What is a field recording?
Audio captured outside of a studio
Field recording usually refers to the practice of capturing sounds outside of a studio - out in the “field” - often including sounds in nature or built environments (a town, city, etc.). The idea of “the field” carries a long history in and beyond field recording, including in research practices like ethnography and anthropology. It often assumes a neutral, external site to be surveiled or documented. We’re interested in the field as something we shape through subjective listening, understanding that people experience space and place in an infinite number of ways. We want to know what constitutes the field, and how it complicates our senses of where and who we are.
What is the Recording Commons?
A collaborative sound project with two parts
[1] An open contributor database of field recordings and creative audio. [2] A lending network for free access to recording gear. Anyone can listen, record, borrow, or help start an equipment depot in your area.
What kinds of recordings should I send?
Field recordings or any experimental audio
Melonfield is open to any audio that speaks to a particular place or moment by your definition. Raw field recordings: E.g. sounds from your apartment, someone’s set, a sample you’ve saved. Experimental audio: Produced, composed, processed, remixed, or transformed sound works - especially those that include field recording in some way.
How do I submit a recording?
All you have to do is upload
Head to our Upload (Submissions) page for guidance. You can use any recording or production tool, and there’s no quality or length requirement.
Can I record with my phone?
Yes
Most contributors use a phone to record. For “higher-quality” field recording, NTS published a free guide here (quick tip: use a sock to filter wind noise).
What happens to my recordings?
They’re added to the Commons database
Once submitted, your recordings are added to a contributors-only database. We also make an “encrypted” version that’s available in a public broadcast database.
Can I browse without submitting anything?
You can access the public database
Without contributing a recording, you can explore the public/distorted version of the database. To access the complete Commons archive, share a recording or email us.
Can I borrow equipment?
Soon - we’re still building this out
We’re still developing the network. Updates will appear on our Borrow (Equipment lending) page.
How do I start equipment lending in my area?
Email us or just get started
If you want support setting up equipment lending or an equipment depot in your area, we’re working on a guide and we hope to offer starter equipment for anyone interested. There’s no fixed model for equipment lending. If you have your own approach or strategy please go for it, and we’d still love to add you to a directory of local lending hubs.
What if I want to participate in a different way?
Please reach out
The goal is to make this a collectively managed project. If you have organizing, design, coding, or planning skills, we’d love to hear from you.