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Field Recording: The Practice and it's possibilites
Was gonna send this link on to @decibelle since we've got similar interests when it comes to field recording and soundtrack stuff... but I thought a few of you might also dig this article as well. There are also some decent links within the copy regarding field recording too... and I'm now a new fan of one of the subjects in this article Klara Lewis . I believe one of the interviews with her said that her father was/is a bassist in the band Wire.
Here's the article on Resident Adviser: Field Recording: The Practice and it's possibilites
Comments
That article is a bit on the 'arty' side, but it does point to one of the more interesting aspects of field recording, which is listening.
I've been doing field recording for years and I'm currently back into it recording binaural stuff for man upcoming project. I should say though that a lot of field recordings are fairly dull / samey - traffic noises sound fairly (but not exclusively) universal
. Like anything, you have to work at getting interesting stuff. The listening element is of interest to me and the almost meditative quality that can bring. I should say though that once you really start to listen to sound / noise, it can become difficult to block it out.
I carry my Rode iXY with me all the time, great for coming up with neat ambient beds for new tunes and such. And as mentioned, it really gets you listening to things in a new way as you go about your every day business.
Yeah, I thought it was a little "arty" too, but also found that refreshing since most articles like this focus more on db, noise floor levels, phantom power, pre-amps, etc. And, some of the links within the text go to more tech-oriented articles.
I didn't look for the other two subject's work, but there are two albums on spotify by Klara Lewis that I very much enjoyed. Exactly the sort of soundtrack/musical/composition stuff I'd like to do more of. Very "visual" audio compositions, and she's really young too. Impressive work so early out of the gate.
I was testing a newly purchased Tascam handheld a couple days ago. Good audio quality for the money, but the wifi app that Tascam made for it is frankly embarrassingly bad. After you transfer files from the recorder to your iOS device via their app (the only way) the app has no function at all for deleting the recordings off your iOS device. Seriously. And, after you do transfer them the ONLY place you can send them is Soundcloud. You can't access them any other way. Very disappointing, but the recorder itself is decent. Will likely keep it.
The test recordings I made were walking on small gravel, tapping on metal pipes, placed inside plastic playground equipment and banging at the base, etc. Then took snippets out that sounded interesting and starting importing them into various apps. Morphing abstract field sounds together in Mitosynth is spectacular.
I'm intrigued with binaural recording as well. Was actually shopping for a cheap pair of earbud mics to have a play and see if I want to invest more for better quality at a later date.
I find binaural recording to be a very good way to capture the spatial elements of a 'soundscape' (or whatever these things are termed as these days
)
Here's a binaural recording I made of trains / ambiance at York Station (UK), that you may find interesting:
https://www.freesound.org/people/Iggyf/sounds/329967/
Cool. thx! And I see you're using the Sony PCM-M10... love the recorder, especially for travel since the batteries seem to last nearly forever.
@skiphunt thanks for the article, it's very interesting. I don't know how Kyoka just walks around holding her zoom recorder though, I get a lot of handling noise just holding mine in my hand and not moving.
I get A LOT of handling noise from my Zoom H2. Hardly any at all from my Sony PCM-M10. And with the Sony, it's got to be significant gusts to even get bad wind noise. The Tascam DR-22WL is ok. Handling noise isn't bad at all, but I can't even use it at all with anything resembling a breeze without a furry windscreen. And it has to be a furry "dead cat" style too, because I was even getting wind noise from a light breeze using a decent foam windscreen with it. Even a ceiling fan on low with completely ruin a recording.
But, I think that's why I'm keeping the Tascam. The x/y mic pattern on it is fairly directional, very sensitive and focussed. Good for getting what I want with all the extra surrounding noise fading more into the background.
Kyoka as some stuff on spotify too. The other Kiwi called "Fis" has a lot of good stuff on Soundcloud. Of the three, I'm most attracted to the more cinematic quality of Klara Lewis' work.
Some of you may enjoy this piece @ Ableton.
Sounds Outside: The art of field recording
Here's a field recording from last year at the CEATEC tradeshow in Japan.
I used a Shure MV88 MOTIV microphone with an iPhone 6 Plus (it attaches directly onto the Lightning connector). Recorded the audio at 24 bits and 48 kHz. I then converted the file to 16 bits in order to reduce the size for streaming.
http://davidenglish.com/sounds-of-ceatec/#
That's actually linked within the OP article. I read that one too. Very good, but a little more tech & nature oriented than the more "arty" one. All good though.
I was curious what that mic sounded like. I've actually got that on my "wish list". Sounds clean but a bit thin/tinny doesn't it? Hard to tell from a convention floor ambient recording though.
It is a bit thin. I use it mostly for interviews, but I thought it would be interesting to try some ambient recordings. Previously, I would bring an Olympus LS-10 with me to tradeshows. This is a more compact solution, as I'm already carrying an iPhone and iPad with me.
Haven't tried it with music or anything truly challenging.
at least your 'walkthrough' sounds really good...
imho it's not a pure microphone but a functional bundle together with the app
the sound reminds me strongly at quality microphone processing software
Somewhat off topic, but still related I think...
So, I got this Tascam DR-22WL budget handheld recorder that's supposed to do wifi file transfers. The recordings are pretty good, but the actual wifi implementation is a joke. You can control it wirelessly via wifi, and you can listen to your recording remotely (no live monitoring wirelessly though) and you can transfer the recording to your iOS device with Tascam's DR app via it's own wifi connection. Only, after you transfer your audio file.. the ONLY way you can transfer the wifi transferred file is via Soundcloud. Period. No other way. And, after you transfer the file there's no way to delete the file off your iOS device. None. The only way to get rid of the file is to completely delete the DR app and reinstall. Seriously. Idiotic right?
Ok, so I've sent 3 emails to Tascam support over the last week asking if these problems/issues/limitations would be remedied with a firmware and/or app update anytime soon. The last update was last December 2015.
I tried calling them in California 3 times and never got through. I tried 2 messages on Tascam's facebook page. Basically asking if this is a hardware limitation or a software issue. Told them I bought the device for quick and easy field recordings of decent quality, that can easily be transferred from the device for immediate use on my iOS devices. And, if it wouldn't be remedied, I'd like to know so that I can return the device for a refund.
No reply.
Until today. Here's the reply I got:
My reply:
Tascam's reply:
My reply:
No reply from Teac/Tascam.
So, what should I gather from this? I would assume that if Tascam had a new firmare or DR app update they could easily just tell me that, with the caveat that the announcement won't happen until AES in October.
Or, I'm guessing this means that the issues will NOT be addresses at all for the device I have, and they have a new model device to replace it that will be announced in October. And, that's why he can't say anything?
I like the device, but it doesn't really do what I bought it for. So, based on these vague replies... I'm thinking I should return it for a refund while I still can. Thoughts?
@skiphunt I would return it. You can always buy it again if/when your issues are resolved later. Their response only says the issue will be addressed positively at a convention. I don't even know what that means.
That's what I'm thinking. The only way he couldn't say anything is if there's a new replacement product coming. Likely it's a hardware limitation that they can't remedy via software/firmware, or they would've already done it.
If there were simply a firmware or app update coming, he could simply say so without all the vague & cagey "addressed positively via announcement at the convention" language.
Dang it. I like the recorder but can't completely justify it without the easy recorder to iOS device transfers via wifi I bought it for.
Never judge gear on what it MIGHT do in the future, always better to assess if it fits your needs now as is. If it's not working for you, return it and move on I say.
Since you guys were talking about handling noise, I wanted to plug the Rode iXY again. I've owned afew handheld recorders over the years from Zoom and Edirol, and while they did a great job most of the time, handling noise always got in the way for me. With the iXY, very little of that is a problem anymore, the phone itself seems to keep most of any handling noise from transferring to the lightening mics. I like the app it comes with too (formerly FiRe by Audiofile Engineering who make my mastering software), very easy to use and nice editing/sharing features.
Well, I did get the gear based on what Tascam claims or implies that it does NOW. Unfortunately, Tascam is playing fast and loose with their claims. It's almost there and seems like it could be an easy software/firmware fix, so I was hopeful.
I did read a couple of reviews where users complained that they couldn't delete recordings or send them anywhere other than Soundcloud. I thought for sure that must be user error or ignorance. That there was no way a big company like Tascam would release a product with such debilitating and limited function. But I was wrong. They actually did and don't appear to planning to address it.
Will likely return it and get something else. Kinda turned off with the Tascam brand support at this point based on how extremely difficult it's been to get anyone at all to offer even a vague reply. I can't imagine trying to actually get warranty support on a hardware malfunction.
One advantage of the wifi function that might be very useful as-is would be the ability to place the Tascam in a location, and operate it wirelessly from up to 50 feet away. (No handling noise)
You can wirelessly read the level meter, change levels, start-stop recording, then listen to the finished recording. All via wifi from 50 feet away. Might be interesting to play with covert field recording.
It does this just fine and I do have a wifi SD card reader that works fine for transfer.
Regarding the Rode iXY, I did consider that one as well as the other lightning connected mics. I listened to many A/B recordings compared to similar-priced dedicated handheld units, and none of the Lightning mics performed as well as the dedicated units. They were good enough for some stuff... but all sounded like they were very much lacking in the low end frequencies compared to dedicated units.
Good, just not as good as often less expensive dedicated units.
And the argument of that they're more convenient because you always have your phone with you, doesn't really hold up for me. You still need to keep them in some protective case and remember to bring it along with you. Sane as with remembering to bring a dedicated unit along with you. Only real advantage of the Lightning-connected units is marginally better convenience, that they don't need a power supply and are smaller in size.
I just bought a Shure MV88 to record my gigs, ambient sounds, and whatever else. I like it a lot. I tried it out at practice a few days ago and was pleased with the results. Might try recording my Roland Jazz Chorus with it too.
Please drop a sample recording or two here if you get a chance. I haven't completely dismissed the lightning connected mics. The rode is very nice, and this Shure appears impressive too. It's build looks solid too for just tossing it into a bag without protection.
I didn't get on with the Zoom IQ7 (too noisy / not great LF response), I know that the Rode is considered to be a better mic.
Even with the Sony M10, I was getting a fair bit of handling noise and that's one of the reasons I made a binaural set-up - there's little handling noise to speak of ! I did need to make some wind- shields as well though, that look pretty ridiculous in public
I know you made your own binaural mic set up, but I ordered a cheap set a couple days ago. Just to see how it goes and whether I want to invest more time & money into it. The stuff I've heard so far is pretty cool, but not sure I'm so keen on it being dependent on wearing headphones to hear the effect.
Essentially, I want to get field recordings for ambience and targeted narrow pattern stuff without people knowing what I'm doing. Not to covertly spy or anything, but so that I don't have to walk around with a bunch of dorky field gear and a mic on a boom.
People tend to come up and ask what you're doing, or get nervous, or ask if you have the right permit or permission.
"No dude. I'm not up to anything illegal or fishy. I just like the peculiar sound the very end of this worn escalator hand grip makes in this particular spot where it rubs the metal frame." "Uh sure, right, whatever... Security! We need this weirdo with the spy gear escorted off the premises pronto."
I was excited to learn of a binaural earphone for iOS but it appears to be vacated. It started with a funded Kickstarter project with presumed delivery last fall, and has pre-order buttons on it's website now, almost a year later. If it does come out as promised I might go for it.
https://www.hookeaudio.com
you can either bring good gear with you... or use a shitty mic and post-process
iirc the first 30 seconds are the original sound at the reading, after that it's processed
the software isn't cheapo, tho...
the Shure Lightning mic probably has some simplified processing with similiar intentions
Zynaptiq plugins eat CPU cycles for breakfast and operate best on a 2048 samples buffer, otherwise load goes straight through the roof...
Well, I guess my main point was that you don't have as much issues with handling noise. Yeah you still need to bring it with you, but it's pretty robust and I frequently carry mine without the case so it takes up less space than a dedicated unit. And then I have the recordings right there on the device to use in other apps if I need. Some apps might require a quick dropbox upload, but at least I dont have to have my laptop with me to access the recordings in other iOS apps.
It really depends on how much you value absolute audio quality versus convenience I guess. My Edirol R09HR was a great little unit, but i had to wait to get back into the studio to actually use what I had recorded. Where as with the iXY I can get to work with whatever I record pretty quick on the same device if I capture something that strikes my fancy.
Yeah, I get that. The very reason I was hoping the Tascam's wifi actually allowed you to transfer and use immediately. Convenient.
And, for some types of recording in the YouTube A/B videos I mentioned, I thought the Rode sounded a little better.
Good to know its robust & doesn't have to be babied. I was wondering about that.
Ha!
I enjoyed this... People sometimes look at you funny stood there with headphones on and with a dead hamster on a stick!
This article will help this explain phenonemon to the uninitiated!
yeah, my wife thinks it looks ridiculous.
That's one of the things that's got me thinking of keeping this Tascam DR-22WL. Although the wifi doesn't let you transfer out of the app to anywhere but Soundcloud, and you can't delete wifi transferred files out of the app without completely deleting the app altogether (idiotic)... You CAN control the recorder remotely via wifi. You can view level, set a level, record, then listen to the recording. All remotely (up to 50 feet) via wifi. That's kinda cool. I tried it and it seems to work. So, I suppose I could just get over the fact that wifi transfers aren't practical with their current version of the app, and just use the remote stuff.
I wanted to record some sounds of commercial coffee machines running in a Starbucks the other day while I was there with my wife. And was thinking that if I had that recorder with me, I could've just placed it near the counter, out of the way of getting knocked, but within eye sight... then sat over with my coffee getting covert coffee machine recordings without having to stand over at the counter looking like a total dork.
Anyone make a dead cat for their built-in iPhone mic? I mean it's it not all that bad as a mic, right?
Also, does the "measurement mode" thing improve built in mic recordings?