We would like to invite all community members to get out and experiment with field recording in order to contribute to an audiovisual art project that the Pollinator Paradise Project is creating. The Metanoia Project (Nature is Us) is collecting both images and audio recordings of Hamilton's native species nature, as part of an art installation that will invite viewers to connect emotionally to our local biodiversity. A project to raise awareness of what we are losing if we do not act immediately to protect and uplift rapidly declining species populations, Metanoia is a call to action.
We are looking for audio clips of nature, such as sounds of birds, frogs, insects, water, wind etc. This short guide will help you get started.

​What to Record?

​For this project we are interested in local sounds of nature. This could be anything like waterfalls, animals, water, etc. You don’t need to go far. Just go for a walk outside and keep your ears open for anything interesting you hear along the way.

​Equipment

​Not much is actually required. At the bare minimum you can just use your smartphone! If you happen to have a field recorder that’s even better but either would be fine. Once you have that ready to go, it’s time to get out and find some sound to capture. It’s also good to bring a pair of headphones with you though so you can review your recordings while you’re out in.

​Software

Don’t use the default voice memos app on your phone because it will record mp3 files by default, which discard a lot of important sonic information required for high-quality recordings. Instead, consider using Awesome Voice Recorder (iOS) or RecForge II (Android) that both record uncompressed audio.
Additionally, here are some settings to check:

• File type: WAV
• Recording quality: High
• Channels: Mono (your phone’s onboard mic most likely won’t record in true Stereo)
• Level setting: keep the peaks between -6 dB and -12 dB. Be sure to stay well away from 0 dB or the sound will suffer
• Automatic Gain Control: Off

Recording Technique

Even with your app settings set correctly, there are just a few things to consider when you’re out in the field to properly capture those beautiful nature sounds:

• Know where the mic is on your phone. Keep your hands and other obstructions away and keep it pointed at your target
• Rest the phone against a stable surface to help with fatigue
• Don’t move or talk—even minor movements will create noise
• Minimize background noise: point your phone away from the highway, ventilation duct, or other source of background noise
• Make a voice announcement at the end stating what you recorded, the date, time, and weather conditions—before you forget

After the Recording Session

The first thing to do is back up your recordings onto your computer. The uncompressed audio you’ve just recorded is probably taking up valuable space on your phone so you’ll want to free that up. Then, review your audio files again and name or tag them with what they each contain. Once you have all that organized it’s time to send us your recordings! Send as an attachment to Beatrice Ekoko at [email protected] 
We thank you so much for your contributions and hope you enjoyed the experience!

Additional Resources

If you would like some more information here are some links that might be helpful:
https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48001064341-audio-preparation-and-upload-guidelines
https://www.queerouthere.com/tips-blog/field-recording
​https://www.wildmountainechoes.com/equipment/audio-recording-with-a-smartphone/