2
Date: Fri May 30, 2014 5:10 pm ((PDT))
Hi, Jennifer:
If you use a good set of headphones like the AKG K240 Studio or the Audio T=
echnica ATH-M50, you will hear the low end quite precisely.
This assumes that your computer & sound card has good sound output in the l=
ow end of the frequency spectrum.
You can test your computer frequency response by generating a series of ton=
es from 40 to 120 Hz at 10 Hz intervals with Adobe Audition, or just genera=
te a slow sweep between those two frequencies. Listen to the result.
As for speakers, buy some good studio monitors with 8 inch bass drivers( mi=
nimum). Tannoy has some new models out [Reveal 802] that look promising.
i would also strongly suggest buying a good sound card or USB interface for=
your computer.
BTW, how does your recording sound using the headphone=C2=A0=C2=A0output of=
the SD-702?
I think I'd trust that more than your computer. You can always dump your po=
st from the computer to the SD-702.
Also, did you have any low-cut filter engaged on the SD-702 when you made t=
he recording?
And did you actually hear the grouse drumming quite clearly and 'deep' when=
you made the recording?
Always trust your own un-aided ears when you record sound. Make notes so th=
at you can do the post work to yield the intended result.
If something sounds weak to your own ears, it will generally be that way on=
the recording as well thus requiring special treatment.
Finally, if the spectral energy of the drumming is indeed below 50 Hz, then=
the sound probably won't translate very well on the video for playback on =
'typical' home or computer speaker systems.
You can check the energy of the drumming frequencies by selecting the area =
of the drumming in Audition, then do a 'Frequency Analysis' [Alt+Z]. Look f=
or the peaks in the low end.
To be sure about where the energy is, you can just setup a low pass filter =
['scientific filters': Order=3D12] with a cutoff frequency of wherever you =
think the drumming energy stops at the high end (e.g., 55 Hz), do a 'Previe=
w' (do NOT select 'OK') and listen to the result. You can then hit 'Stop', =
select another cutoff frequency and do another=C2=A0'Preview'=C2=A0to see i=
f you have more or lees of the upper frequencies of the drumming. That will=
tell you the upper range of the drumming energy. This is an iterative proc=
ess and sometimes it is tricky. You must train your ears to listen carefull=
y. Note that i am using the Adobe Audition terminology here for the terms i=
n single quotes.
Then repeat the process, only using a 'scientific' high pass filter [Order =
=3D12]. Set the 'High Cutoff' frequency of the high pass equal to what you =
determined it to be as the upper frequency from the first iteration, and th=
en set 'Cutoff' =3D 25 Hz. Do the=C2=A0'Preview'=C2=A0and note the sound re=
sult. Now move the low Cutoff frequency up a few Hz and note the result. If=
you start to lose the low end of the drumming then you have gone too far. =
With practice you should be able to isolate the drumming and find its frequ=
ency range.=C2=A0
Note that using a band pass filter might work for the second part of the pr=
ocess, but you need to keep the difference between the lower and upper cuto=
ff frequencies larger than about 25 or 30 Hz. Otherwise Audition will have =
an issue creating those filters.
Then you can use a Parametric Equalizer in Audition to accentuate that freq=
uency range in post. But as John has pointed out, if it is too low then mos=
t 'average' listening systems won't be able to reproduce the sound properly=
. That is why people use sub-woofers on their home theater systems.=C2=A0
You can also add bass shakers to add =C2=A0a 'tactile' aspect to your prese=
ntation, assuming it is 'live'. If you go to Parts Express (http://www.part=
s-express.com/)=C2=A0they have lots of sub-woofers and bass shakers.
Good luck!
- Greg O.
From: "John Crockett [naturerecordists]" <naturerecordists=
@yahoogroups.com>
To:
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Ruffed Grouse, You're Killin' Me
=C2=A0
Hi Jennifer
When you say computer speakers, do you mean the built-in speakers or extern=
al speakers? My Apple Powerbook speakers are incapable of reproducing grous=
e drumming, but my external speakers, which have a small "subwoofer" - alth=
ough it hardly deserves the name - do fine. My built-in speakers can't repr=
oduce anything below about 150 Hz, and the bulk of the energy in the drummi=
ng grouse is below 50 Hz. To hear it at all it has to be raised a couple of=
octaves, which obviously makes it sound nothing like a drumming grouse.
John
John Crockett
Let us live in harmony with Earth
And all creatures
That our lives may be a blessing
On May 29, 2014, at 8:23 PM, Jennifer Jerrett [naturere=
cordists] wrote:
>
>
>Hello Everyone,
>
>
>I'm brand new to the group and a=C2=A0total greenhorn=C2=A0to nature recor=
ding. I recently attended my first go-round in Martyn Stewart's naturesound=
.org recording workshop which, in addition to being outstanding, was a real=
galvanizing moment for me. I'm an independent producer for public radio an=
d I live in Yellowstone National Park. I want to change the world through l=
istening.=C2=A0
>
>But I have a lot to learn.
>
>
>
>Recently, I recorded the drumming of a ruffed grouse. I used an SD 702 rec=
order and a Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun in a Rycote with a fuzzy. I use Adob=
e Audition CS 5.5 for post.=C2=A0
>
>
>
>My problem is that the sound is OK (not outstanding, just OK) through head=
phones, but practically inaudible through computer speakers. I tried amplif=
ying the whole shebang and also tried further bringing up some of the lows,=
which again, sounds OK through headphones, but I don't know what to do to =
make it work without headphones. I also tried speeding up the recording jus=
t a bit -- also improves things marginally, but since this is supposed to p=
air with video shot at the same time, I'm not sure that's going to work.=C2=
=A0
>
>
>
>I'm sure you're all shaking your heads at me, but I would love any advice =
that any of you have the time to offer.=C2=A0
>
>Thanks in advance for your consideration.=C2=A0
>
>All the best,
>Jennifer Jerrett
>
>...
>
>I'm listening to:=C2=A0
>click clack of elk hooves on the road in front of the house
>http://jenjerrett.tumblr.com/
>I tweet from=C2=A0https://twitter.com/jenniferjerrett
>
>=C2=A0
>=C2=A0
>=C2=A0
>
>
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