Hi, my name's Martha and I record!

[Martha]

Hiya,

I'm Martha, a 26yr old sound artist living in London, UK.

I have been looking for a forum to discuss ideas, methods and tech stuff with others interested in sound, hopefully this is it!?

Very interested in capturing sound that we don't normally notice, or that is almost floating around dispersed from it source. I use tape machines and an Olympus portable recorder to record, as well as borrowing a selection of Shure, Sennhieser and vintage condenser mics from a local studio. I edit on Pro Tools, Reaper and Ableton using a Mac.

I also have a cat!

:)

[MikeMusic]

Hi Martha

I can see you problem right away

You need a dog !
:)

[mr sneff]

Hi Martha, welcome to AoS :) Do you have any examples of your work that we can listen to, on Soundcloud perhaps?

[synsei]

Hi Martha and welcome to AoS.

Years ago I'd wander around Northampton in my spare time with a portable cassette recorder hunting for places with unusual acoustic properties where I would record interesting stuff. Featured in my archive were lots of stairwells and struck metal bannisters, metal and plastic cups falling down concrete steps, the sound of distant traffic, people etc, etc. Unfortunately I was young and didn't really know what to do with the sounds I'd collected, so when my dad's ancient Grundig mono cassette machine eventually gave up the ghost so did I.

[Martha]

hello :)

I totally agree Synsei, this is why I think being involved with a forum or group that you can bounce off would be helpful!

A lot of my work used to be drone based and tied to a certain loc and so I have not uploaded that, but this is from one of my biggest exhibitions, recorded as part of a collaboration exploring sound as it travels in the air. In this instance, the 23rd storey of a tower-block stairwell in South London. Recorded to cassette tape, can't remember the recorder sadly, I liked it though. Both exhibition spaces, in Leeds and London were unused spaces and you walked into the pitch dark into a large room.. was pretty sppoky actually. this hour recording was on a ontinuous loop https://soundcloud.com/marthaamay/south-london-towerblock

This was part of a contribution to the Leeds Liuverpool canal anniversary, I was working with Chris Watson on this one :D https://soundcloud.com/marthaamay/ghost-train

I have been producing and presenting a radio show for the past year and a half too, so it has gotten me really into voices, so I have started to produce little voice pieces, this one is a recent favourite, lots of laughing from about an hours worth of track https://soundcloud.com/marthaamay/you-cant-record-laughter-with-a-lens

[Martha]

oh, but my cat is beautiful https://www.flickr.com/photos/samanthawass/5382890682/in/set-72157615079062221

[synsei]

hello :)

I totally agree Synsei, this is why I think being involved with a forum or group that you can bounce off would be helpful!

A lot of my work used to be drone based and tied to a certain loc and so I have not uploaded that, but this is from one of my biggest exhibitions, recorded as part of a collaboration exploring sound as it travels in the air. In this instance, the 23rd storey of a tower-block stairwell in South London. Recorded to cassette tape, can't remember the recorder sadly, I liked it though. Both exhibition spaces, in Leeds and London were unused spaces and you walked into the pitch dark into a large room.. was pretty sppoky actually. this hour recording was on a ontinuous loop https://soundcloud.com/marthaamay/south-london-towerblock

This was part of a contribution to the Leeds Liuverpool canal anniversary, I was working with Chris Watson on this one :D https://soundcloud.com/marthaamay/ghost-train

I have been producing and presenting a radio show for the past year and a half too, so it has gotten me really into voices, so I have started to produce little voice pieces, this one is a recent favourite, lots of laughing from about an hours worth of track https://soundcloud.com/marthaamay/you-cant-record-laughter-with-a-lens

If I'd understood what a foley artist was back then I may well have been inspired to follow my nose towards a career. I did use some of my weird concoctions during live performances with my band and when DJ'ing however ;)

[walpurgis]

Hi Martha, welcome to the forum from me too.

There is a fair interest here on recorded music and recording in general. You've come to the right place. If you want to discuss techniques or just want to bounce ideas around to get opinions, go ahead! Recording is an interesting topic and if you're doing anything unusual please start a thread on it. I'm sure there be a lot of interest.

Do you have a personal sound system (Hi-Fi)? We'd like to hear about it if you do and your music choices.

Nice moggie by the way.


Enjoy AOS,
Geoff.

[Martha]

Do you have a personal sound system (Hi-Fi)? We'd like to hear about it if you do and your music choices.


Geoff.

hi, thankyou!

I have just moved house and so have nothing great set up at the moment, but for the previous 7 years have been working with an Prisim Orphious Pre Amp, with Adam A7s. Sounded great but I now don't live with that person anymore (break up) so have to set up my own shiz.
I think that having the above to work with has done so many favours to my work and enjoyment of recording, because I have known what it CAN sound like, and able to monitor properly!

I also have access to a tile room. :) And a recording studio with an amazing vintage Neve console and eqiptment but I don't really record instruments, so I just go to oogle. I pick up a lot of info from being there though.

[YNWaN]

Hi Martha,

I wonder if it would be fruitful to investigate building your own microphones - ones that interact more directly with the medium you are recording - or forms of mechanical amplification acting upon existing microphones. For example, a large mylar diaphragm stretched across a sealed box leading to a microphone, or the microphone mounted in the mouth of a horn. It would be possible to construct a diaphragm that acted upon a cartridge and produce sound in that manner too.

[Martha]

Music choices,

I like quite a bit, but mainly steer towards electronic music like Garage, Jungle, and acid (such as Dj Producer, Cooh, Ceephax, Venetian Snares, Aphex, Remarc, DMX Krew Dj Hype, DJ EZ..)
I'm also really into neo classical too, like Max Richter, Olafur Arnalds, Helios and Yann Tiersen.
Used to be a huge metal and hardcore fan too, which is prob why I like gabber and Techno now.

recently gotten into more experimental/Modular electronic music such as PAN SONIC and such like

[Martha]

This is exactly why I joined this forum YNWaN !

[YNWaN]

Thought it might be ;).

[YNWaN]

Presumably you know you can use headphones or speakers as microphones? Also, have you tried boundary effect microphones that attach to walls?

also, a microphone free to swing in the wind, or some microphone cables are microphonic - create rustling sounds when moved.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Hi Martha
Welcome to the AOS forum, the friendliest and funniest at times. My experience with recording has been using some wonderful gear. I love recording too. My favourite setup is using a DBX700 as it has a really good preamp section and audio Technica mics. Recording puts you in touch with many varied people and experiences around you,

What is your setup for storing sound ?

Chris

[Martha]

I am finding this forum very friendly indeed, I am supposed to be working right now!

@LightDependant Resistor
For storage, you mean as you use the DBX700? I don't have one of those. :( I have a huge external harddrive for digital files that pop the things that I take off my recording devices. Not so good at labelling them though, any handy tips would be appreciated. As for my analogue things, I have them in a box. Is this what you mean? I have a feeling that I should be thinking more about storage?

@YNWaN
I have just bought the things to make a PZM, I have been putting it off for so long, going to try and make a few versions and see what works best, hydrophones too, although I didn't really enjoy using them, thought the sound was too dependant on the water being still. And, yes, from recording my radio show I do know some mic cables create rustling sounds... Bain of my life. Never thought of using that side effect for good though. One for the weekend. oh yes, I once found out about 'how great' headphones are at picking up sound by accident when recording... But again, thought it was a bad thing. Funny how sometimes you just don't see the possibilities..

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Hi Martha
Re storage, the 700x was designed around video tape format, and have looked at getting its delta sigma modulated signal onto yamaha CDR HD1500, but presently use it for its excellent mic preamp. Companding is always an improvement when recording and DBX150x does a great job the benefit is the recording medium does not have to handle peaks. Computer storage labelling, firstly flac or ogg are much kinder to file size and support creativity with software development rather than proprietary prisons that no one shares. Labelling is a mundane task but there is some nice linux software called KHD record - the dependency files I previously published when opera had their blog site running. KHD record serves to stop and start recordings and will label each as it proceeds, I had it running really well in a radio station for logging purpose when mics were turned on and then off. There is probably some more recent auto labelling free software, check out AV linux

The yamaha CDR HD 1500 is a nice storage device as it is very faithful to good audio and can be used with a 150x, but probably not as handy as computer files as its big and bulky and mains powered. There are quite a few dedicated audio linux operating systems like http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=avlinux

All the best

[Martha]

very interesting, I might see if I can borrow one and understand how good it could be. I don't understand what you mean when you want to get it to work in your CDR unit, but I am assuming it is running it through the DBX for it's 'vibe' and into the Yamaha for the year 2014 purposes?

Just looked and it's quite easy to run Linux on a mac so it's an idea, especially as you say you used it in broadcasting... it can get pretty messy.

[MikeMusic]

That cat looks in charge - like cats usually are

You must have dogs !

I like some odd noises. The wind in the trees is quite a soundscape sometimes

Have you heard Holland Tunnel Dive by Imploc ?
I have the 12" !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHlfuv422Bw#t=34

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Martha

Interesting hobby you have there. You have come to the right place for ideas - we have a few members who are in the recording business, and who I am sure would be glad to pass on their thoughts to you.

I have a Nagra IV-S portable machine, bought years ago when I had the mad idea of taking it to Nepal and Tibet to record Buddhist chant. Abandoned the idea, because such recordings were already available and because I couldn't decide on suitable microphones.

Anyway you seem to have settled in nicely, so I hope you continue to enjoy and benefit from the Forum

Regards

[Light Dependant Resistor]

very interesting, I might see if I can borrow one and understand how good it could be. I don't understand what you mean when you want to get it to work in your CDR unit, but I am assuming it is running it through the DBX for it's 'vibe' and into the Yamaha for the year 2014 purposes?

Just looked and it's quite easy to run Linux on a mac so it's an idea, especially as you say you used it in broadcasting... it can get pretty messy.

Hi Martha
The CDR yamaha accepts analog and digital inputs, but the 700x is a bit different as it processes a video stream format, given video is now very much out of date the idea is to make the CDR compatible, Having done similar modifications bypassing SPDIF its a matter of knowing what DBX were trying to achieve and working with that, and possibly interfacing out prior to video stream format with that signal, a few hours with scopes and meters should determine if it has audio or higher components in its bandwidth. in the process avoiding secondary formatting is the aim.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dbx_Model_700_Digital_Audio_Processor

The 150x is a much easier component, with a change to better grade opamps its a very versatile compander.

[Martha]

MikeMusic- This is fantastic. I have not heard this before, but like it a lot. Thank you for the introduction.

Barry - Thank you for the welcome

Light Dependant Resistor - report back!

[walpurgis]

Have you heard Holland Tunnel Dive by Imploc ?

Sounds like a jazz band busking in an airport terminal! :eyebrows:

[Martha]

I bet that would sound quite good actually. I'd record from the roof

[walpurgis]

If you like that sort of thing try a bit of Artificial Memory Trace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMIezb8XsJQ

They've made some interesting albums.

There are also spectacular albums by Gobeil. http://www.discogs.com/Gilles-Gobeil-La-M%C3%A9canique-Des-Ruptures/release/222977

Just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5YyRu6GwXY


This is all electroacoustic experimental stuff.

[PaulStewart]

Hi Martha

Welcome to the madhouse, my company does quite a bit of SFX and other foley recordings for our own and other peoples productions. PZMs are great I have several of the old school Realistic copies of the Amcron original ones. I first got them about 25 years ago when they came out and converted them to balanced output and phatom power, they are always in the mic box :) You mentioned having access to a vintage Neve, is that the one in The Smokehouse?

[istari_knight]

Hi & welcome Martha, can't comment on the recording malarkey but your cat gets 10/10 from me... Love Russian blues.

[Spectral Morn]

Welcome to AOS Martha

That has to be the most beautiful cat I have ever seen.

Hope AOS suits your needs and you have a great time here.



Regards Neil

[.mus]

I like quite a bit, but mainly steer towards electronic music like Garage, Jungle, and acid (such as Dj Producer, Cooh, Ceephax, Venetian Snares, Aphex, Remarc, DMX Krew Dj Hype, DJ EZ..)

Excellent artists there. Have you been to Bangface? If not, you probably should! Ceephax and Producer both come around quite regularly.



recently gotten into more experimental/Modular electronic music such as PAN SONIC and such like

Mika Vainio's solo stuff - both under his own name and the Ø (http://www.discogs.com/artist/31887-%C3%98) moniker - , and stuff by other Sähkö artists, is really worth checking out if you like Pan Sonic.

I love the droney field recordings - will follow on soundcloud. I'm also very jealous that you got to work with Watson! Do you work with tape for editing/processing, or just for capturing the raw sounds?

[Techno Commander]

Greetings.

Never underestimate the acoustic properties of a good cat. Simply place a large cushion where you are getting unwanted reflections from and the cat will move there and provide a superb acoustic absorption panel. :D

I approve of your music choices. Been a long time since I listened to gabber though. :eek:

[Andrei]

Hi from NZ. That cat has the look of a Colonel in the KGB.