Audio Theory 4 (25/4/2013)

Joining up with the BA's we were inducted into the recording equipment that we will be using throughout the rest of these sessions. The recorder we looked over today was a 'Handy Recorder H4n'. Otherwise known as the 'Zoom H4n Handheld Digital Recorder'.

• Started with Stereo mode before switching to Mono. Stereo records for one side of an ear phone/speaker whereas mono does both. The benefit of using Stereo is that you can end up separating sounds more easily for retail release as you can have the complete version or just the singing or instrumental version.
• Can be used to record voices up close, instruments that are plugged in and other such sounds that you record from a distance. 
• Can switch between 90 and 180 on the mikes (MIC) attached to the top of the device. These refer to the amount of degrees you are recording in. Therefore if your using 90 on a group of people instead of 180 you may miss some people out.
• Pressing 'REC' to record will only prep the device which is demonstrated by the flashing light. Therefore make sure it is probably set up by making the light not flash, otherwise you will lose your work.
• If the 'MIC' button is flashing then its a sign that you are recording too close to the source and thus everything is too loud and therefore inaudible. 

We also looked over 'Directional Mikes' also known as 'Gun Mikes' as you hold them as you would a gun. Two types also exist, the 'Shotgun Directional Mike' which records a wider angle but is best for closer sounds and the 'Rifle Mike' which records at long range but, has less of an angle.

We then looked over standard mikes that you would use for karaoke or for interviews. One which was best used for recording voice overs (which interested me A LOT) and an other which recorded miscellaneous sounds.  

We were also given a sheet that listed a number of techniques we could use in order to make certain sounds. Some I knew of already since I have always been interested in folio for games includes the following.  

• Breaking celery for the sound of breaking bones.
• Smashing/hitting a cabbage for head impacts. 
• Using two hollow coconuts and clapping them together to make the stomping of a horse. 

Finally we were asked to get into groups and find a number of sound effects we could use in the 3D environments we made last term. You can see our groups more promising findings below.

• Tapping on any wooden surface = Knocking on a hard wooden door.
• Punching a leather sofa = Sounds like hard glass breaking. 
• Flicking through a pack of cards on a radiator for an extended time = Opening a lock if done for the right amount of time and rate.
• Stepping on a plastic wrapper = Varied per step but was a mix of stepping on something gooey or on glass.
• Pushing hard on a chair/scraping it on the floor = Mechanical object or opening a heavy door.
• Rubbing the mike with your hand whilst a filter is over it = Panting dog/animal.
• Tapping a fire hydrant = Boat bell of some sort that has a nice lasting ring.

Side Note: Audio practical will be replaced with audio theory, and audio practical will now replace the 3D modeling we were meant to be doing but haven't due to a mix up in the time table. 3D modeling will now hopefully take place on Tuesdays when we were originally doing audio theory. 

Harvard Referencing: 

• Unknown. (2009) Zoom H4n Handheld Digital Recorder image [Online image]. Available at: http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/zoom-h4n-handheld-digital-recorder--61412 (Accessed: 25/4/2013).