Rob,
Thank you so much for your detailed methods of long period recording and
archiving methods. I had not considered compressing files with FLAC before
and after downloading a free plugin for Audition from:
http://www.vuplayer.com/audition.php I can now save typically 50% of my
storage space, fantastic. I had tried ZIP before, but it only made about
10% saving so was not worth the hassle. I use a PC so don't have access to
Amadeus Pro. Yes your right about loosing markers, pitty about that.
While I was looking at the different file formats that I can save in
Audition (ver3) I found that I can save the file as BMP, never noticed this
option before. What this does is create a frequency plot image of the whole
recording in quite high resolution. It looks like a long thin strip when
you view it, but if you zoom in you get a great sonogram (without the
scales though) If you do this to a stereo file it creates a plot combining
left and right, but do a mono file and you get a sharper image. I tried it
on a short recording which was great, but trying on a 35min file it did not
produce a file at all. Either a bug, or it just does not work with long
files.
It is also interesting that you record at 16/48K, I found that I can add
more gain to 24bit recordings without bringing up the noise floor, it also
gives me more headroom in case something gets rather close to the mics. I
also find 96K better especially for frequency plots to produce sonograms as
I seem to miss a lot of the plot if I don't. So 24/96K files are rather
large, hence saving 50% is very welcome, so thanks again :)
Mike
>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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