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)
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!
**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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
