Hi Steve
I also like to record soundscapes. From a scientific perspective, it is int=
eresting to leave in all the frequencies that you can pick up with your equ=
ipment, but "microphones are not ears" as they say.
If the recording is intended for general entertainment, and not science, th=
en I find that filtering out the lowest part of the spectrum makes for a ni=
cer listening experience. My personal rule of thumb when running this highp=
ass filter is to not chop out the biology. So a filter that removes everyth=
ing below 200Hz will cut out alot of traffic and airplane sounds but may no=
t be appropriate for a Bullfrog chorus.
Best
David
--- In "Steve Pelikan" <> wrot=
e:
>
> Friends:
>
> This is a subject that has been touched on often but never discussed expl=
icitly (in my memory) and that is low frequency filtering of "ambient" reco=
rdings.
>
> I've started to get interested in making stereo recordings of entire "sou=
nd scapes" --- meaning whatever is there --- and am in the process of decid=
ing how I'll treat such recordings --- so I'd appreciate other people's opi=
nions.
>
> My understanding of the 'elevated' low Hz 'noise' in most settings is tha=
t most of it (that I experience) is low Hz man made noise that carries a lo=
ng way because of its wave length ( Hi Hz interacts with "stuff" and disapp=
ears rather quickly with distance).
>
> When I'm out to document things I record w/o filters. This is in the east=
ern US where there's lots of manmade sound. When I want something that "sou=
nds nice" I use (or process with) a low Hz filter (10 dB to 20 db/ octave s=
tarting 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 =
heavily but realized that it (for eg) might eliminate low Hz thumps of a w=
oodpecker 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 =
higher (buy headroom by eliminating something under 100 Hz). Sometimes I re=
ally miss the low Hz stuff.
>
> Sorry for this elementary and 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 =
salutation)
>
> Steve P
>
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