Technique-Person in Technical period

Software Response

Discuss your experiences with building your microphones. Was this process more or less what you thought it would be? How did your microphone rig work on your Drift walks? Were you able to capture both overall ambiance and extreme closeups? Describe your ideal microphone and recorder setup, with unlimited time and money.


I am pretty excited to report my experience with the building my microphones. Honestly, I have not done soldering before either for academy or entertainment purpose. At the beginning, I thought it is complicated and was worried that I would cut the metal wires inside. But at last I think it was not difficult at all and just need to be very carefully when you are working at the plastic clothes of the wires. I did the soldering correctly thanks to Glenn’s detailed protocol and Joe’s patience. I enjoyed the microphone building very much.


So far, my dear microphones have not been reported any problem with the recording. It so happens that two field recordings in my Drift_1 blog are ambient and extreme closeup sounds, respectably. I think the quality of these two pieces of recording proves that my microphones function greatly.


In my opinion, it is not money matters that how great the microphones would be. Although I understand that for different conditions, we need microphones which are able to catch one or several aspects specifically regarding the elements of sound. For instance, I have dreamed of that I own a recording studio which equipped with microphones recording sounds without the loss of low-pitched sound as possible as it can be. But for that case, I would probably have to find a sponsor in that the price of the microphone is very high. When it comes to setup, I would definitely refuse to operate a one-step-setup recorder. As we know that the sounds are vibrations of the sound resource which detected by the ears or microphones. Because of the loss in transmission, it is impossible for us to detect the vibration in one hundred percent. The most critical part in operation of recording is to adjust the recorder manually, so that we would not lose the interesting part and avoid the unwanted base. Without this selection, the sound would be probably not so attractive to us. It is also the reason that sometimes it is not the money matters but only a person who is observant for the recording.


How was your experience with operating the MiniDisc recorder? How does this recorder compare to other audio equipment you've used? In an ideal world, how would your recorder of choice function?


Maybe I am not experienced in recording, but I think that it is a little bit complicated in operation for a portable recorder. In detail, to record sounds is not hard, but to play the sound after recording is confused. And I am glad that the time for writing date is long enough for me to take a break in Soundwalk. After practice, I have no problem with either recording or processing of the files. As a matter of fact, to require the software for the converting guarantees the quality of exported files. Apparently, this recorder is much better than my mp3 player if it can be seen as a recorder. The files collected by mp3 are highly compressed for saving the storage space. When I was very young, I had tried the cassette recorder. It was good for that period only that we didn’t have outside microphones.


In an ideal world, I would pretty bear the writing speed and the operation of recording and playing, even though I have to convert the files before playing. My requirement would be the writing into the disc completely and the safe of the date. I hope that my ideal recorder could not only transfer the sound which microphones detect to the date completely, but also back up the date automatically.


Discuss the audio-editing software you chose and your history with this application. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?


I use Audacity for the editing which is new for me in audio-editing. I used to cut the parts of my mp3 or wav files and join them together, so that I can listen to the best part of each song without changing the playlist. It is very simple to operate which you just select the parts and paste them to the soundtrack. That software is not professional enough in audio-editing. I also used a software named Cool edit which I can’t remember I what else I did except recoding sounds in computer.


It is Glenn’s recommendation and I think it is great as a free software. I have no idea why I need additional files to export my files in mp3 format. But usually the software which performs processing in advanced level need to do so. The audacity enables me to detect the sound files in a very graphic way, which means I can see how the sound is in extreme short time duration. To paste various pieces of sound is easy to operate. I can use the cross fade in and cross fade out to smooth the sounds. Basically, I can also edit the piece of sound in this duration freely. These functions allow me to compose my field recording. But right now, I am not familiar that how to reduce the base for the sound.


I would use audacity for future project because I am getting familiar with it. But I would consider other options which are more professional if I can afford to buy one.

Q&A

1. Are there any natural bodies in the area or at least very close?

Yes. It was fortunate that I chose a park along Milwaukee River as my Drift 1 Soundwalk location. And my strategy is that once I walk into the chosen area, I would choose a path which is the closest to the river water. So I saw the Milwaukee River, the woods along the river and squirrels which are habitants in this park.

2. Are people interested in interaction with natural bodies?

I think people enjoy their interaction with natural bodies very much. Maybe it was a sunny day and was at weekend. The time and weather condition create a great environment for relaxation.

3. How do people interact with the natural bodies?

When I was recording the sounds of waterfall in the river, I saw people was cannoning, fishing and just playing in the water. I believe if it is summer, many people would swim in the river. Families went to the park for picnic. Children played football on the grass. Walking on the grass also could be seen as a kind of interaction in this situation.

4. Are there any natural sounds in the area?

Yes. Just like the answer for question 1. Because of the location that I chose, the opportunities of connection with nature increase. At first, I was interested in sounds of water since it is the most obvious natural body in the area. However, I found that squirrels, birds and even fish were making sounds, although they were in a very low volume and hard to single out.

5. Can I hear the sounds of natural body or the sounds of interaction between people and natural body very clearly?

Yes. When I just got off the bus at the beginning, it was hard to notice any natural sounds, although actually I was very close to the river (no more than 15 meters). But apparently the sound of engine could be much easier to detect compared to the sound of water flowing. Another possible reason is that sounds of natural bodies are very different from mechanical and human sounds. So if I could hear any, my mind skips them. Moving on to the park, I could feel that the engine sounds were more and more far away from me. Then, I was able to find the water following the transmission of natural sounds. When I stood in the water, it was hard to hear the engine sounds of cars. Some of the recordings about my interaction with natural bodies are in a quiet base, which means there are few mechanical sounds in it.

6. Can I single out the natural sounds or at least the sounds that human interact with the nature?

It is hard to eliminate the mechanical sounds in the base. But when I stayed far away from the road or the crowed people, I was able to either hear with my ears or record the sounds of natural bodies clearly. I could easily find a place where is quiet enough to hear my breath in woods along the riverside.

7. What do I feel when I hear the natural sounds?

I feel comfortable and fresh. The tune of natural sounds are more soft and in low volume. They free me from the stimulation of high pitch mechanical sounds.

8. Is there dramatically difference of ambient sound if the weather condition changes?

As a matter of fact, the materials for Drift 1 were collected in a single day. The weather didn’t change. But I believe the weather would greatly impact on the ambient sound in that area. For instance, if it is raining, the sounds of waterfall would be louder. I would hear the sounds of rain drops. There will be very few people in the park and human sounds will be difficult to differentiate in that condition. I hope I could explore further about that kind of influence in Drift 2.

9. Is there any architecture which is designed in a style which fits the natural environment in the area?

Yes, I think. My favorite one is that the stairs to the water. I document many lovely views including that stairs by taking pictures for them. The flowers may be planted by the staff in the park. But anyway, it looks beautiful.

10. Can I only see nature if I turn to any direction in the area?

Actually, I am not quiet sure about the answer. Basically, I was surrounded by nature in the park. But there are human traces everywhere. In the woods, I can see the plastic bags and glass bottles on the floor. In the river water, I can see the bridge. On the grass, I can see cars. Looking at the sky, I can see aircrafts. In a city, you couldn’t not expect that happens. But if there will be one place that allow you to turn to any direction and only see the nature, it would probably be a park.

Drift 1 Assessment

Describe two situations that aggravated, bothered, shocked or otherwise stressed you during Drift 1.

Before I started, I read through the instructions and searched the transportation information of my location very carefully. And the park is a public area. So basically nothing which is particularly annoying happened. But I was surprised to see the condition of natural environment.

Estabrook Park is along the Milwaukee River. Before I came, I thought the water would be fairly clean. However, it was not. When I walked towards upstream of the river, I saw a dam. The water at the upstream side is polluted and in a bad condition. Foliage and oil were flowing on the surface of river water. The dam somehow blocks a part of the solid substance in the water, but even the downstream water is not clean.

There was one situation which stressed my Soundwalk. I walked for almost four hours. At last, I was very starving and tired. And I didn’t bring enough food with me. So I had to head back. But it was lucky that I have already collected many sound materials.


Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.

The park in weekend was peaceful and quiet. I passed by a pool when I was searching for the closet location to water in the park. One gentleman was fishing in this pool and birds were swimming. I took a picture for birds and post it on my Drift 1 blog. They were in a line when they were swimming. This place was so quiet and view was beautiful that I would like to just stay there and read a book if it was not for the Soundwalk. At last I had to move on because I didn’t record any interesting sound at that time.

On my way back to the entrance of the park, I met an old gentleman who was sitting on a bench and listening to music. I think he was enjoying his ease time alone at weekend and I was enjoying my Soundwalk. Seeing his enjoying made me feel at ease.


Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home.

The biggest surprise about the materials that I collected is my last field recording. I did not expect to record that piece of sound. I was on my way back to campus and waiting for the bus. I just pressed the record button to record the far-close-far sound of engine for practice. And certainly I recorded a group of engine sounds, but I didn’t notice more than that. Working to analyze the engine sounds. I was surprised that the chirr of cicada is especially vivid in that its volume is increase slowly and becomes the “main melody” in this piece of sound.

In fact, there was disappointed moment for me. For the sound of waterfall, I expected that it would be very impressive. But it turned out to be not that excellent. Although I was stood in the water and placed my microphone as close as possible and indeed I recorded them clearly. When they are played in a laptop, they are less attractive and lack of variation.

I am glad for one of my mistakes. I took pictures for all locations where I recorded except the place where I threw stones into water. That was in the woods along the river water, which was close to a delta. I placed microphone to some branches that stretch out over the river water and I threw the stones in a somehow dangerous gesture. So after I finished the recording, I was so exciting and forgot to picture that location. After I passed through the woods, I realized my mistake. But I couldn’t find my way back to that tree. So I decided to draw a picture for that place in order to give a better description. Now I feel great about this picture. It looks special compared to other digital documentation images.


Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.

When I was about to leave and heading to the bus, I suddenly noticed that nobody talked to me when they saw my strange equipment (the microphone on the shoulders and the giant headphone on my head). Just at that moment, an old gentleman who stood at the wooden bridge along the riverside said to me, what is that on your head? Mp3 or? So I talked to him about my recording and told him I was recording the sounds of river. He smiled and we talked no more because I was pretty starving, which now I feel very regret. I should talk to him about the river or sounds in this park and record the conversation between us. But I was very glad that somebody has ever asked me about the recording in my very lonely Soundwalk journey. It is a great feeling that you are able to share your joy and enthusiasm with other people, although they are strangers.

Map of Soundwalk in Downer Woods