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[Nature Recordists] New thread: Low Hz filtering

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Subject: [Nature Recordists] New thread: Low Hz filtering
From: Steve Pelikan <>
Friends:

This is a subject that has been touched on often but never discussed explic=
itly (in my memory) and that is low frequency filtering of "ambient" record=
ings.

I've started to get interested in making stereo recordings of entire "sound=
 scapes" --- meaning whatever is there --- and am in the process of decidin=
g how I'll treat such recordings --- so I'd appreciate other people's opini=
ons.

My understanding of the 'elevated' low Hz 'noise' in most settings is that =
most of it (that I experience) is low Hz man made noise that carries a long=
 way because of its wave length ( Hi Hz interacts with "stuff" and disappea=
rs rather quickly with distance).

When I'm out to document things I record w/o filters. This is in the easter=
n US where there's lots of manmade sound. When I want something that "sound=
s nice" I use (or process with) a low Hz filter (10 dB to 20 db/ octave sta=
rting at 160 -600 Hz, say).

I've heard "professional" recording with _nothing_ below 200 Hz
and they sound goofy to me. I've been tempted to filter recordings more hea=
vily but realized that it (for eg)=A0 might eliminate low Hz thumps of a wo=
odpecker on a rotten stump.

How do you al think about this issue? What do you do?

Sometimes I put on a low Hz filter so I can set the overall record level hi=
gher (buy headroom by eliminating something under 100 Hz). Sometimes I real=
ly miss the low Hz stuff.

Sorry for this elementary and=A0 ambiguous posting/question but it think th=
ere is room for some discussion on this topic. In the end we all need to li=
sten carefully and do what sounds best for a particular setting, but I'm cu=
rious if there is a general understanding about this matter.

Cheers! (and Good Recording! which others have used and seems a superior sa=
lutation)

Steve P






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