Re: underwater listening

[Andrew Brouse <brouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 29-Mar-06, at 1:44 PM, kent walker wrote:

> Quoting AUDITORY automatic digest system <LISTSERV@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> > Date:    Wed, 29 Mar 2006 11:20:13 +0000
> > From:    Andre Castro <andre_castro83@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Although that has not been an easy job, recording in pools
> > ponds and small rivers, using homemade hydrophones both with piezzo
> > transducers and dynamic mics. However results have been quite  
> > stimulating=
> > to=20
> > the work.
>
> Dear Andre,
>
> Although I have never tried it myself, I have heard from a few  
> Hollywood sound designers that the Electrovoice 635ND (http:// 
> www.electrovoice.com/Electrovoice3/products.nsf/pages/635ND-)  
> covered by a plastic bag and a couple of elastics makes a decent  
> affordable hydrophone.

And the ideal "plastic bag" is in fact a condom.

Use a high-quality, non-lubricated, non-ribbed condom (most of the  
characteristics that make condoms good for their intended purpose  
also make them good for underwater recording). If you want to make it  
fully waterproof you may need to do some tests using a cheap mic.  
Latex or some other sealant may help to make it waterproof.

There is some useful information here:
http://www.phonography.org/water.htm

Andrew