sound kit
another brilliant, thought provoking post Felix, over at thedomesticsoundscape.com. And a shame we did not manage to link up at Whitstable.
I have found the same problems in using kit when both recording for myself and running soundwalks with the public. That while mics can help you focus your ears to secific details and allow the public to hear in a new way the sounds around them. The process of people using the technology allows them to focus carefully on the sounds around them in a different way.
But technology can and does get in the way, as in my experience not everyone on a soundwalk has a blimp, a mic and all the recording gear. Then those that do can get caught up in the buttons, setting recording levels etc. That is why I love Felix’s use of pen and paper, of having people write (or draw!) down their sound experiences.
Though I have stuggled getting young people to write down anything when conducting mapping walks with them. This is why for World Listening Day I have deiced to simple ask people questions about the sonic environment they are in. I will then record people talking about what hopefully you will be able to hear in the background.
