Recording in Gambia

[Red Sky]

I am going to Gambia (west Africa) for 7 weeks. I will be spending a couple weeks recording traditional W-Afr music, interviews and some of my own tunes in both field and "studio"(aka grass hut) situations. I am a decent engineer in a controlled environment however this will be my first field recording project... any tips from the pros/experienced? I am trying to get out a few times before I leave but time is closing in on me.

Any special techniques, principles or tricks I should know?

How about Gear?

My gear...
Notebook (lots of power)
Apogee mini-me (no USB)
AKG 451 matched pair
Shure Beta 57A, OM2, Audix D6 and other dyn mics are at my disposal
presonus firebox*** haven't gotten yet. suggestions for other interfaces

looking at adding upto 2k of gear...
would like a Lgr dia condenser that can be abused (not taking my boutiques)
Quality mixer or 2 ch preamp to make use of all 6 i/ps (doesn't have to be used in the field and I want it to be useful when I get home)
Ecocharge baterry system (anybody have one?)
small power regulator (trip-lite LS1206... any other choices)
light/compact sturdy mic stands?!?

Thanks

[Jules]

Plug up holes (like jack inputs) when you uare not using them cause bugs like to crawl in....? (bug juice and audio connections dont go too well together..) That's what I heard anyhow...

Perhaps make a point to sleep with the gear raised up off from the ground (bugs / flash rains etc) in a water proof bag....???

[Recording David]

You should get in touch with the composer David Fanshawe - do you know him, he composed African Sanctus, a piece for choir, percussion and piano performed against his pre-recorded tapes of African music? I did the live sound for a performance recently and met the composer - he's a really nice guy and completely nuts about the kind of thing you're doing. His email is music@fanshawe.com - it's on his website so he won't mind me quoting it.

www.fanshawe.com
www.africansanctus.com

[joaquin]

Hey Red Sky. Congratulations!! sounds like you are up to some intense Trip!!
Jules recommendations about Gear protection are it. Also, portability...maybe get a cart...can't remember the campany...but are for film production...(line?), is like a dolly, that can became a table with wheels. Check some film sites.

The only thing that I'd recommend, is that you get a Boom Pole, and hopefully a nice directional mic, like some of the sennheiser models for field recording....you maight have to chase the performers!!....or run away from them...

For pres, there's hunreds of options, and it's a matter of personal taste, so I wont get in to it.

Definetly get some portable recorder..DAT, HD, etc. Also, check out some portable mixers like the PSC Alphamix, or the more economic shure FP33, wich can work with 9Volts batteries...dont know if you'r ever gonna use them again though...check e-bay.
Also, have all the cables your planning to use plus some backup, and maybe a portable soldering iron like the $15 cold-heat!?

I guess that there must be a lot of things going on right now, but BE PREPARED!! Try to get a contact in the places you are going to, so maybe, you'll get an idea of what's to be needed, and the posible resources you may have in site...maybe, you can rent gear over there...
Anyway. Best of luck and please post some music when you get back

[neve1073]

Good luck and have fun is my advice!
I'd love to hear what you come up with.

[Ruudman]

Yeah, good luck thumbsup

You'll get used to the bugs and stuff, 7 weeks will do that to you..

ruudman

[Jules]

Bugs....

[Ruudman]

This gets 4 inches long:







ruudman

[Remoteness]

That's one bug you will not have to worry about getting into your unplugged jacks.

[wyndrock]

my advice would be to go to a case maufacturer and buy a military grade waterproof case that will fit your whole setup, including laptop.

[Remoteness]

Red Sky, I bet you're considering doubling your rate after you read wyndrock's post.

IMO, his delivery was strong -- But, it's better to go there thinking / preparing for the worse and having a great time than to go there with complete confidence and finding out you were completely wrong.

All the best to you. Keep us posted on your developments.

[wyndrock]

steve,

yep, just be prepared. that's my whole post in a nutsack.

bring us back some national geographic pix, jules really likes the tribal titties!!

[toque-eh!]

because of lack of funding for disposable equipment in african nations AIDS is often spread by improperly sterilized re-used needles (not for drugs, for medical use). take some needles with you because if you end up in a clinic for any reason you do NOT want them to use the needle they have been using all morning.

i'd also make sure i had something other than a computer to record to. redundancy redundancy.

take a pair of EV 635A's.. the landrover of mics!

pelican cases are your friend.

wow, i'd love to go on a sound collecting trip to africa. have a great time.

[Red Sky]

Wow, everyone thanks for all the advise -- and the four inch bug picture. I checked out David's site might drop him a line if I get a chance.

I didn't think of the bug stuff. I should have...last time I was there I got a nasty case of bed bugs. It will help keep the dust out.

The pole mic is also a great idea. I have a mic stand that I will bring which could serve as both.

Budjet is tight it is one of those 'I'm paying gigs'. So, I am doing my best to find cases for all my gear with out being custom or making them impractical for hauling around in over loaded 82' desiel Peugeots (african transport of choice).

Not expecting to see rain on the trip... the country is in a drought and I am there a month before the end of dry season. However, I think I'll have stuff in water proof bags when I'm taking ferries across the river they have been known to sink.

You all must really want to hear what I come back with. The discussion suddenly turned into a public heath travel forum. I appreciate your concern.

I am experienced missionary and will be working there with a small group. We have numberous personal contacts with locals and permenant missionaries through out the country including doctors. (always important) Being completely surrounded by Senegal (which I have previously visited with out recording equipment -sigh) and extremly poor (most live off the land) it makes for a relatively stable political climate. (Never had to have a recount for an election, neve been in a war nor had a riot or civil war)

Nasty stuff like aids, yellow/dangie fever, malaria, rabies, funky bateria (not like James Brown Funky) are always at the back of your mind but research, proper logic, shots, good bottled/filtered treated water, larium and cipro help with the majority of those beasts. The rest are risks you have to be willing to deal with. Being paranoid all trip destroys the experience... why bother going?

Further questions:

Any tips on dealing with wind while recording without having to buy rycotes for all of my mics?!? (aka. is there a poor man's/home made version?)

Are there any cheap (under $300) recorders that will take a SPID-F signal from my mini-me? I like the idea of have a second recorder but can't afford a 'real one'.

Peace,

Mike

[wyndrock]

red sky,

there is no substitute for proper gear. secure and load in the proper gear, or be prepared for some level of failure at some point in your expedition. simply.


ps. my apologies for overdoing it on the travel warnings. cipro and IV ancef should cover any cooties you encounter. here's some more military wisdom to take along with you: when in doubt, take 'em out...

[wyndrock]

Originally Posted by wyndrock

red sky,

there is no substitute for proper gear. secure and load in the proper gear, or be prepared for some level of failure at some point in your expedition. simply.


ps. my apologies for overdoing it on the travel warnings. cipro and IV ancef should cover any cooties you encounter. here's some more military wisdom to take along with you: when in doubt, take 'em out...

omg. im starting to sound like phil spector..... i need a vacation.

tell you what. ill go with you. ill keep you safe and you can use my rycotes.

you could always get some kind of marantz recorder that takes a spdif connection. im not sure which one would work, but im sure theres a model that's suitable. i think they even make a hard disk solution. ill go check real quick.

under $300? that's going to be difficult. ill go look right now. brb... dfegad stike

[wyndrock]

Sound Devices, LLC | Professional, Portable Audio Products

[joaquin]

Originally Posted by wyndrock

http://www.hhb.co.uk/hhb/usa/hhbprod...rive/index.asp

NICE!! Anyone tried it?...probably out of Red Sky's budget though.
Hey Red sky, like you said

Being paranoid all trip destroys the experience... why bother going?

Enjoy the Trip and get the best sounds you can...BTW what is it that you're trying to achieve?...is it going to be a comercial release? are you going to have performers perform to pre-recorded music?. Please tell us more of the trip. How did you get involved in such adventure? what are your expectations?
Thanks, and congratulations!!

P.S. for the wind, you can work it out avoiding the mic axis against the wind direction, improvising some kind of Gobo; and some types of socks, like big, wool, hand made in the south of CHILE...may do the job Sorry could not be more helpful............Joaquin.