A Field Recording (A Practical Guide)

Field Recording is the essential guide for anyone wanting to capture environmental sound

Whether you are exploring wildlife or urban soundscapes; or documenting real-world events; or you are a musician, researcher, or podcaster – the detailed advice and information in this book will ensure you get effective results every time. Ideal for beginners, this book focuses on best practice with basic tools, such as budget recorders and mobile phones, and builds toward mastering professional techniques and equipment. This book also explores the fascinating history of field recording and the developments that have made field recording equipment and know-how accessible to everyone. Whether you are just starting out or looking to refine your craft, Field Recording will help you document environmental sound in extraordinary detail, and collect unique sonic materials for use in music or art projects.

Topics include:

Different types of microphones and their applications
Recorder basic operation and digital recording principles
Advanced methods such as ambisonics and surround sound recording
How to deal with challenging environments, such as extreme winds and temperatures
Capturing underwater, ultrasound and electromagnetic ‘hidden sound’ sources
Field trip planning
Strategies for managing and archiving digital files
Audio workstations and the software essentials for editing and composition