JLI Field Series
The JLI Field Series is a family of compact microphones designed for nature recording, environmental ambience, wildlife, sound effects gathering, and other outdoor recording applications.
Every Field Series microphone is built around a genuine JLI microphone capsule. Our experience developing microphone capsules allows us to design the complete microphone around the acoustic and electrical characteristics of the transducer, rather than simply packaging an unidentified off-the-shelf component.
The Field Series includes options for both plug-in power and phantom-powered XLR recording systems. Both are designed to provide low-noise omnidirectional capture in a compact format suitable for portable field use.
Willow and Aspen use the same JLI-9750AL26-HD microphone capsule, but are designed for different recorder inputs and deployment requirements.
| Feature | JLI Willow | JLI Aspen |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Stereo field recording microphone pair | Individual field recording microphone |
| Powering | Plug-in power (PiP) | Phantom power |
| Connection | Stereo miniature microphone connector | Balanced 3-pin XLR |
| Supplied As | Complete stereo pair | Sold individually; use two for stereo |
| Cable Configuration | Attached 6-foot Mogami cables | Uses standard XLR microphone cable |
| Typical Recorder | Portable recorder with a PiP microphone input | Recorder, mixer, or interface with phantom-powered XLR inputs |
| Best Fit | Lightweight, ready-to-use portable stereo recording | Balanced connections, longer cable runs, and flexible system integration |
| Environmental Protection | Highly water resistant; not submersible | Highly water resistant; not submersible |
View the JLI Willow Stereo PiP Field Recording Microphone Pair
View the JLI Aspen Phantom-Powered Field Recording Microphone
Field Series microphones are designed for broad environmental capture rather than a single specialized subject. Their omnidirectional response allows them to record sound arriving from throughout the surrounding environment without requiring precise aiming.
At the center of both Willow and Aspen is the JLI-9750AL26-HD omnidirectional electret microphone capsule. This high-sensitivity, low-noise capsule was selected for its ability to capture quiet environmental detail while retaining the frequency range needed for natural, full-spectrum field recordings.
Waterproof acoustic membranes protect the capsule openings from rain, spray, and airborne moisture. The completed microphones are highly water resistant, but they are not intended for immersion, underwater recording, or prolonged exposure to standing water.
The acoustic membranes provide moisture protection but do not replace a windscreen. Appropriate wind protection should be used whenever the microphones are exposed to moving air.
The recordings below demonstrate the JLI Field Series in common outdoor environments. The recordings were made simultaneously with Willow and Aspen positioned together and connected to the same recorder using identical gain settings. Both recordings received the same gain adjustment in post so their original relative output levels are preserved. No noise reduction, equalization, compression, or other corrective processing was applied.
A stereo recording of flowing water can demonstrate broad-frequency ambience, low-frequency extension, stereo width, and the microphones’ ability to retain detail within a continuous sound source.
JLI Aspen
JLI Willow
A quiet nighttime recording can demonstrate distant detail, environmental depth, low-level ambience, and microphone noise performance between calls.
JLI Aspen
JLI Willow
A recording of birds within a broader outdoor soundscape can demonstrate transient detail, localization, separation between individual calls, and the natural stereo image of the surrounding environment.
Recording sample coming soon.
Plug-in power, often abbreviated PiP, is a low-voltage microphone supply commonly provided through the microphone input of portable recorders and consumer audio equipment. It is different from professional phantom power. Check your recorder specifications before connecting a PiP microphone.
Phantom power is supplied through a balanced XLR microphone connection by many professional recorders, mixers, microphone preamplifiers, and audio interfaces. Aspen is designed for compatible phantom-powered microphone inputs.
The capsule assemblies use waterproof acoustic membranes, and the completed microphones are highly resistant to rain, spray, and moisture encountered during normal field use. They are not submersible and are not intended for underwater recording.
Yes, whenever the microphones are exposed to moving air. The acoustic membranes provide moisture protection but do not eliminate wind noise.
Yes. Although designed for field recording, they may also be used for room ambience, acoustic performances, events, sound effects, and other omnidirectional recording applications.