Hi Rob,
I've definitely found your tech postings and responses very helpful
in the past, as i'm sure many others have too.
I'm beginning to find now the gear has been purchased there is a
fairly steep curve to learning the techniques required to produce
good recordings. Even something as apparently simple as the clone of =
Curt Olson's rig I built required significant testing and tweaking,
and I still need to work on it more before I'll be happy they are
performing as well as they should. Definitely no instant
gratification there!!
It sometimes seem like the experienced recorders on the list think
that everyone knows what is entailed in field-craft and technique and
the topic isn't worthy of discussion. While the list has introduced
many to recording, I wonder how many throw in the towel due to
frustration at not being able to produce good recordings despite
having the recorder of the month and list recommended mics? I know
I've come close to that point over the past few months and I'm sure
with a bit more knowledge about the basics of mic placement,
selecting likely recording sites, and some general hints on location
recording I'd be feeling a little less frustrated. If the new list
provides a forum to discuss technique it will be an invaluable resource.
Hopefully a proposed weekend gathering in Victoria of the Australian
Wildlife Sound Recordist Group in October will go ahead, as I suspect
a bit of local networking and learning from experienced recordists is
the only way I'll jump the gap from gear buying neophyte to initiate
into the black arts of nature recording. I've recognised the names
of a few local (well victorian anyway) recordists on the list - it
might be nice opportunity to put faces to names?
Maybe email lists are just too difficult place to discuss the hands
on aspects, because it's about personal experience rather than
compiling abstract data about gear performance?
cheers
Paul
On 28/05/2008, at 6:32 PM, Rob Danielson wrote:
> At 6:41 AM +0000 5/28/08, John Hartog wrote:
>
> ...
>
>> Anyone can search the archives back to the beginning and read what
>> things were like then. I just did a sampling of the archive and
>> what I
>> find is there was never a time like you describe when there was less
>> emphasis on gear. "Tech talk" has been the main focus of discussions
>> from the very beginning. And also from the near beginning, to some
>> members it has always been bothersome to wade through their emails to
>> find the topic they are actually interested in reading.
>
> I agree with John's research and Dan's observation that a dichotomy
> could prove to be difficult to sustain. I applaud interest in more
> in-depth discussion between experienced naturalists and those who
> aspire to those skills. I've enthusiastically joined the new group.
>
> This list seems to have drawn many new recordists into further
> practice. I don't believe there is anything to be gained through
> criticizing the varied contributions or inquiries-- especially at
> face value. There is more behind the interests, passions and
> activities expressed than I can guess at or judge. Throughout the
> seven years, I have been introduced to many wonderful recordings and
> experiences. The tone of the discussion is generally very
> constructive and extremely pleasant and that matters to me too.
> Outbursts of angry words don't surprise me either.
>
> The email folder with the naturerecordist posts I've received is a
> mere 192 MB in size containing a little over 33,000 posts. It is in
> no way a burden for my hard drive or my mind to behold. I search and
> sort it frequently-- requiring fractions of a second each time. I may
> have deleted a handful of early posts when folks used the list to
> test their email apps, but that's about it. I cherish some of the
> posts a great deal, but all are welcomed and most are read and
> appreciated. Rob D.
>
>
> --
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> so
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