Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:31 pm
by Artie_Fufkin
Any of you guys do field recording? I've tried a few times to get the ambient nature sounds around my house. We live in a rural area so most of the time it's nothing but the sounds of nature. Lots of birds, coyotes at night, bullfrogs(we have a lake in the backyard), etc. I don't really have any portable recording devices except for cheap tape ones, so I've set up my laptop and interface out on the back deck with some mics. One problem I've run into is that my recordings are either very quiet and I get too much high-band noise when I turn them up or they clip when I try to record really hot to get away from the noise floor. Nature is really dynamic, haha! I'm not sure what to do. Any recordists on the forum?
Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:51 am
by Ongelegen
What interface and mics do you use? Nature isn't a loud sound source and requires quiet mics and very clean preamps. Nature ambiences don't need to be turned up much, I would say between -24 and -20dBFS is loud enough. Recording hot with mediocre equiment wont change anything, this is where the clean pre's come in as they allow you to turn the gain up without any noticable extra noise. Turning up the gain on a shitty pre will also turn up the noise. Have taken windprotection into account? Wind can clip your mics pretty easily. Try to turn up the gain to the point where your recordings are around -24dBFS. In post you can try to do some noise removal, but make sure it's subtle or otherwise the recording will start to get warpy when the volume is turned up.
Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:21 pm
by Artie_Fufkin
I use a Tascam US 1800. I also have a behringer xenyx 1622fx mixer, which I used before I got the tascam interface. I have an sm57, some digital reference drum mics, behringer c3 condensor, and some random vocal mic's(I think one is supposed to be a 58 clone). As far as windprotection, I feel like it hasn't been an obvious problem but I'll look into it. Is the grill/foam on most mics not enough? I'm also concerned about it muffling the high end, as that seems to be where I'm most unsatisfied with my recordings. I usually roll off a bit to decrease noise but I don't like having to do that and would like more high end with less noise. For recording in general I'd like reduce noise as much as possible before using gates/noise removal. I've used the noise removal in audacity and that's alright if I mix it in with the original I suppose.
So as far as the whole chain is concerned (mic-cable-preamp/interface-usb cable-laptop), the preamps are where the most noise is accumulated? The idea of buying a cheap hardware compressor to put in between the mic and pre/interface and tracking with the signal already slightly compressed to record hotter has been in my mind for a few years working with the behringer mixer. Is this is a foolish idea? I also could eq the low end out to gain more headroom and turn up the gain with the mixer, so I did that before I got the tascam.
Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:38 pm
by Ongelegen
Recording ambiences with a dynamic mics is a no go, as they only pick up sound in close proximity. Cardioid, omni would work too, condensers are what you need, setup in XY. This means you'll need 2 as ambience should be recorded in stereo. Good wind protection should not affect the frequency response drastically. If there is any hi-end roll off it can be compensated for in post with a gentle boost.
I'd say the mic is equally important as the pre, although you can get good recordings with a noisier mic into some hi-end pre. This will allow you to turn the gain up without increasing the noise significantly. Putting a compressor in the chain won't help you, it will probably make the problem even worse as it will make the difference in dynamic range between your peaks and the noisefloor smaller. If by recording hotter you mean turning up the gain, mixer or pre, then this won't help you as you'll be also turning up the noise along with the signal. Unless, here we go again, it is a quality pre.
Having said this I think the c3 into the 1800 is your best bet. You'll get only mono, but mono is better than nothing imo. I also think you'll be getting better recordings with something like the Zoom H2 or a similar portable recorder than your current setup. A portable recorder with build in mics would also be the cheaper option compared to getting a nice pre and mics.
Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:04 pm
by Ongelegen
I've said it several time on here already, if you're into field recording, sound effects and sound design then this is a must read: The Sound Effects Bible, by Ric Viers
Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:51 pm
by Ongelegen
Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:22 pm
by Samādhi
anyone here designing sound in max or pd?
i recently started a lot of physical modelling patches. - pm if interested to share knowledge.
Re: Sound Design // FM Synthesis // Foley // Field Recording
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 12:32 am
by alphacat
Please forgive if this is a re-post...
Gear guide for field recording. Pretty good, detailed info:
this is so good
