I am learning that the undertaking of recording, editing, uploading, and posting adds more to my schedule than I realized.
The site is still under construction. A friend has volunteered to help so hopefully my blog will also get prettier. I hope to get better about creating easier to read posts and adding photos. A post containing my packing and equipment list is overdue as well and will follow soon.
For now, here is a link to my soundcloud files from Peru.
https://soundcloud.com/iheardtheworld/sets/i-heard-the-world-peru-2015-ambiences
I would like to take the time to do some noise reduction on many of these files especially the quietest ones from the mountains while I trekking. I’d also like to eventually match a photo to each recording. I need to come up with a system for this and organizing my data sources better. I don’t travel with a laptop but I’m starting to think maybe a should.
In terms of use, I don’t mind if you want to use or reference any of the files as long as they don’t end up on soundfx cd somewhere. If you are unsure, just message me.
In editing this, I could have never anticipated how emotive it would be to relive my memories through these sound recordings. I’ve even offered up some rather embarrassing recordings of me attempting Spanish with a host family and generally sounding foolish–later in the same recordings, I realized I had completely misunderstood something someone said to me, resulting in us having a conversation that made no sense. I also really missed my travel companions as the sound of their voices and jokes in the outakes took me right back to that time and place. I thought a lot about what to post but in the end I just posted everything-82 files. The recordings aren’t perfect and neither am I, it’s part of the journey.
A few things I would like to remember on my next adventure/do differently:
- Always have a recorder. Sometimes I was afraid it might get stolen but really I could have just changed memory cards. I’d like to develop some hidden jacket pocket that I can fish a mic out of for more covert recording. I also need to carry a slightly larger purse as I don’t always take my daypack when I go out to nightclub or bar.
- Slate every track even if it makes me look dumb–slate at the end if not possible at the beginning
- Find a way to make or buy a small shotgun mic. I was reading recently about a way to make bat mic and also contact mics would have been great. I think it will be important to make cases or have documents for them though as homemade electronics always raise eyebrows. I generally get stopped to have my equipment checked and am always prepared to demonstrate it.
- I didn’t use the lav mic that much but it was really nice for getting up-close or out of the way spaces.
- Less recording of planned/performed music and focus on street performers.
- More climbing things in order to put mics up in location I’ll being staying for a bit to try to capture bird sounds without human interruption. On the trek, our guide helped me with my recording quite often by running up and down hills while I struggled to sit quietly and breath.
- Remember that sound carries and even with the mic at a distance, I have to be totally still. Ambience is just so quite, the sound of you clothes moving can really carry. I had learned this on another recording trip but apparently it hadn’t suck in.
That’s all for now. More later. Cheers.
I Heard The World 