Bushcraft/Outdoors-related uni project: Ideas?

[s'étonner]

Hello

I'm currently studying music technology at university, and this year, I am to undertake a large technical project on a subject of my choice (well, sort of).

I'd like to somehow involve my love of bushcraft/the outdoors. Whilst it does have to link in to music/audio technology in some way, this link can be tenuous!

I was wondering if anyone here has any ideas as to what I could do?

Suggestions that I have had so far are:

- Something related to music listening habits whilst hiking. Ie- is there a particular style of music more suited to hiking than another? Do people walk further and more effectively whilst listening to a particular type of music?

- Something relating to the subject of field recording- hiking and bushcraft can lead people to interesting places, which in turn could provide interesting recording opportunities, such as wildlife, environmental sounds, etc. These could in turn be applied to a piece of music, or compared to studio-recorded 'fake' sound effects of wildlife, environments, etc. Which is more effective or realistic?

- Again on the subject of field recording- the analysis and/or creation of a new piece of gear or technique, that may benefit those dealing with audio in an outdoors environment (I'm thinking someone like Ray Mears sound guy here!). Perhaps a waterproof microphone? An ultra-lightweight digital recording device?


I realise that I'm asking a rather tricky question here, and perhaps I should take a more traditional route with my project, but I'd love to marry the two interests that appeal to me the most: audio and the outdoors. To me, it is at least worth considering as an option, and I thought that the friendly folk on here may be able to give me some ideas and inspiration!

Just writing this up has helped me to get a better handle on what I could do, but suggestions from others would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks for reading!

 

[Elines]

Don't think I can help much directly but this suggestion might lead you somewhere ....

.....Radio 4 used to have (don't think it still does) some kind of wildlife recording competition. The only reason I remember it is because one year the winner was someone who had done something as simple as stuck a microphone in a cow pat and recorded the sound of bugs munching. Of course it may have been put on air on 1 April.

Maybe (eg) a review of winners/top 3 of such competitions might lead to some conclusion on what makes a winner/how technology had changed or something

 

[bloobeetle]

you thought about traditional music played by native indigenous tribes? i.e aborigines didgeridoo?

 

[woodspirits]

might be difficult to write up a whole thesis on say a willow whistle, but along with the history of natural man made audio devices.? (gourds, leaves, grasses, bamboo, skin, seeds etc etc.

 

[capt.dunc]

there's a giant xylophone in the woods near here how about making something similar and looking at the tonal qualities of different woods and/or how they change when tuned as green wood then left to dry, or the way humidity affects them after?

 

[s'étonner]

Don't think I can help much directly but this suggestion might lead you somewhere ....

.....Radio 4 used to have (don't think it still does) some kind of wildlife recording competition. The only reason I remember it is because one year the winner was someone who had done something as simple as stuck a microphone in a cow pat and recorded the sound of bugs munching. Of course it may have been put on air on 1 April.

Maybe (eg) a review of winners/top 3 of such competitions might lead to some conclusion on what makes a winner/how technology had changed or something

That's brilliant! I am quite interested in trying to capture natural sounds that often go unnoticed. When played back in a different context, the results can be very interesting. Similar to music concrete i suppose.

you thought about traditional music played by native indigenous tribes? i.e aborigines didgeridoo?

might be difficult to write up a whole thesis on say a willow whistle, but along with the history of natural man made audio devices.? (gourds, leaves, grasses, bamboo, skin, seeds etc etc.

These topics do interest me- I did a similar project on archaeoacoustics last year, which involved looking at acoustic analysis made on Stone Henge, ancient instruments, and cave sites. I have been considering continuing this research.

there's a giant xylophone in the woods near here how about making something similar and looking at the tonal qualities of different woods and/or how they change when tuned as green wood then left to dry, or the way humidity affects them after?

I like this- a chap in my year is doing something very similar.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions

 

[oldtimer]

Have a look at the work of Richard Long on a sensory walk. He worked the sounds heard while walking into a form of poetry, but a recording could maybe be made into a piece of music. It wouldn't have to be a walk, of course. A recording of sounds heard while sitting in a wood, on a hillside, by the sea etc could also be worked up. I'm getting carried away here: you've managed to grab my interest!

Whatever happens, I hope you'll keep us posted.

PS Stay loose, mon ami

 

[Harvestman]

I'm thinking either sounds at close to ground level in, say, long grass, or sounds at night in a place without human traffic.

I know that when I get into a hammock for the night, rustling noises seem to start below the hammock almost instantly!

The other thing that comes to mind is 'unheard sounds', by which I mean sounds not normally audible to people. I'm thinking bat detectors here (which also works for grasshoppers, crickets, and some moths). I would imagine that depending on how you set the sensitivity range of a microphone there are all sorts of sounds out there.

Oh yes, and creaking trees - they often sound like voices.

 

[s'étonner]

I agree guys- lots of very interesting possibilities to experiment with! I'm thinking of bringing some recording equipment out on my next trip to the woods and seeing what unexpected sounds I can find. I'm particularly keen to capture wildlife sounds like badgers!