Field recording involves capturing authentic sounds from real-world environments. It can involve staged or spontaneous recordings. Proper preparation is important for field recording, including considering weather, allowing time for setup and travel issues, ensuring adequate battery power, testing equipment mobility, and setting goals for the recording session. When recording, the process generally involves transporting equipment to the location, scouting to determine setup, setting levels with test recordings, and then recording while taking notes for future reference.

1. Field Recording
CO - 107

2. What is field recording?
Capturing sounds from the real world
The material you wish to capture may be…
staged (e.g. recording weapons)
spontaneous (e.g. recording crowds in a
public place)
or some combination of both

3. Field Recording
Field recording can be as simple or as complex
as you want to make it.
Start simply!

4. Tools
Headphones
Microphone
Recorder
Windscreen

5. Pre-Recording Tips
Field recording isn't much different from
recording in the studio, but you’re adding in
chaos (real world interferences).
Here are a few tips to keep in mind before
venturing out:

6. Weather
Recording conditions depend on what you're
trying to record, but for most situations a
warm, dry day with low wind is ideal.
If there are extreme conditions you'll need to
take extra precautions for your equipment and
yourself.
ALWAYS be ready to protect your equipment
from the elements (rain, snow, prolonged sun).

7. Time Management
Allow yourself plenty of time for travel, setup,
recording, review, more travel, more setup,
more recording, more review, and strike.
You're dealing with the real world, so things
like traffic (foot and auto), cooperation of the
weather and environment, and unexpected
equipment malfunctions can all add time to a
well planned day.

8. Power
If your equipment is battery operated, be sure
to bring LOTS of extra batteries, or the ability
to recharge batteries quickly.
Always carry spare batteries with you - both on
your person and in your equipment storage
bags.

9. Mobility
Before leaving for your first trip, test out the
mobility of your setup.
Can you comfortably move around with your
headphones, recorder, windscreens,
microphones, mic stands, cables, and
batteries?

10. Set Goals
This may seem obvious, but it is important to
know exactly what your goal is for your field
recording trip.
know your destinations if you're traveling
who to contact in case of emergencies
have a clear picture of what you'd like to come
back with

11. The Recording Day
Now that you're primed, prepped and have all
your pre-planning taken care of, it is time to
journey out into the field. Here's a breakdown
of what a typical recording session might look
like...

12. Transport
You depart your location and head to your
recording destination.

13. Scouting
Arriving at your destination, you scout the area
to determine the best place for you to set up
your equipment.
In some cases, you may be doing mobile
recording, moving while recording. If this is the
case, you'll want to do a walkthrough of the
area to establish your trajectory.

14. Check Conditions
As part of the scouting mission, you'll want to
check your conditions.
How's the weather?
Are there a lot of people nearby?
Any dogs?
Just having an awareness of your surroundings
allows you to adapt quickly as the situation
changes, and it will aid you in setup.

15. Setup
Next you'll get all the equipment setup,
powered up, and ensure that all is functioning
properly. You'll also want to make sure your
backup power and equipment (if any) is
standing by, readily accessible. Depending on
conditions, you'll want to have wind and
weatherscreens handy.

16. Setting Levels
Before doing your first official 'take', you'll want
to do a few practice runs to set levels. Do a few
recordings at various distances and input levels
to maximize the particular sound(s) you wish to
capture.

17. Setting Levels
Remember: “GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE
OUT.” If your recordings are too quiet to begin
with, when you go back to the studio they may
be too noisy when you have to boost their
volume in post. Likewise, if the recordings are
too loud, you run the risk of clipping, which will
ruin your day and, if done to extremes, your
equipment.

18. Record!
You've done all the planning, you're equipment
is ready - now it is time to record. Take your
time, be patient, and get as many takes as you
can of the particular sound(s) you want. It is
easier to wade through too many recordings
than to make a second trip out to capture a
sound you could have gotten the first time
around.

19. Take Notes
One of the keys to being a great sound designer
or composer is to be a good librarian. Take
notes of your recording session, including
when, where, how, with what equipment, as
well as specific notes about each take. These
will serve to make your time in post be more
productive and will act as a learning tool for
future field sessions.

20. Have fun!
Have Fun! - Last, but not least - have fun!
Recording and capturing sounds is fun, exciting
and often surprising. Some of the most amazing
sounds you'll capture are those you least
expect. Be prepared for the unexpected, and
you'll be rewarded with great material for use in
all your future endeavors!