Soundscape

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/final.wav

Soundscape Idea

For my soundscape, I'd like to include the park area that I recorded. Although, I don't think I will necessarily use it as my first area. I'd like to record more natural environments in the outdoors and implement in the mix. I'd like to venture out to more wild wood preserves or parks for one of my soundscapes and perhaps make it back to society.

So far my idea is to start out in the woods, walk into the park with children present, and make my way home, making a spot of tea. I really like that idea.

The woods would consist of walking steps on branches and such. It will be naturally done so there won't be need of manipulating it since the area I am thinking of has wooded pathways. Birds, wind, and water will be recorded as well. All three occupy the space and the park is nearby a creek. There are usually people walking their dogs or taking walks with family. I will be sure to capture their chatter to one another. The area is more of a soothing walk through the woods without interruption except nature or the intrusion of people passing by.

My home would consist of what I do when I walk in through the door. The following are of all the sounds I hope to record: I throw my jacket on the couch. I turn on the lamps and then the t.v. I then head to the kitchen and turn on the switch so I can see what I am doing. I turn on the stove, place the kettle on there, and wait for it to whistle when it's ready. I wash my hands and get the tea packet ready and pour. Day concluded. Of course, room tone will be recorded for ambience. Although that is scenario one. Scenario two is if my roommate (aka sister) is home, I usually yell out for her. We usually start a conversation about our day while I continue my activities. That will be something to consider.

The transitions: I'm looking to connect between the spaces from the woods to the park playground by adding children's voices in the far distance after I have left the woods and then have it gradually crescendo to indicate my distance to it. I will be passing through the playground. Thus the range of sound will start soft to strong and then as I leave, their voices will again go back into the distance. It will then transition to a walk in an urban atmosphere before I return home. A door opening and closing will signify the transition from my walk into my apartment. The door will be the main clue to entering the new space. I hope that these transitions will work as I anticipate and sound as natural as possible.

Sonic Snapshot

Final audio recording:

 

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/sonic_snapshot_practice.wav

Sonic Snapshot

Your initial idea: what location (in general), list of sounds you plan to get for foreground, middleground, background.

I have two locations in mind. 

One is Bayshore Mall. I like the different sounds of people, cars, shopping bags, music, doors opening and closing. There is such a diverse range of sound in the outdoor mall and so much to capture. I'm also aware that the same reason I would like to capture it could also pose some problems in singling a certain sound out for my foreground, middle ground, and background.

Foreground: People talking (which would probably pose a problem with this assignment, seeing as you'd like us to avoid this)

Middle Ground: Doors, shopping bags, walking, cars

Background: The music, occasional silence that would help me pick up wind, chatter from far away, eating

The second one is a playground at the park. I love the idea of children on the swings and running around making noise on the playground. There's laughter, parents chastising children, the cars that occasionally pass by, and the sound of nature that surrounds this smaller play environment. There are a lot of things to play and manipulate in this setting.

Foreground: Children and the noise on the playground

Middle ground: Cars and parents...perhaps other people occupying nearby areas (by the volleyball court, etc)

Background: The natural ambience from nature outside this closed playing environment

Reviewing this post, I guess the best choice for me would be to go with choice number two. Off to work I go!

Assignment 3

**Note: The raw soundtrack includes the full length recording. The edited soundtrack is tailored to the one minute length cut as requested by the assignment. Please feel free to skip through the raw soundtrack. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Before experimenting with different filters and adjusting levels within filters, I would apply Apple:ParametricEq and Compression to each sound recording to determine what would be needed to clean the track (as how it was shown in class). If one would work, I would apply it, and if it didn't I would go on to experiment with the different filters in order to decipher which could help improve the track. Thus, as you can see, I've listed the filters that I've applied only after I conducted a trial and error with the equalizer and compression filter. Please bear that in mind as you go through the list of filters applied to each soundtrack.

First Edit: Creek (New Location: Grant Park; Section 2, #5)
Problem with sound recording: None
Reason for Audacity applications: To fine tune the "running water" sequence.

Applied: 

• Parametric Equalizer - To adjust frequency
• BassBoost - used as recommended for sound
• Compressor - to compress sound to a consistent db
• High pass filter - to separate the highs and lows of the rushing water, by picking out the high frequency, one can identify the soundtrack as rushing water than if it were not used.

Result: 
Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/creek_raw.ogg
After
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/Creek_1.ogg


Second Edit: Crickets (New Location: Grant Park; Section 2, #7)
Problem with sound recording: None
Reason for Audacity applications: There seems to be two types of crickets chirping simultaneously with the reverberating sound of the generator nearby. Initially, it was my initial attempt to capture only one of the crickets. Take a close listen to the raw soundtrack and you will hear what I mean.


Applied:

• Parametric Equalizer - To adjust frequency of soundtrack
• High Pass filter - used to get rid of background hum of generator - success

Result: I was able to produce a nice, clean soundtrack of the crickets chirping without the generator. Success.
Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-006.wav
After
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/Crickets_7.ogg


Third Edit: Ambient Sound (Section 1, #1)
Problem with sound recording: Recorded at too low of a level.
Reason for Audacity applications: The recording levels were stretched to the maximum and there still wasn't enough ambient sound - very low. The sound of crickets can hardly be heard unless one strains their ear to hear it.



Applied: 

• AUParametric - to adjust volume frequency
• Equalization - to bring the volume levels up 

Result: I kept the volume level at the standard -24db for ambient sound. The two helped clean the sound and up the levels.

Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-013.wav
After
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/Ambient.ogg

Fourth Edit: Ambient sound with zoom mics (Section 1, #2)

Problem with sound recording: None

Reason for Audacity applications: A lot of detail in this track and the volume for the recording level is quite sensitive. I need to make a more cut clean track of the sound recording.

Applied:

• AUParametric Equalizer - to help bring out the distinct ambient sound
• Compressor
• Equalization - to help equalize the levels to nearly one level

Result:
Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-014.wav
After
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/ambient_2.ogg




Fifth Edit: Audio close-up, handheld, zoom mic recording (Section 1, #3)
Problem with sound recording: None
Reason for Audacity applications: Sensitive ambient recording. It is my intent to exclude all other sounds in order to distinguish the close-up recording of the crickets.


Applied:

• High pass - to seclude the high pitch sound of the crickets

Result:

Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-018.wav
After
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field%20Audio%20Recording/closeup_%233.ogg

Sixth Edit: Mobile Capture, NT4   (Section 1, #4)

Problem with sound recording: Low levels, intermittent recording levels at different points

Reason for Audacity applications: I need to make a more solid and consistent frequency level and give the volume a boost.

Applied:

• AUParametric Equalizer
• Fade-in - I used the fade-in at the beginning of the soundtrack to lesson the amount of noise that was picked up by my handling of the zoom connected to the NT4. It lessened the sound slightly but not enough for it to go unnoticed.

Result:

Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/mobile1_NT4_raw.aup
After

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/mobile_nt4.ogg

Seventh Edit: Wind (New Location: Grant Park; Section 2, #6)

Problem with sound recording: Intermittent levels of the wind, low volume levels

Reason for Audacity applications: I need to apply a consistency in volume and frequency levels.

Applied:

• Compressor - to bring sound up
• Normalize - to bring levels to a normal standard of sound. This helped to control the intermittent levels of the wind.

Result:

Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/wind_raw.wav
After
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/wind_4ch.ogg

Eighth Edit: Mobile Capture, NT4 (New Location: Grant Park; Section 2, #8)

Problem with sound recording: Low recording. With mobile capturing, there are different levels of sound throughout soundtrack.  

Reason for Audacity applications: Equalize sound levels so that it is consistent throughout the one minute clip for this assignment.

Applied:

• Equalization at 12 db
• Fade-in
• Amplify - to increase overall volume

Result:
Before
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/mobile_grantpark.aup
After
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/mobile_grantpark.ogg

Helpful resources:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/manual-1.2/menu_effects.html

Assignment 2

Part 1: Recording Practice (First Attempt; for Attempt 2, scroll down)
Saturday/Sunday - Did this practice over the course of two days at different times because of the rain.

Warning: Some of the recordings did not turn out well with the rain and I plan to attempt to record again.

Ambient Sound: Recorded early in the morning between the highway and my apartment complex - windy and light drizzling.
Equipment: Zoom, NT3, 2 minutes of recording
The sound recorded was a smooth recording on ambience in the surrounding environment.

NT4: I used the external mic connection. The quality of the sound of the mic is clearer and more sensitive. It seemed to pick up more of the environmental sounds. I need to readjust the mic recording levels. Recording level was too low.

4CH with NT3 and NT4: The sound quality differs with each mic but with the use of both mics, it picked up the environmental ambience much better than using one alone. Although the NT4 alone would be sufficient enough I think.

Audio Close-ups: Handheld
Zoom H4: I attempted to focus on a small bird chirp, but since it was not consistent chirping so I caught all the static sound of rain and wind.
NT3: I don't know how successful this recording was - it started raining harder. While recording it, I cut it short. The rain was gradually coming down harder.

Mobile Capture: NOT A FAILED ATTEMPT... but close to it. I PLAN TO REDO IT. Cut the recording short due to weather.

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-004.wav

Assignment 2
Part I, II, and III (Attempt 2)

Practice
#1 Stationary Recordings
Location: Southtowne Place
NT3/2 min: Recorded in stereo mode 
Took two takes of ambient sound at 2 minutes each. The recording levels were stretched to the maximum and there still wasn't enough ambient sound - very low. The sound of crickets can hardly be heard unless one strains their ear to hear it. The following is the sample:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-013.wav

#2 Stationary recording; sample place but with the Zoom's on-board mics
The recording with the zoom on-board mics picked up sound better. The crickets and ambient sound is more distinct. Much more detail in this track and the volume for the recording level is much more sensitive.
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-014.wav

#3 Audio Close-ups: Handheld
Recording this at night, I focused on the deafening sound of crickets chirping in the bushes outside.
The recording is nice, crisp, and clear directed on the small, discrete sound. I recorded first with the NT3 and then with with Zoom mics. Both recordings were done well. The slight difference is that the zoom mic picked up the sound at a higher volume at the same recording rate - it seems to be more sensitive to sound.

NT3: https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-016.wav
Zoom: https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-018.wav

#4 Mobile Capture: 2 recordings, 3 minute each
NT3: The sound of the movement is captured in the recording - mainly the the shuffling of feet, the treading on we grass, and the dragging of the cord. One would have to move very swiftly and quietly to successfully pick up ambient sound and other sounds of the environmental space. Of course it could be perfected over practice and time but I'm sure what would make it easier is someone to help hold some of the recording equipment or using something equipped to hold the recording devices to make less sound while recording.
NT4: The NT4 is a more sensitive mic overall with the two mics (it does mirror the zoom mics after all). I like it more than the NT3 because it picks up more sound and the quality of sound seems to outshine it further. Even so, it still doesn't make for an easier experience recording mobile sound capture.

New Field Location
Grant Park

I really had more fun with this part of the assignment. Perhaps because it was due to the more specific searches in recording these natural environmental factors that we may or will encounter. Recording the creek at night at Grant Park was sure an adventure - even when I got stopped by the police for recording crickets on the side of the road. :) It was quite humorous to explain why I was there. Regardless, I really enjoyed recording this second part. It helped me gain more insight on the environmental sound and the factors of it that I may encounter. 

#5 Swiftly Moving Water
NT3 and Zoom: I was lucky enough to find a creek with a wall as suggested in the assignment. Thus, it gave me a nice, reverberant sound recording.
Here is a sample recording from the Zoom Mic:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-001.wav

#6 Wind
NT3: I went down by the beach at night to capture some of the wind that the waves create.  The recording levels were high so I kept it very low. I recorded it with the NT3 at 4CH and it did not pick it up well. It rarely picked up a breeze. I am very disappointed with this recording. Not worth listening to. What I think the problem was? Well it may be due my fear of recording it at intermittent levels of very high and very low based on the power of the wind.
How to record it better next time? Record it at a high level and playback, then adjust according for a more successful recording.

#7 Subject and Set-up of choice
I decided to concentrate on the TWO crickets chirping and the reverberating sound of the generator in small building at the park. Deafening combination although my initial intent was to capture only the cricket. Had I known there were two crickets competing for the night, I would have looked elsewhere. Take a close listen and you will hear what I mean. Also, this is the recording that almost got me in trouble, but it was well worth the cause. :)

 https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/jeanyang/public/Field Audio Recording/STE-006.wav

#8 Mobile Capture
NT4: I see that I have to work on my mobile capture. Afraid that the levels of the wind would blow up my recording level high at different points, I turned it down low as I watched the levels. I play back the recording and I hear nothing (save the beginning where I state what I am recording with and which number). There is one recording (2 min.) where I finally turn it up at the end and there are distinct ambient sounds that can be heard. For the one part, the mobile capture seems to be more successfully captured than the mobile capture for practice. I won't post that up because it would take over a minute for one to finally hear sound from this recording.

Even though mobile capture was not my forte, I must think of ways to tackle this problem the next time I set out to do this. My own suggestion for these kind of situations? Maybe playing it back right after might help and recording with different mics to see if it is the connection to the mic or the mic itself could be the problem. Or it could be me, but having different recordings with different mics might help target the problem so that I can find a solution to a better recording the next time around.

Soundwalk - Ryan Green Court

Assignment #1

Exercise 1

I start the walk from outside my apartment door. We all have a private entrance so it leads right to the outdoors facing highway 100 on Ryan Road. As I step out, I steer clear of that direction and head south towards the woods behind the buildings. Along the way, I observe the following sounds:

Birds singing, geese honking, crickets chirping, cars passing, wind chimes, the breeze through the trees, the "flips" of my flip flops, my keys jingling, the generators running outside of each apartment building, and last but not least, when I settle down - dogs barking by the window.


When I settle down to a spot near the woods, I notice that there are two types of crickets chirping - one with a constant buzzing to my left - low and quiet but consistent - while the other chirps in a rhythmic beat with a chirp, beat, chirp, beat. The second cricket would stop after awhile while the other continued on.

One sudden event that occurred and abruptly disrupted the harmony of the soundscape was a sudden movement through the trees in the woods. A bird abruptly flapped its wings and flew away. It sounded like it reacted to some movement within the trees. As it did so, the singing of a bird had gotten gradually louder like a crescendo and then stopped while a smaller bird kept chirping in its place.

Highest pitch - birds - inconsistent/intermittent
Lowest pitch - generators running - low, consistent - abrupt stop and the sound of cars passing on the highway take its place

The birds and crickets seem to "sing" in harmony in a continuous song throughout this observation.

Exercise 2

 Dominant sounds: Engine running, geese's high pitch honking above me in a big group, loud screech of a passing motorcycle - these dominant sounds take over one after the other as it passes through

Soft Sounds: Breeze blowing and passing by my ear, the branches and leaves that rustle from the breeze, the hum of the traffic after-breeze on the highway as they pass through, leaves rolling on the street

Route: I started from the backyard of my apartment complex near the woods, heading away from the sound of traffic on highway 100 and continued to walk along the woods before turning north for a different soundscape. This gave me a variety of soundscape range.

Exercise 3