Audio 2 Arienne M Dwyer University of Kansas

Audio 2 Arienne M. Dwyer University of Kansas Toshi Nakayama Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Yoshi Ono University of Alberta, Canada

Topics • Recorders (stand-alone recorders and computer-based recording devices) • Microphones • Accessories (memory cards, cables, adaptors, mic stands, batteries, bags) • Digital transfer/archiving • Signal processing (noise removal, concealing identity, etc. by Carlos) • Shopping consultation

Goals • What do you know/want to learn? – Email to: tono@ualberta. ca – We don’t know everything but we will try • We want to make it a forum to talk about recording • Activities – way to make you an independent recordist

Recording • Aim: to make the highest possible quality recordings, but consider: • Limits of budget, equipment, and training • Whatever your budget, get the best you can possibly buy and operate. • Comfort of speaker/singers – keeping a crowd quiet may stop a storyteller’s flow – large or multiple microphones may be threatening • Naturalness of linguistic/cultural setting – in situ – often includes crowd noise, interruptions, doors slamming, chickens, drumming, etc.

(Relatively) low priced recommended recorders • Edirol R 09 HR ($250) • Olympus LS 10; 11 ($300; $400) • Marantz PMD 620 ($400)

(Relatively) low priced recommended recorders • Zoom H 2 ($140) • Zoom H 4 n ($300; XLR) • Tascam (probably very good; no track record)

middle priced/larger recommended recorders • Marantz PMD 661 ($600; XLR) • Fostex FR 2 LE ($600; XLR; compact flash card) • For phonetics: – Marantz 661 or Foxtex FR 2 LE with Oade modification (advanced mod) http: //www. oade. com/

• Bartlomiej Plichta’s site (recommendations and detailed equipment reviews; technical) – http: //bartus. org/akustyk/ • Avisoft (animal sound measuring; their equipment measurements are fantastic/technical) – http: //www. avisoft. com/tutorial. htm – http: //www. avisoft. com/tutorial_field_recording. htm – http: //www. avisoft. com/recordertests. htm

Microphones • Price varies ($5 - $10, 000; spend minimally $100) • Internal vs. External – Internal: avoid them (all pick up handling noise) – Check to see if the recorder has a mic input Zoom H 2? • Mono vs. Stereo – Mono - one channel – stereo - two; from stereo mic or two mono mics

Cables • XLR - most common in professional audio For balanced audio cables; the 3 -pin versions are most often used Bulky! • • Mini-plug (3. 5 mm) It can create noise (play ex) • •

Microphones • Dynamic vs. Condenser – Dynamic - durable, need no extra power; avoid them for the recommended recorders – Condenser – need power, more sensitive but more fragile, batteries, plug-in power (mini-plug), or phantom power (XLR) Zoom H 2? • Wired vs. Wireless – Wireless: unconnected, signal via radio frequency – Wireless mikes can have dropouts, or signal obstruction, but allow freedom of movement and are therefore a good choice with e. g. children

Microphones • Directionality: Omni vs. Unidirectional – Omnidirectional: operates equally well in all directions • (Uni)directional: receives signal more efficiently from a specific direction than from all other direction

Microphones • Cardioid (heart-shaped pickup) – very useful overall functionality; Also Hypercardioid, Supercardioid • Shotgun – a highly-directional microphone with a narrow oval/ tubular pattern and extremely reduced pickup from the sides and rear.

Microphones • Lavalier/lapel (clip-on) – normally omnidirectional • A miniature microphone that is usually worn fastened to clothing; often used in pairs to record conversation between two speakers • Headset – normally directional • Advantages: Makes excellent quality recordings, as it follows the speaker's movements • Disadvantages: invasive for speakers

Microphones • Boundary - noninvasive, good for multiple speakers; normally omni directional (e. g. talk around a table)

• Specs: – Shure 58 SM 58 – Beyerdynamic MCE 58 • Use a directional mic if possible and appropriate (e. g. sole speaker) • Keep mics close to speaker/singer • Use foam filter to prevent pops from mouth close to mic

• http: //www. shure. com/idc/groups/public/doc uments/webcontent/us_pro_sm 58_specsheet. pdf • http: //northamerica. beyerdynamic. com/shop/media//dat enblaetter/MCE 58_DB_E. pdf

Day 2 • Recording practice • Accessories/auxiliaries • Direct-to-computer recording

Let’s record • Take a recording device and a mic and try making a recording in the way by which the mic is intended to be used • Study all the specs of and the buttons on the recorder/mic before you leave the room • Take headphones with you • Go out and record • Listen to the recordings together

Planning/preparing/practicing Make plans • – – – What microphones and devices would be most appropriate? Site survey Check out local stores to see what they carry Test equipment and practice using it! • – – – Test in the comfort of your home Before you leave home/the night before, re-test it. Emptied memory cards, cables, adaptors, stand, headphone, fresh batteries…. Don’t forget metadata forms! Your goal is to make good recording in “naturalistic” environments

Horrible stories to share • Talk about tough situations where you had to record and/or will be recording

Electricity • National power supplies: 220 v, 110 v, or something else? • Wall AC Outlets: bring adaptors • Availability: 24 hrs? Certain times of day? • Quality: “brown”? (irregular, surging power, lots of spikes) • Power and your hosts: – excessive burden on electrical grid? – compensate if excessive (e. g. if using video lights)

Batteries • Single use – Alkaline (carry them as backups) – Lithium (much longer-lasting; expensive) • Rechageable (environment friendly) – Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad) • Memory effect – Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni. MH) – Sanyo Eneloop (very reliable!) • http: //sanyo. com/eneloop/concept_u/index. html

Memory cards • Get two minimally • Compact Flash (CF) card: better but more expensive; will probably die out relatively soon • Secure Digital (SD) card: cheaper; will be good for some time • Check the size of memory your recorder can deal with (Edirol R 09 HR can take 8 GB SD card) – Zoom H 2? Edirol R 09 HR? • Sometimes upgrading firmware ups the size • Get a card reader

Other things • Cables • Adaptors – Y adaptor for stereo recording – – Hosa (cable/connector manufacturer) The Soundprofessionals B&H Radio Shack (get two) • Stands • Equipment bags – Kata, Lowpro, Porta-Brace, Crumpler, Tamrac…. K&M 231/1

Day 3 • Direct-to-computer recording • Digital transfer/archiving • Signal processing (noise removal, concealing identity, etc. by Carlos)

Direct to computer recording • Cakewalk UA-1 G ($100; okay quality; also for analog/DAT cassette to digital transfer) – Make sample recording • Centrance Mic. Port Pro ($150; high quality) – Make sample recording • Sound Devices USBPre ($550; for phonetics; also for analog/DAT cassette to digital transfer)

Digital transfer/archiving • Ask around (libraries, university tech services, research consortiums/units, music depts) • Professional services (they are costly) • Canaan Media (media transfer (e. g. , tapes to CDs)) – http: //canaanmedia. com/index. htm • If you want to do it on your own, you need an audio interface – Cakewalk UA-1 G – Sound Devices USBPre

Digital transfer/archiving • Reel to reel (talk to pros) • Audio cassette – Tascam deck • Tascam 202 mk. V • Combination deck • For a portable, have to go to – Sony Walkman WM-D 6 C, Marantz PMD 430, Sony TC-D 5 M, etc.

Digital transfer/archiving • You have to go to ebay for DAT decks/walkman – Check sampling rate • 32 k. Hz, 44. 1 k. Hz, 48 k. Hz • DAT walkman needs a very special cable – http: //www. core-sound. com/7 -pin-coaxblurb/1. php

Digital transfer/archiving • MD – You need a deck • Portable MD players lack digital output connectors • Tascam MD-02 B – Or you need to get a H-MD portable recorder • Sony MZM 200 (through Sony’s transfering software) • H-MD – Sony MZM 200 (through Sony’s transfering software)

Digital transfer/archiving • Sampling rate etc. – 44. 1 k. Hz/16 bit ? • You need to digitize the same material pretty regularly (every 5 years? ) – Technological advance in digital technology – Costly • Server with automatic backup • (Portable) harddisk • “Archival quality” DVDs

Signal processing • • Converstion wav to mp 3 Amplifying Noise removal Concealing identity

Reviews • Find and read two reviews for H 2 – Reviews for regular consumers – Reviews for recodists/musicians – Reviews for linguists