn syrup or jello to see how it effects the sound recordings.
If you search on Esty, there are a few people that offer some way below that price.
www.etsy.com/ca/search?q=hydrophone
www.etsy.com/ca/listing/269284279/stereo-hydrophone-monkey-sound-h27s-mkii?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=hydrophone&ref=sc_gallery-1-3&frs=1&listing_id=269284279&listing_slug=stereo-hydrophone-monkey-sound-h27s-mkii&plkey=fa7f84be262cc646ed3d352ced2e076bedf3c618%3A269284279
@@MAYSUNmusic Thank you!
Unlubed condom on a 57 is a decent and cheap way to go
🙏👍
Hi Maysun. I would like to know if you are willing to sell your Geofon. They are sold out. Thank you
Hi, i am not.
But if you follow LOM on IG or sign up to the news letter they will tell you the precise time when they release new ones. And then you can get on the site and refresh non stop to buy it.
@@MAYSUNmusic I follow LOM and have tried to get a Geofon a few times, it's an absolute nightmare and highly frustrating. You are fortunate to have one. Nice video!
@@stuartleighton you have to refresh the page as as soon as they are available and buy in the first 5 minutes!
@@MAYSUNmusic Nah tried that. They were sold out before 5 mins.
I do a bit of sound design and build devices, instruments and contact mics. Thanks for this video. It answered a lot of questions I had and solved many unforseen problems. Saved me a lot of time. On the subject of piezo contact mics, it's often said that they are tiny and have a low cut response. This isn't strictly true, it's down to preamp in. Piezos are crystal mics, very old gear had high impedance of well over 1meg because crystal mics were more common. Modern gear doesn't have impedance anywhere near as high. You can buy a contact mic preamp $60-600+ or look up a schematic online, some are relatively simple 9v. You can look out for some modern gear that has a very high impedance.
I use Digitech guitar pedals. They have an input buffer with 1meg. No true bypass, sound can only pass through powered up. Insert a battery or plug into power supply. Turn the effect OFF with the foot switch, increased low end and a free fx unit.