Field Recording virtual trip

Field recordings are not necessarily recordings in a field (although they can be!). In this context, 'field' means in situ or on location, out of the recording studio, just like you may have been on a field trip with a science class to look at things outside the science lab.

Field recordings are of the natural environment and are not 'musical'. They can provide a unique texture to your work. In the current political and social climate they can be very useful if you want to make a statement or create texture with limited resources as you can use your phone to record.

ACTIVITY 1) listen to my podcast on headphones. It's under 6 mins. Please note, this is a resource from last summer so the task at the end is going to be slightly modified. I say in the podcast that this is an optional workshop - not this year! I'd like you all to do it as it is a valuable exercise in active listening. I will explain the modified task when we come back together in 10 mins.

podcast on soundcloud

ACTIVITY 2:

1) Record these things on your phone:

a) Go into an empty room in your home and simply record 30 seconds of sound
b) Go into a room with someone in (the kitchen is a good one for this) and record 30 seconds of what ever is happening

c) Go outside and record 30 seconds of the sound outside, wherever you are and whatever it is

2) listen back to your recordings with headphones and briefly note your findings using this sheet (open and make a copy to be able to edit) - we will discuss your findings when we come back in 30 mins.

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OPTIONAL EXTENSION TASK:

Find some objects around your home (or garden!) and record them carefully with silence before and after. Suggestions are things like turning a tap on and off, the boiler starting up, the cutlery drawer, a door opening or closing..... Please record at least three and save them in your drive - you will be using them in the next workshop.

EXTENSION RESOURCES:

There is an article on Pitchfork about artists using field recordings as a political statement in their work.

This article might be of interest from FACT magazine

FIELD RECORDING ARTICLE from the Ableton blog - interesting reading

Again, from Abelton, a guide to ACTIVE LISTENING

Tape Op is a free digital music magazine with loads of articles about recording & production techniques. Do subscribe if you're interested in that kind of thing.

Thanks to Grant for finding this....a nice little example of how instruments sound using the natural reverb of the space in which they are being recorded:





Graham Dunning DJs field recordings  https://grahamdunning.com/portfolio/field-recording-dubplates/

David Attenborough has released an album of field recordings he made whilst filming for the BBC - you can hear it on spotify

David Fanshawe used his field recordings as an instrument when he composed African Sanctus - its scored for tapes, choir, operatic soloists, percussion, drum kit and piano.

Find some objects around your home (or garden!) and record them carefully with silence before and after. Suggestions are things like turning a tap on and off, the boiler starting up, the cutlery drawer, a door opening or closing..... Please record at least three and save them in your drive - you will be using them in the next workshop.