Ears on the Ground
Sunday, June 26th, 2022 11:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snoozefestaudioSpent a lot of time this weekend outside burning wood at night.
I had a fire going on Friday night, and another one tonight.
I have a lot of wood to burn after three years of cutting down junk trees around the yard, so it's nice to finally be getting rid of some of it.
Didn't record out there, but both sessions gave me a chance to just exist out in the back yard for several hours after dark and get a feel for the soundscape in real time, with my own two ears.
The dobermans have really chilled out this year. Last year, when they were new, they were on a hair trigger all summer and would launch into five minute barking fits at the smallest sound. But this weekend, I was out there making all kinds of noise, and they ignored me completely.
They've learned the difference between regular neighborhood sounds and stuff that, to them, still matters.
Like all dogs, they will get upset about fireworks. But aside from that, their late night barking is relegated to other animal sounds, and sounds of human distress.
So... if a girl screams in a back yard while playing... or a person screams in the distance drunk, they'll bark a bit.
And they'll howl along with sirens... as will other dogs... which is something I'd love to get on tape.
But by and large, it seems they will not be a big problem, this August & September with the cricket recordings.
------------{=0=}------------
Distant speeders continue to be a constant in the soundscape... which is good. Distant speeders are like pepper! They spice up a boring night just a bit.
But as for people partying... Sunday night is not off limits. Tonight was pretty lively, with music and people shouting and setting off fireworks.
But yesterday was rainy, and hotter.
So I think the rule here is that if Saturday is not optimal for partying outside, then Sunday night is fair game, even if Monday is a regular work day.
So, my best nights for crickets will be Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Wednesday, of course, is Amtrack inspections down at the train station.
And Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are all potential party nights.
------------{=0=}------------
In the past, I would start between 11PM and 12AM, and record for an hour.
But after testing this June, I think 10PM is a perfect start time.
It's plenty dark and quiet by 10PM on the right nights. And 90 minutes is the right length. 90 minutes gives me room to edit out the stuff I don't want, but still end up with a final track that's close to an hour.
----<>----
The whole idea of cricket recordings is to create 8-hour playlists, so that a person can start one when they go to bed, and sleep to it all night long... and it'll be playing when they get up to pee two times... and just be ending when their alarm goes off in the morning.
Ideally, every hour would be uniquely interesting in it's own right... for those few people who just want to sit through one of them awake, for relaxation or meditation.
------------{=0=}------------
My dream playlist would start with cicadas at sunset. The next six hours would follow the seasonal build up, peak, and fade out of the cricket symphony... that in real time takes over two months. And then the final hour would be an early October sunrise, where a few remaining crickets give way to morning birds chirping.
I did get a good dusk recording in 2021. But I could do better. And I have yet to record a dawn recording.
°¦}
I had a fire going on Friday night, and another one tonight.
I have a lot of wood to burn after three years of cutting down junk trees around the yard, so it's nice to finally be getting rid of some of it.
Didn't record out there, but both sessions gave me a chance to just exist out in the back yard for several hours after dark and get a feel for the soundscape in real time, with my own two ears.
The dobermans have really chilled out this year. Last year, when they were new, they were on a hair trigger all summer and would launch into five minute barking fits at the smallest sound. But this weekend, I was out there making all kinds of noise, and they ignored me completely.
They've learned the difference between regular neighborhood sounds and stuff that, to them, still matters.
Like all dogs, they will get upset about fireworks. But aside from that, their late night barking is relegated to other animal sounds, and sounds of human distress.
So... if a girl screams in a back yard while playing... or a person screams in the distance drunk, they'll bark a bit.
And they'll howl along with sirens... as will other dogs... which is something I'd love to get on tape.
But by and large, it seems they will not be a big problem, this August & September with the cricket recordings.
Distant speeders continue to be a constant in the soundscape... which is good. Distant speeders are like pepper! They spice up a boring night just a bit.
But as for people partying... Sunday night is not off limits. Tonight was pretty lively, with music and people shouting and setting off fireworks.
But yesterday was rainy, and hotter.
So I think the rule here is that if Saturday is not optimal for partying outside, then Sunday night is fair game, even if Monday is a regular work day.
So, my best nights for crickets will be Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Wednesday, of course, is Amtrack inspections down at the train station.
And Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are all potential party nights.
In the past, I would start between 11PM and 12AM, and record for an hour.
But after testing this June, I think 10PM is a perfect start time.
It's plenty dark and quiet by 10PM on the right nights. And 90 minutes is the right length. 90 minutes gives me room to edit out the stuff I don't want, but still end up with a final track that's close to an hour.
The whole idea of cricket recordings is to create 8-hour playlists, so that a person can start one when they go to bed, and sleep to it all night long... and it'll be playing when they get up to pee two times... and just be ending when their alarm goes off in the morning.
Ideally, every hour would be uniquely interesting in it's own right... for those few people who just want to sit through one of them awake, for relaxation or meditation.
My dream playlist would start with cicadas at sunset. The next six hours would follow the seasonal build up, peak, and fade out of the cricket symphony... that in real time takes over two months. And then the final hour would be an early October sunrise, where a few remaining crickets give way to morning birds chirping.
I did get a good dusk recording in 2021. But I could do better. And I have yet to record a dawn recording.
°¦}
