Gordon Hempton is one of the world's foremost nature sound recordists. He's won an Emmy, been the subject of a documentary, is an activist for acoustic ecology, and...in what many may deem a tragic irony...is also losing his hearing. Our focus on field recording this month is the perfect opportunity add his voice to our little community here. DS: How did you get into field … [Read more...]
As Chris Rock Said…Be POLITE
This article is about one of those universal inevitabilities that surrounds recording in the wild, dealing with the police. Sooner or later, we all have our encounters with them. Before I go further, let me lay out the persepective with which you should read this. I am not a lawyer. This article should not be construed as legal advice. What follows is a set of common sense … [Read more...]
October…Get Out and Record!
Thanks you for indulging us as we tried a different approach last month. We feel it's important to break out of tunnel vision every once in a while, and it was a nice (but relevant) departure for us. So let's get into October! This month, we're going to focus on the art of field recording, and it's a great month to do so. We're in that seasonal transition time where it's a … [Read more...]
Sounding Real: Directing VO for Games
Guest Contribution by DB Cooper For our collaboration month, some tips from a voice actor...on working with voice actors. Actors are, for the most part, eager to please. And they know that games need to be recorded fast— there's so much script and so little time. Actors are keen to help get the work done quickly, and often approach lines of script as elements that … [Read more...]
Voices of Collaboration
The start of September. The start of a new topic! We're going out on a limb this month and doing something really different. "No one is an island." "You don't work in a vacuum." "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." We are but one small piece in a complex system that builds art. I know many sound professionals who are happy to talk about becoming story … [Read more...]
Noise, Storytelling with Sound, and Visuals on the Radio with Radiolab’s Jad Abumrad
I recently had the chance to chat with Jad Abumrad, creator and co-host of WNYC's Radiolab. Each episode of Radiolab explores ideas in science, technology, and the universe at large through a seamless blend of expert interviews, sound design, and music. Together with co-host Robert Krulwich, the show has covered topics such as sleep, colors, cities, and loops, just to name a … [Read more...]
“The quieter it is, the more you hear!” – Chuck Michael on the sound for Stoker
Sound is the most invisible part of the film. That’s probably why it’s quite rare for the sound of a movie to be mentioned in the press. But it happens, fortunately, and the film Stoker is a great example – this latest work by acclaimed Korean director Park Chan-wook premiered at this year’s Sundance, and since then the prolific and powerful sound design has been getting a lot … [Read more...]