WALK FOUR - Sound
Listening
Last week I heard ornithologists had detected that in some cities song birds had lowered the pitch of their songs during the Covid lock downs because there was less noise around to compete with. I live in the country where that probably isn’t happening but it reminded me of just how quiet it was for 3 weeks in April. I really miss that.
Ironically this week for deep listening was one of the noisiest we have had around here for a while. The town was resurfacing our road so lots of truck and beeping noises all day long, and they were doing tree work in nearby neighborhoods with chainsaws and brush grinders going. The private planes that fly out of a nearby little airport were constantly buzzing around, perhaps to get out and see the foliage from above. In any case the idea of getting out and listening to the quiet subtle sounds was almost laughable.
It has quieted now as I write this and I can hear the drone
of the distant highway and the distant planes and lawnmowers and the Downy
woodpecker ratatatting on the house trim. I will go out now for a good deep listen
and report back another time.
Walk 4 - Sound
The sounds for this 4 channel mix were collected in one minute segments. One after another. I decided to use the sound that most clearly captured my steps as the base track. It is relatively consistent throughout, like the drums carrying the rhythm. The other sounds, shuffling through leaves, a plane overhead, my dog drinking water, kicking rocks, the sounds that were occasional, I have overlaid and edited to exaggerate their coming and going. It's best in stereo and turned up some.
Carrie this is great. The way you mixed it makes it sound like a very interesting walk, almost like you're in a children's book with random events constantly popping into view and then fading out until the next one comes in.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you say that about the children's book. I think that thought was floating around in my head too. Not as an intention but as a realization.
DeleteCarrie I enjoyed the way your edits moved me through the walk with you, and your choice of individual sounds.
ReplyDeleteGreat recording and mixing. I thought it captured the movement of a walk and passing or encountering a variety of activities - like a stream of running water and others. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLaurie