Tutorial: Create Your Own ORTF Field Microphone Protractor

Here’s how to create your own custom ORTF field protractor that contains both 110 degrees and 17cm.

1. Download the docx file.

2. Print the file. (measure the red arrow and insure you have your 17cm)

3. Cut out the required angle from 0 until the solid line at 110 degrees.

4. I used moving tape to plastify. Cut out enough strips to cover the bottom side.

5. Drop the cut out protractor on the tape.

6. Apply tape to the top side now covering up any exposed paper.

7. Cut out the excess tape as closely to the edge as possible.

8. Set your microphone positions.

9. Rec.

Poll: Field Recorder Shootout

My good friend Michel Marchant, sound design guru,  has built a fantastic portable recording rig. This allows him to simultaneously record with up to four devices. He sent me files about a week ago and asked that I identify my favorite one. He allowed me to share them and see what the community thinks!

After listening to the audio files below, select your top recording in the poll. After voting click here to look behind the curtain.

The Awkward Shootout: XY vs MS

At Funcom we have access to a few microphones that cover our general recording needs. I’m putting some of them to the test to see what options and combinations can be used in the field. I chose two locations that have distinct tones to try and capture the microphones characteristics. Why awkward? Well it’s not the usually suspects when it comes to shootouts specifically MS. Let’s have a listen!

Location 1 – Recorded off of Ste-Catherine street west, between Bishop and Mackay Street. (Google Maps)
0:00 XY – RØDE NT4
1:02 MS  – RØDE NTG3 (mid) AKG 414 (side)

Location 2 – Recorded in the Funcom office at 1440 Ste-Catherine street west (Google Maps)
0:00 XY – RØDE NT4
1:02 MS  – RØDE NTG3 (mid) AKG 414 (side)

Conclusion: One of the reasons people use MS recording technique is because of the wide stereo image. These examples also show how narrow the NT4 is, small compromise for a portable stereo solution. I also really like the frequency response of the MS kit, nice full and round. Let me know if you put together an uncommon MS kit would love to hear it!

24 Hour Day Cycles

The concept of recording and using proper day periods within a video game world has always attracted me. By proper I mean capturing a locations actual 24 hour cycle, as opposed to recreating typical soundscapes in post. It’s a concept that’s not always feasible because a) the time required to record and b) library material not always containing same locations at different times of day.

Roomtone is roomtone no matter what time. You may choose to add occluded traffic if in a city apartment, but generally you can build it in post-production. When it comes to forests, jungles, cities, mountains, etc the time of day influences the tone and believability. Mostly through wild life, insects, wind intensity and distant sounds.

This past weekend I decided to test out this concept. I grabbed some gear and hiked outside a small village near Quebec city called St-Antoine-De-Tilly (about 2h30 drive from Montreal). I recorded in four different locations at four different times of day: 5AM, 11AM, 5PM, 11PM. This allowed to build a small library of forest sounds throughout a 24h cycle. An interesting analogy is the way my voice timber changed throughout the day while slating location and time… similar to the way the environment did!

Now that I have my sounds recorded and edited let’s see how we can put these sounds to use in some game audio! Excerpts below.

Specs:
Stereo 24bit / 96KHz
Fostex FR2
Rode NT4

9th Floor Drones

Grinder – Stairwell – Recording gear

Had a chance to record an occluded mechanical grinder throughout our buildings twelve stories. One of the most interesting sounds was in the stairwell, walking up and down each floor was like adjusting the wet / dry mix.

Over 45 minutes of audio was edited using different mics and perspectives. How to turn an awful sound into library 101.  Here are some samples of the recording to download.

Specs:
Mono 24bit / 96KHz
Fostex FR2
Rode NT4, NTG3

Sounds of the Tour de l’Île de Montréal 2013

This was my second Tour de l’Île (a 50 Km bike tour starting at boulevard Saint-Joseph and ending at the Olympic stadium) with my friend Mich3D. This time around I brought my Zoom H2, strapped it down to my handlebar and hit REC.

The combination of riding a fixed gear with barely any mechanisms and a good tune up the night before, allowed for little noise to be heard while biking… Putting you amidst the other cyclists! All sounds recorded while riding until 2:06, whereby a live band can be heard marking the activities awaiting along the way.

More than 25,000 cyclist showed up for this years event.

Specs:
Stereo 24bit / 48KHz
Zoom H2

Sounds Of The Student Protest

Friday June 22nd, 2012 marked the 131st day of the Québec student protest. Approximately 100,000 people showed their support, similar events have taken place every 22nd of the month.

I recorded this on the corner of Ste-Catherine and Guy street.
Specs:
Stereo 24bit / 96KHz
Fostex FR2
Rode NT4

UFO Take Off

This sound was captured from a UFO take off from the Hôtel de la Montagne terrace, in Montréal. Standing around 70 meters away, the sound pressure level must’ve topped 130 dB! Captured with a Zoom H2.

Recorded by Alexandre Saba in February 2012.

Cemetery Howl

This footage was recorded on a cold morning in April 2012, just outside of Montréal. I live not 500 meters away and heard the howls as I was leaving for work. The noise lasted only a few minutes and haven’t been heard since.

Earth Day Church Bells

At 14:00 on Sunday April 22nd, 2012 all of the Catholic Churches in Quebec rang their bells for two minutes for earth day. Sound recordists from across the province were called upon to record as many of these as possible.

I recorded this on the 12th floor rooftop facing the St. Léon de Westmount Parish with the following specs:
Stereo 24bit / 96KHz
Fostex FR2
Rode NT4