For the recording process of this assignment, I decided to use a Zoom H4n, the reasons for using this device, is because it has everything I need all ready to go. You can record straight onto an SD card using this device, and the built-in microphone is good enough quality that it will pick up just what I need. As well as this, it fits in just one hand so it’s not a heavy or bulky piece of equipment, which is good for me, considering the whole premise of my idea is to be walking around Lincoln, recording the city. I wanted something light, and small that people wouldn’t notice as I walked past them.

Even though, I had used a Zoom H4n before, it had been a while, so when I loaned it out to use, I took it home to do some test recordings, just to see if it was working and to see if I could remember how to use it. When I done some test recordings, I could not get a signal in, which meant nothing was recording. So, I spent a little while trying to work it out by myself to see what the problem was, however I could not work it out.

I found a website, called Evergreen and I straight away found out what my problem was:

‘The H4n can record from several different sources, including the built in stereo microphone, an external stereo microphone and external microphones or instruments attached with XLR or ¼” jacks. Recording sources can be chosen with the input buttons on the face of the recorder.’ (Evergreen, 2017)

This is the part that helped me on the website, it was a very small issue, which had an even quicker fix, what had happened was the device that I was using had been left on recording using the Inputs 1 and 2, whereas I needed it to be on the built in Stereo Mic, once I had found this article, I fixed the issue almost immediately, and then I was back on track with recording. The biggest problem was just trying to find a website that could tell me what the problem was.

Evergreen (2017) Zoom H4n Audio Recorder Operating Guide. Available from: http://helpwiki.evergreen.edu/wiki/index.php/Zoom_H4n_Audio_Recorder_Operating_Guide#Recording_Sources [Accessed 10 April 2017]

The first thing I had to when starting this soundscape was decide what genre I wanted it to fall under, experimental, formalist or naturalistic.

Definition of Experimental:

‘Experimental music describes the most radical approaches that can be found throughout the history of recorded music. Experimental music has two main characteristics: the first is about the production and the other one is about the sound.

Firstly, experimental musicians use non-traditional production methods, it can be through the uncommon use of traditional instruments, such as guitars, cellos, saxophones, and even the human voice… Secondly, these non-traditional production methods result in a sound that goes largely beyond the traditional boundaries of music. The use of traditional instruments outside of any academic structure.’ (Rate Your Music, 2017)

Definition of Formalism:

‘strict adherence to, or observance of, prescribed or traditional forms, as in music, poetry, and art.’ (Dictionary, 2017)

Definition of Naturalism:

‘(in a work of art) treatment of forms, colours, space, etc., as they appear or might appear in nature.’ (Dictionary, 2017)

After reading through the descriptions of the three types of genre, I know that the piece I have recorded is not an experimental piece, which means it falls under either Formalistic or Naturalistic. The reason for this is because, as a soundscape of Lincoln, I want to try and keep it true to form, I want it to be a walk-through Lincoln, where you hear the cars going past, the train at the train line, the chatter of people walking past the microphone. Because of this I feel that my piece is naturalistic because I’m trying my very best to treat the sounds as they appear or might appear in nature –  or in this case the urban life of Lincoln.

Rate Your Music (2017) Definition of Experimental. Available from: https://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Experimental [Accessed 23 April 2017]

Dictionary (2017) Definition of Formalism. Available from: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/formalism [Accessed 23 April 2017]

Dictionary (2017) Definition of Naturalism. Available from: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/naturalism [Accessed 23 April 2017]

As this is a project at University, I will not be getting paid for what I produce, however, there would be a price on this kind of work if someone employed me to record the soundscape for them, here is a breakdown of all the equipment used and how much it would cost to use the equipment as well as how much it would cost for travel from where I live in Essex to come to Lincoln, and a wage that I would charge for doing work like this.

The first piece of equipment that I used is the Zoom H4n, the cost of one of these is around £164. (Amazon, 2017)

The next piece of equipment that I used are a pair of Beats Solo 2 headphones, to listen to the recordings on the Zoom as I was walking around Lincoln, the cost of a pair of these headphones is £149.99 from Argos.

The third piece of equipment that I used is Pro Tools 10, to edit the soundscape. Now whilst I wouldn’t expect everyone that I worked for to front the price of the Pro Tools DAW, I would add the use of the equipment into the price list. The price of Pro Tools 10 is £255, this is the price of the Student/Teacher edition that I currently have installed onto my computer.

As well as this, I would need my travel expenses covered, because the soundscape is in Lincoln and even though I live here for University, I have included the price of a return ticket from Essex to Lincoln, because that is where I would be based when doing this kind of work, the price of these tickets is £25.05. I have added in screenshots of the price of the tickets because train prices fluctuate depending on the time you choose to search for the tickets.

As for the pricing of how I will charge the people who employ me for a job like this, I will be following a system which Grant Bridgeman uses, which is called a Rate Card, I will also be basing my prices on what he has stated.

‘Sound Recordist rate is £320 per day, up to 10 Hours, additional Hours charged at £35 per hour or part thereof. For commercials this rate is £430 for a 10 hour day. (In line with the BECTU / PACT guidelines)’ (Bridgeman, 2017)

So, in line with what Grant is charging for his time, and in line with the guidelines, I would charge around £100-£150 a day, mainly due to the fact that I have a lot less experience than someone like Grant Bridgeman. I feel that this is a fair price for the work, especially for someone with the experience that I have, it might not be a lot but I definitely have some experience.

Amazon (2017) Zoom H4n price. Available from: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/nqm/Zoom-H4NSP-Recorder/B00NXULR38/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1492864388&sr=8-3&keywords=zoom+h4n  [Accessed 22 April 2017]

Argos (2017) Beats Solo 2 headphones price. Available from: http://www.argos.co.uk/product/2745318 [Accessed 22 April 2017]

Gear for Music (2017) Pro Tools 10 Student/Teacher edition price. Available from: http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Avid-Pro-Tools-Student-Teacher-with-Annual-Upgrade-and-Support-Plan/18RR?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=58023d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=147468890239&gclid=CjwKEAjw_uvHBRDUkumF0tLFp3cSJACAIHMYbm82GBFmT-9nM9rioU7i83YibzWVFCzSlMswhap_hxoC48Pw_wcB  [Accessed 22 April 2017]

Trainline (2017) London to Lincoln return ticket price, 24^th May -25^th May. Available from: https://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/combinedmatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable#Journey/LONDON/LINCOLN%20CENTRAL/24/05/17/13/00/Arrive Before/25/05/17/15/00/Leave After/1/0/YNG/1  [Accessed 23 April 2017]

Bridgeman, G. (2017) Everything but the Sound. [lecture]. Audio Project 2 AUP 3004M-1617, University of Lincoln, 23 January. Available from: https://blackboard.lincoln.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/institution/MHT/Media%20Production/Learning%20Materials%20%28DMcS%29/16_17/L3/AUP3004M/Everything%20but%20the%20sound%202017.pdf [Accessed 23 April 2017]