Due to the exploratory nature of my outing to Tolworth Court Farm Fields I decided to take a pair of cardioid condensor mics, taking inspiration from Hildegard Westerkamp’s ‘Moving Microphone’ as a more active approach to field recording. On all previous visits there to record I have used a pair of EM272 Clippy omnidirectional microphones in a spaced, stationary array. While I have experimented with moving arrays using the EM272s in the past – clipping either one on opposite ends of my back pack during a hike up St Martha’s hill in Guildford, making for a discreet, easy and brilliantly portable way of field recording on the go – I have since learnt that cardioid microphones are more suited to highlighting the multidimensional nature of recording while in transit. The cardioid capsule is less sensitive to off-axis positions, with a null point in the 180 degree angle, giving it a heart shaped polar pattern. As a result the soundscape changes more dramatically as one focuses the microphone onto different surfaces, objects and in different directions, revealing a clear acoustic motion, sonic architecture and varying listening perspectives. The 360 degree patten of omnidirectional microphones render them less suited to provide the same depth of experience when sound-walking. I have found their strengths to lie in ambience recording however, offering a perspective on listening that might be likened to looking at a portrait all at once. Both have their values. In this case I used a pair of cardioid AT4021’s that I purchased over the summer due to their high sensitivity and low pre-amp noise despite being relatively on the cheap side. Still, this was at the sacrifice of the even higher sensitivity of the electret capsules found in the EM272s.
Using the AT4021s has meant that I have needed to alter the way I record when on the move. Fidelity and portability are elements that I have tried to reconcile in order to avoid hindrance or delay when encountering momentary sounds. This has proved harder than expected and my current system is one that is still in development. I am currently using my tripod as a replacement pistol grip so that I can switch from a ‘run and gun’ style of recording into a stationary setup quicker and more effectively. Below is a picture of this configuration. After today I have realised a few things. Despite its portability, it is quite a chunky and large bit of kit and this doesn’t make it so easy to navigate. The weight of the tripod also brings on carrying fatigue fairly quickly and I am regularly having to switch the burden to the other hand. I am also using a fold out stereo bar which is great for enabling me to record in both narrow and wide spaced AB, however in order to use other arrays such as XY or ORTF, I am forced to use a ruler in the field to exact the correct distances between my microphones which can be a bit laborious. I have also lost the thumbwheel that tightens the stereo bar into place. After some research I have decided to make a few changes and purchase some items that I feel will make field recording a little more seamless.
Instead of the tripod I will instead mount the stereo bar onto the more lightweight and smaller Rycote Soft Grip Extension Handle. Installing a quick release adapter onto the end of this grip will then allow me to effortlessly mount the entire handheld configuration straight onto my tripod (which I will carry in my bag’s side pocket), reducing the need to change and install adapters whenever changing from moving to stationary (this normally involves a lot of twisting of screws). Moreover, I will switch from my current fold out stereo bar to a smaller one offered by Rycote that has ruler markings along it, sacrificing the ability to record in a wide spaced AB setup, but allowing me to switch to ORTF and XY arrays more smoothly. I have also managed to find out the name of the pernickety thing – thumbwheel – that will hold the stereo bar in place and have located somewhere to purchase it from. Lastly, as I am using a Zoom F6 as my recorder/ mixer, I have purchased the BTA-1 adapter so that I can control certain elements of the Zoom F6, such as channel settings and the like, from my phone. I’m hoping that this new improved custom field recording setup will be capable of fulfilling all my portability needs with ease while providing high fidelity recordings.