Working with Sound

Learning to Listen: Exercise Two

Now we're going to slow things down a little and just listen. Many of us, maybe most of us, take sound for granted. More often we are aware of the extremes and the unique. We notice beautiful bird songs or screeching breaks and spaces that loudly echo. We tend to be less aware of what we consider to be background noise and the degree to which everyday spaces like our offices and bedrooms reverberate. When working with sound, especially during the recording process, we need to be more consciously aware of the range of sounds, however pedestrian or subtle they may seem and the reverberant or reflective nature of the space we are recording in around us. So let's get started by learning to be a better listener. 
  Wherever you are right now, be still:
  What do you hear?
  Maybe a light woosh or buzz from your computer...
  A barely audable high pitch ring or low pitch rumble...
  The hum of a fan or refrigerator...
  The rush or roar of distant traffic...
  Something ticking or clicking, a clock or a radiator perhaps...

  Now clap your hands:
  Does the sound reflect (slap or bounce) off the walls?
  Does it sound sharp or does it have a duller quality?
  Does the sound seem to fade or suddenly die?

Through this simple exercise you should have a greater understanding of the soundscape of your space. With this information you can make decisions that will improve the quality of your recording--maybe you need to reduce reflection by padding the walls with blankets and maybe you need to turn off the air conditioner--and whether you want to record in the space at all--maybe the traffic noise is louder than you realized. 
 

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