Sound diary
 

In my dreams I like the idea of making a record of sounds from travels.

I'd like to record things like the sound of markets, streets, rivers, jungle and wildlife noises aswell as any live music I come across.

I'd like something light weight and relatively low tech.

Any advise/experience.

Cheers Tony

It's very hard thing to do acctually...

Fully depends what you look for - if you look ultimate quality, then highest end directional and omnidirectional tube-microphones both are really recommended (prices from 1000 to 20 000 bucks each microphone!). But you need 48 volt phantom power for it. One way is to let custom build 12to48volt transformer from electronics guy. Cheaper and more low quality version would be simple quality microphone(s). And also stereo or even surround panorama with multible microphones connected into one mixer should be one option to get the same feel of spatial panorama like you're really there at this moment when you recorded it when you listen it from amplification system.

And what to record with? I think the small 12" Apple PowerBook G4 is excellent choice together with mobile audiocard that has at least 96kHz/24bit sampling rates and VERY LOW NOISE microphone input. 192kHz and 24bit is very recommended for nature sounds to keep up with nowadays audio carriers such as Audio DVD etc and to feel that you've really been there.

You can do all the post-work with the PowerBook laptop on the road with (pro)headphones. Audiofiles slicing, compressing, expanding, equalizing, panorama adjustment, some noise shaping, dithering etc etc. Spark XL is one of the best softwares for it you can get.

Margus


[This message has been edited by Margus (edited 11 September 2004).]

Thanks for the advise.

So, I can't get much quality from a dictaphone or a high spec over the counter recorder of some sort?

I do not really want to take a computer with me. I'm looking for something medium quality and easy to operate.

Then very probably portable digital recorder with microphone adapter or input will do the job, and indeed you can easily travel with backpack with them:

Check out for portable digital recorders comparsion:

http://www.minidisc.org/uploader_table.html

And microphones information and recording tips reading:

http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-a.../wiltrain.html

Margus

Thank you Margus

I'll read the pages you suggest and report back