…every time I go out to do an AOR recording session I learn something — more over, a number of somethings.
Examples being:
- On cold/wet/windy days bring kleenex.
- Don’t stand up-wind of what you’re recording if what you’re recording has anything to do with the wind (dudh!).
- Set your cell phone to silent, vibrate, or stun.
- Bring snacks; make sure they have quiet wrappers.
Today, Adam & I returned to Richmond Beach taking a 2nd shot at capturing materials for Trains & Waves. Primarily I wanted to see Adam to get pictures of freight trains for the album art — a green Burlington Northern or an orange Burlington Northern Santa Fe turbine engine pulling a string of cars in the golden sunlight we only have in autumn. Any recording on my part would be a bonus.
When we were out last Tuesday we had paltry results — very few trains, most of them commuter class. The sounds of commuter trains compared to freight machines is the equivalent of an economy car next to a tractor-trailer — their sound just doesn’t register the same impact. If you’re not familiar, think of this — you’re standing at the top of a stairwell with a roll of toilet paper in one hand and a bowling ball in the other … when you toss them down … yeah, that bowling ball is the freight train. I don’t mind having some non-freight trains on this album, but they’re not the main flavour I’m seeking.
Last week … mostly commuter trains, a few freight trains, and myself not operating my gear correctly. This week … pretty much the same supply of trains, and myself not bothering to pull all my gear out (although now I know what I did wrong last week). I got to see samples of a few of the pictures Adam took, which I’m looking forward to seeing full size. One of them looked particularly cool, taken right before we left. After staying for another spectacular sun-set, one last freight train came in the dark — what Adam got comprised not only of of its lights but the lights reflecting on the metal tracks. This probably won’t be the album cover, but it probably will comprise part of the album art.
So what is it that I learned today?
While trying to record — and I think I did get some good material today (some) — I again got to deal with dog-walkers & etc people. I know … it’s a public place … but I am looking for something in particular, so one does their best to mitigate (one of the things I’ve learned is if you wear sunglasses and don’t look toward people approaching you, they’ll often leave you alone). In about a 15 minute span I was approached by two sets of people who helped clarify why Adam & I have been seeing so many not-freight trains. Essentially the commuter trains have the main use of the tracks in the morning and evening; the freight trains operate mid-day. We have been arriving at the park around 3 … perfectly missing the freight trains. I’ve thought to call BN & BNSF to ask for the schedule of these heavy trains, but in today’s climate I’d probably be having a lovely little chat with TSA by noon the next day. I’m willing to go the distance for this project, but there are points where I draw the line.
I have already adjusted my schedule so that I may be back at the park tomorrow arriving by 10AM. I’ll get about an hour to set up and hopefully 2 good hours of recording just trains and waves — ideally not dogs and walkers because I plan on going to go an even further distance north on the beach. With my schedule, this is pretty much my last opportunity to record for Trains & Waves until late spring 2013 — and at that, I’m only getting the opportunity now because we’re experiencing an ‘Indian summer’. It is my hope that, like the recording sessions for Wind & Harps, ‘the 3rd time is the charm’.
I also learned today that if I want to get some of the other sounds of this park — like the frogs that start making calls in the evening — to record them without walkers and dogs and kids around I’ll probably have to back there sometime late at night … possibly the middle of the night. Hopefully I got just enough today. Additionally, when you walk too far, too fast, down and back up a whopper of a hill, carrying too much gear, anti-inflammatories, muscle balm, and a good night’s sleep are your friend.
Don ~ 09October2012
