Field Recording in Extreme Cold: A Practical Guide to Gear, Cables & Power
Before my first recording trip into Antarctic conditions, I spent weeks trying to answer one question: What actually survives the cold? Most gear isn’t designed for these temperatures, and the wrong choice can end a session before it begins.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the four essential pillars of building a cold-proof recording kit: microphones, cabling, power, and protective housing - based on real field experience in Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic.
How to Record In Extreme Winds
Recording extreme winds is less about chasing a single ‘fix’ or ‘solution’ and more about stacking small, deliberate choices: the right wind protection, a sheltered mic placement, multiple takes from alternate positions, and the safety net of 32-bit recording. Over a year on a Sub-Antarctic island I learned that the best recordings come from accepting the limits of gear, prioritising location, and applying surgical, restrained editing only when necessary. The wind recording that feels most honest is usually the one that required the least work in post.