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Re: Long Duration Recording, Monitoring & Storing (was sequoia grove

Subject: Re: Long Duration Recording, Monitoring & Storing (was sequoia grove
From: "Kevin Colver" kjcolver
Date: Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:14 pm ((PDT))
Rob,
Thanks for the insights.
Kevin



On Aug 27, 2008, at 10:58 AM, Rob Danielson wrote:

> Kevin & Mike, et al--
> I've been recording all-night (8-12 hour) takes, 5-7 nights/week
> since last Fall and have come-up with some "improvements" in my
> procedures that might be of interest to you.
>
> 1) I record in 16/48K with an application called, Amadeus Pro
> http://www.hairersoft.com/AmadeusPro/AmadeusPro.html directly to a
> computer hard-drive. One can get 500GB internal hard drives for
> laptops today. I used to record at 24/48K bits but I found that I
> could not discern any difference if my background levels in the 16
> bit originals did not drop below -55dB based on 96 dBFS. All post
> work is done in 24 bits.
>
> 2) When I click "stop" or use Amadeus' timer to stop the recording,
> the application creates a waveform "overview" file that shows the
> _whole night_. I have found this view really useful for gaining a
> sense of the night's rhythms, sensing the passage of time and finding
> events-- especially compared with working with numerous segments. I
> take a screen shot of the night's overview and place it in my log. I
> ca use the the waveforms "see" seasonal developments like the onset
> of insect species, the affects of weather changes, man-made
> intrusions, etc., by comparing waveform views.
>
> 3) Storage is no longer a hassle for me. After I make "outs" or
> smaller sound files I want to collect and study later, I use, "save a
> copy as .flac" and the _entire_ 8-12 hour sound file is saved as a
> compressed (lossless) file that is only 1.8 - 3.0 GB in size. That
> file, along with the "outs" and my log notes will burn to an 26 cent
> "archive" quality DVD-R in 24 minutes at 2X speed. I scan the DVDdisk
> to my master disk catalog file (Disktracker) so I can find them
> anytime by numerous search methods. Then I can free-up my hard drive.
>
> 4) I monitor with wireless headphones as I work in the evenings and
> as I sleep to increase the chances of detecting events. I also enjoy
> taking 30 minutes in the morning to "spot play" the master recording
> and make excerpts before I trash the full res 16k/48 files. The
> lossless .flac file retains everything for future uses. The only
> thing I'd like to automate is the location of the "outs" I make on
> the master file-- the saved .flac master doesn't retain these
> regions, I have to enter them in my log manually.
>
> For me, I prefer creating a record of the whole night and it has
> turned out to be less of an headache than dealing with a bunch of
> fragments that take more work to identify/make relevant. Amadeus is
> $40USD, but, unfortunately, its only for Mac. Rob D.
>
> = = = = =
>
> At 1:13 PM -0600 8/26/08, Kevin Colver wrote:
> >Mike,
> >The decision on how much to store depends on the purpose I was
> >recording. If I am after a specific species or sound I will scan and
> >save the recordings of that sound while splicing out and discarding
> >the trash. Some recordings are done for soundscape archival and
> >future scientific reference, these are saved intact with full
> >documentation of location, weather, time, ect.
> >
> >I just hope the price of memory storage keeps dropping as fast as my
> >collection grows. I remember being excited to have a 1 gigabyte hard
> >disk not too long ago, now the 500 gig is filling up.
> >
> >Kevin
> >
> >On Aug 26, 2008, at 12:59 PM, Michael Oates wrote:
> >
> > > Kevin,
> > >
> > > Thank you, what puzzled me was you said "set to start a new file
> > > every 60 min", I was
> > > aware of the option to start new files after a set size limit was
> > > reached, but not after a
> > > time limit. The menu number is 41 on the 744T.
> > >
> > > So I guess you either record at 24/48 stereo or use single tracks
> > > and use 24/96
> > >
> > > Good idea!
> > >
> > > Now then once you have gathered these all night recordings, how do
> > > you go about checking
> > > them for sounds you want to keep. Do you actually listen to it  
> all,
> > > or do you skim through
> > > looking at a spectral display so that you can see where possible
> > > sounds may be and just
> > > listen to parts.
> > >
> > > Going on from there, these files take up masses of storage space,
> > > once you have gone
> > > through the files and taken cuts out of the good bits, do you then
> > > delete, or do you
> > > archive the whole lot?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > >Mike,
> > > >On my 722 menu there is option 33: File: Max Size which I set  
> at 950
> > > >megabytes which is about one hour. There are also options of  
> about
> > > >30 min and 2 hours. At the end of the megabyte limit the 722
> > > >immediately launches into a new file with continuous recording.
> > > >There is no loss of data or pause between the blocks of sound.  
> I can
> > > >splice them together if needed.
> > > >
> > > >BTW, I also have a Sony PCM D1 but haven't been able to figure  
> out
> > > >how to set a limit on file size or duration. It will go on  
> recording
> > > >more than 2 hours in one block and finally stop when memory is  
> full
> > > >or battery dies. Anyone know if the file size can be set on this
> > > >machine?
> > > >
> > > >Thanks,
> > > >Kevin
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >On Aug 26, 2008, at 10:56 AM, Michael Oates wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Kevin,
> > > >>
> > > >> I am new to SD recorders, I have a 744T. How do you setup the
> > > >> recorder to start a new file
> > > >> every hour. And are there any gaps in the recording or can  
> they be
> > > >> pieced together without
> > > >> any gaps or glitches.
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks,
> > > >>
> > > >> Mike
> > > >>
> > > >> >I agree, it's nice to hear a bit of a blog on Dan's recording
> > > >> >adventures. When we hear stories like this we pick up  
> little tips
> > > >> >that can only be learned by experience, ours or those of  
> someone
> > > >> >else. Please all, send in your stories.
> > > >> >
> > > >> >Agreed; that leaving the recorder on is helpful. Bernie taught
> > > that
> > > >> >to me and I've captured some great material by recording hours
> > > at a
> > > >> >time. My SD722 is set to start a new file every 60 min, so  
> in the
> > > >> >studio at home I can review the recordings in manageable 60  
> min
> > > >> >blocks. Sometimes, when something great comes out of the  
> night,
> > > you
> > > >> >want to have the preceding several minutes to frame the
> > > interesting
> > > >> >sound.
> > > >> >
> > > >> >And it's nice at night to have the mic at the other end of  
> a long
> > > >> >cord. Bernie's recordings of a bear mouthing the mic and a  
> jaguar
> > > >> >growling at it in pitch darkness are dramatic. Once I was  
> startled
> > > >> >out of a half sleep while monitoring at night by an angry loud
> > > >> >hissing. I jumped because it sounded like something was right
> > > in my
> > > >> >face. Lucky for me, the patrolling bobcat was down at the  
> other
> > > end
> > > >> >of the 100 foot cable and I was reclined safe and warm in my
> > > parked
> > > >> >truck.
> > > >> >
> > > >> >Kevin
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >On Aug 25, 2008, at 6:21 PM, Romilly Hambling wrote:
> > > >> >
> > > >> >> --- In
> ><naturerecordists% 
> 40yahoogroups.com>
> >Dan Dugan <>
> > > wrote:
> > > >> >> >
> > > >> >> > Sharon Perry and I did our second Yosemite sequoia groves
> > > >> expedition
> > > >> >> > August 8-10. ... To be continued.
> > > >> >> > -Dan Dugan
> > > >> >> >
> > > >> >> >
> > > >> >> Nice to resurface on the list and find Dan writing about
> > > recording
> > > >> >> adventures out in the wild again -- AND at night. I look
> > > forward to
> > > >> >> hearing samples from that 4 channel 3032 setup.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> Dan, run the thing all night, turn in and get some proper  
> sleep!
> > > >> Do I
> > > >> >> know what it's like "sleeping" with headphones on and a  
> finger
> > > >> on the
> > > >> >> pause button. Then you get a good day, and back home you go
> > > through
> > > >> >> the files knowing you've missed absolutely nothing. Well,
> > > yes, it
> > > >> >> takes time, but what a lot there can be -- some of which  
> would
> > > >> never
> > > >> >> wake you up or . . sort of heck, it's 3.37 am and can I
> > > really be
> > > >> >> bothered with this 57th possible false alarm.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> Most I excerpt, but one or two I keep as they're so  
> magical. All
> > > >> those
> > > >> >> tiny noises, things dropping (as Dan says), and oh so  
> mysterious
> > > >> >> visitors to the mics. Can be quite creepy sometimes.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> I was forced into this (leaving equipment running while  
> getting
> > > >> some
> > > >> >> sleep) because the dreadful piece of tinny plastic I'm  
> currently
> > > >> using
> > > >> >> has all of a two-second buffer. All but useless unless  
> you're
> > > >> prepared
> > > >> >> to turn yourself into a nervous wreck with arm cramp! So  
> I just
> > > >> left
> > > >> >> it running. Still haven't been through all the files!!
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> As to jets, etc, I'm now resigned to Sats and Suns, tho jet
> > > traffic
> > > >> >> can start up un Sun in anticipation of Mon I find. Oddly  
> some
> > > >> weekdays
> > > >> >> are passable, but you have to get to know which. I've no  
> idea
> > > >> why they
> > > >> >> should vary. Round us the night to avoid is Monday --  
> invariably
> > > >> >> awful.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> On another note, I'm fairly sure digifish got his 3032s  
> at least
> > > >> >> partly because he heard my samples. I got my 3032s (now 2  
> pairs)
> > > >> >> entirely because of this list, especially of course Eric
> > > Benjamin's
> > > >> >> report. Use'm all the time. Now many are wailing because  
> they're
> > > >> >> unobtainable. tee-hee.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> Three cheers for nature recordists, night recordists and  
> 3032s!
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> romilly
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
> -- 
>
>
>
> 







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