What Is Field Recording? - How To Get Started Field Recording With Hayley Suviste!

As musicians, we're always making noise with our instruments. But there's a whole other world of sound that surrounds us all the time - and the talented Hayley Suviste is here to answer all your questions! Meg and Ria from PMTVUK join Hayley to discuss frequently asked questions such as what is field recording, how do you get started field recording, what skills you need to start field recording and so much more!

@hayleysuviste7237 is a sound artist and composer based in Manchester. Working across field recording, archival sound, electronic hardware and live instrumentation, Hayley uses her music to explore community and culture. Her work draws on first-hand oral histories and is made in close collaboration with those who can provide the most accurate document of their environment. Much of her music is immersed in the rural and urban narratives of her local Manchester, observing the city’s threatened natural spaces and our experiences preserving and polluting them.

In this video, PMTVUK presenters Meg and Ria are joined by Hayley as she takes them on a sound tour of Manchester's canals. They seek out any and every interesting sound they come across, and Hayley shares her expert advice on how best to capture audio in your immediate environment.

She reveals that anyone can start field recording - the only limit is your creativity! There are countless sounds around us that have musical qualities, and the potential to create interesting music, sound effects and soundscapes from them is truly endless.

Get the gear Hayley recommends for field recording from PMT:

00:00 Intro
01:05 What Is Field Recording?
02:38 Urban Construction Sounds, Using Mic Techniques To Alter Sonic Perspective
03:47 Capturing Ambient Sounds - Planned vs Unplanned
04:42 Hayley's Recommended Kit For Field Recording
06:48 Capturing Underwater Sounds With The Hydrophone
08:06 Using Different Microphones For Different Scenarios
08:56 Interacting With The Sonic Environment
10:16 How Hayley Got Into The World Of Field Recording
12:34 How Lockdown Encouraged Ria To Start Field Recording
14:17 Recording Tonal Impact Sounds With Contact Microphones
15:23 Capturing "Hidden" Sounds With The Electromagnetic Microphone
16:46 What Skills Do You Need To Start Field Recording?
17:33 Final Thoughts And Where To Find Hayley Suviste Online

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[SourojitBh]

One of the best and most interesting video on field recording. I enjoyed every bit of it. If it was twice long I'd still watch the whole of it.
Strangely Hayley just has 2 videos on her youtube channel, one 5 years ago and another one 4 years ago.

[emmetlyons]

This is a really great video and thanks for taking the time to do it! I have forgotten about my recorders of late - they have become neglected and dusty - and this has completely inspired me to get going again with capturing the sounds around me. Thank you! ❤

[farpelito]

Great to see young people enthused about audio. X

[mediaflmcreation]

This was very interesting to be honest!!! I love the different mics and its different uses. UK always got good stuff!

[janniclassz]

This video is a true inspiration! Really nice also that she mentioned the easy way to start recording with this app. I'll definitely check it out! But the gear she uses .... just WOW! Such a versatile recorder! And the results are stunning! Listened to it on my studioboxes.

[RichardOldroyd]

Great video, I've just started and it's going well so far. Would love to see more videos like this.

[bergspot]

I enjoyed this pretty much! A good introduction to anyone who wishes to get into field recording and using the material for compositional purposes.

[ubwrites]

Great video! Love the approach to sound. Just getting into field recording!

[europeanambience]

Any Rain & Nature Sounds Lovers here?

[JaneHuws]

that was great. Really inspiring and natural. thanks

[Ancestors-of-the--Directions]

yes already do this. Thats why I tuned in

[RobertGlotzbach]

What a wonderful video :-) Thank you for reminding me that i was actually planning to go out and do this!

[ahzootube]

Really cool video! Thanks for sharing this

[desvonbladet]

Beyerdynamic DT770s are not open backed, too me. But an interesting video!

[Mopsie]

I was interested in this before but this video really inspired me to try it out

[KristinSevaldsen]

I just loved this video. I’m about to launch my 2nd album based on field-recordings. I’m planning on a trilogy with sound from the Arctic and I’ve called it The Sonic Experience.
I’m combining with saxophone and voice.
Greetings from Norway 🏔️🎷🌊

[erniehatt]

I have just recently started with this, so thank you for your time

[adam]

Thanks for making this video!! I’m from the States, & last summer I thought ‘well how cool would it be to bring my MacBook out & set up a session in Cubase & get the sound of the wind I this tree, right outside my house’… and now I don’t have to go that route if I don’t want to… I downloaded the app y’all mention in the video… the one from Rose.

[O_Towne_Bear]

Interesting video. Been aware of this idea for some time. I was exposed to the UK band Test Department back in the day and know that peter gabriel has experimented with this concept in his early solo work (for use with the Fairlight). Others as well. Glad that this idea is still alive and well.

[europeanambience]

Hands Down. The Zoom F3 is the best Field Recorder. It´s so compact, light with very fast start up time and no need to set gain, no clipping because 32Bit Float.