Recording the CM Found Sounds sample pack
After reading our tutorials on creative found sound processing, we hope you’ll be inspired to grab a mic and head outside. But what if you’d rather sit back in the comfort of your home studio and use found sounds captured by someone else? Well, you’re in luck – download this issue’s Tutorial Files folder from vault.computermusic.co.uk and you’ll find a folder called CM Found Sounds, a collection of 150 unprocessed hits, noises and ambience recordings captured specifically for this feature. 99 of these sounds were recorded in the German countryside using the highly-directional Rode NTG2 boom microphone. Interestingly, by using a boom mic like this, we were able to explore several odd recording techniques – for example, by swinging the mic rhythmically from side to side as cars passed by, or by waving the mic over streams, we were able to create natural ‘filter sweeps’ within the recorded signals. Cool, huh? We also searched high and low for interesting sonic environments such as tunnels and caves, and we recorded as many unusual sounds as possible – from scattering pebbles in a pond to stripping leaves from a branch. Everything was recorded into an IK Multimedia iRig Duo portable interface, connected to an iPhone 6, giving us the perfect compromise between portability and recording quality.
The remaining 51 sounds were captured indoors using a Rode NT-1, a trusty all-round condenser microphone that’s great for picking up low-level detail in an enclosed environment. Using this mic alone, we managed to create a hi-hat from a can of hairspray, a thumping kick from a rubber band, a layered snare from multiple knocks and bumps, and powerful drum hits using our mouth. Head over to the Vault and check out the pack for yourself – we hope you have as much fun using the sounds as we did recording them!