=A0
Not entirely sure I'd agree with 'don't worry about the levels'.
While I agree nature tracks should generally be given more dynamic range th=
an
most other types of material, if you put a track on a CD peaking at -50db a=
nd
someone tries to play it they will find that it is excessively quiet [compa=
red
to every other CD they own]. Part of mastering is getting tracks to play we=
ll
together and in a way that you want in relation to other material that peop=
le
listen to. I try not to let [even quiet] tracks ride below -40db. And there=
is a
certain amount of dynamic range [ratio between loudest and quietest levels]=
that
would be too dynamic for most listeners. No one wants to raise the level on=
a
quiet track only to have something much much louder come in and blast them =
out
of their seats.
There is definitely a use for compression and limiting in certain instances=
. In
the real world our brains do it for us automatically.
--- In Mark Brennan <=
..>
wrote:
>
> Usually John I dont touch the gain in post, especially if the levels were=
good
> at the time of the recording. Sometimes I=C2=A0might push certain frequen=
cies
>to=C2=A0give
>
> the soundscape a better 'composition" in post.=C2=A0For me nature recordi=
ng
> is=C2=A0different than music production. Sometimes a quiet environment de=
serves a
> quiet approach where as recording something like surf (its power and deep=
bass
> sound) deserves an approach that will bring out those characteristics. Th=
e only
>
> thing I would say is pay attention to everything you hear in the field an=
d see
> if you can bring it all out by getting the mics in the right place. As fo=
r CD
> production, I dont=C2=A0worry too much about the levels.. the tracks spea=
k for
> themselves I guess and as long as you have a consistent approach in the=
=C2=A0field
> things should be ok. I am sure there are others on the list who=C2=A0coul=
d likely
> offer more technical advice than=C2=A0I !
> tks
>
> Mark
>
> =C2=A0
> Mark A. Brennan
> Canadian Landscape Painter - web
> Nature Recordist - web
> Follow me on:
> twitter=C2=A0 facebook=C2=A0 soundcloud=C2=A0 bandcamp
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: John Carroll <>
> To:
> Sent: Tue, June 21, 2011 6:51:24 PM
> Subject: [Nature Recordists] Re: Green Frog Chorus
>
> =C2=A0
>
>
> Thanks Mark for the detailed info on your approach to field recording. Ve=
ry
> helpful. As a relative beginner here, its great to hear details about how=
>others
>
> do it.
>
>
> I wasn't thinking so much about recorder gain as getting the output volum=
e
>right
>
> in post-processing, for posting on Soundcloud or similar sites on the web=
.
>Final
>
> volume of a track would seem to be especially relevant to putting multipl=
e
> tracks on a CD. Anyway, thanks again for the info.
>
>
> John
>
> --- In Mark Brennan <markbrennanfineart=
@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi John, thanks
> >
> > I dont use any cut off filters, either on mics or the Fostex Fr2le, I u=
sed to
>
> > though, but no longer.
> >
> >
> > As for the gain. I usually sit for a few minutes and watch the levels b=
efore
>I
>
>
> > start recording but also listen too, I am looking to make the recording=
as
> > natural as possible. I suppose it comes down to=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=
=A0what we hear ourselves and
>
> >what
> >
> > we like. I=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0dont like the gain way up,=C3=83=
=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0for me when the gain is pushed it
>
> >reduces
> >
> > the tranquillity of the=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0recording and it beco=
mes much less what i am
>feeling
>
> >and
> >
> > hearing. When i first started I=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0used to push =
the gain in the false hope
>that
>
> >it
> >
> > would be a better=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0recording (perhaps it is to=
some ears, but not to
>mine!). I
>
> >am
> >
> > getting better=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0at judging what I am looking f=
or.
> >
> > So I do use the levels but also my ears, I keep the=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=
=82=C2=A0headphones volume at
>half
>
>
> > and then adjust the overall gain knob on the fostex, first turning it u=
p and
> > then bringing down to the point where I feel it=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=
=A0reflects the 'soundscape'
>when
>
> >i
> >
> > listen without headphones. I only push the gain slightly above what I a=
m
> > hearing. I know there are technical ways to do this, I have spoken to M=
artyn
> > Stewart and I hope to read some of Bernies stuff on how to accurately a=
nd
> > consistently record soundscapes - =C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0but the=C3=
=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0equipment and our own senses
>vary
>
> >so
> >
> > much I=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0think we may all differ slightly in ou=
r approach. As Martyn says,
>get
>
> >it
> >
> > right in the field and it makes life easier in post. I am no expert tho=
ugh
>and
>
>
> > am still learning! I think it also depends what you are looking for, if=
it's
>an
>
> >
> > actual biological record of an eco-system using=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=
=A0the soundscape
>then=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0there are
>
> >
> > parameters that must be followed, but right now my goals are more to ge=
nerate
>
> > interest in the general public about nature and nature awareness, so fo=
r that
>
> > reason, I think i look at it as a bit of an art form right now, but tha=
t may
> > change as time ticks by.
> > great question!
> >
> > I am sure others on the list would have different ways of doing this th=
at
>suits
>
> >
> > their own ideas and feelings about being in nature. I supose in a nutsh=
ell
>its
>
>
> > an expression, from where I place the mics, to where I want to go that=
>morning
>
>
> > right=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0down to what captures my imagination. O=
ne thing though that is
>really
>
> >key
> >
> > is finding the sweet spot. Its like the focal point in a painting. I ta=
ke my
> > time to do this and move the mics around with the headphones on, listen=
ing
> > intently to 'find' what I think works for me. But sometimes its just pl=
ain
> >luck!
> > Hope this helps
> >
> > cheers
> >
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> >
> > =C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0
> > Mark A. Brennan
> > Canadian Landscape Painter - web
> > Nature Recordist - web
> > Follow me on:
> > twitter=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0 facebook=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0 =
soundcloud=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0 bandcamp
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: John Carroll <carrolljohnl@>
> > To:
> > Sent: Mon, June 20, 2011 3:06:43 PM
> > Subject: [Nature Recordists] Re: Green Frog Chorus
> >
> > =C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0
> >
> >
> > A beautiful recording! You are fortunate to have such tranquil places f=
or
> > recording, free of constant human-generated noise intrusions.
> >
> > Would you mind saying more about the array used for the AT4022s? Also, =
do you
>
> > use the low-cut filter on the 4022 mics?
> >
> > Finally, how do you adjust the final volume level of recordings posted =
on
> > Soundcloud? I'm asking because there is a lot of variability (in genera=
l) in
> >the
> >
> > volume level of nature recordings on Soundcloud. Some people boost the =
volume
>
> > quite a bit while others are very quiet and require the speaker volume =
to be
> > cranked way up while playing back. Is there a standard approach to adju=
sting
> > final volume of nature tracks?
> >
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > John
> >
> > --- In Mark Brennan <markbrennanfinea=
rt@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > A Green Frog Chorus from last night just as the last night approached=
.
> > >
> > > http://soundcloud.com/wildearthvoices/wetland-dusk
> > >
> > > 2X AT4022 (array)=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0into Fostex FR2LE
> > >
> > > mark
> > > =C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0
> > > Mark A. Brennan
> > > Canadian Landscape Painter - web
> > > Nature Recordist - web
> > > Follow me on:
> > > twitter=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0 facebook=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=
=A0 soundcloud=C3=83=E2=80=9A=C3=82=C2=A0 bandcamp
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
|