Whenever we record outside the quiet and control of the studio - whether on a busy street, in an office building, or in a field with songbirds - we are faced with many decisions. How do you record optimal sound in less-than-ideal situations?
With over thirty years of recording experience, sound artist Dianne Ballon will introduce the techniques she has employed to achieve high quality productions. We will listen to sound-rich audio excerpts from stories about a cowboy’s bedroll to the sound of boats creaking at a dock in Iceland. With humor and hindsight, we’ll explore examples of what works and what does not work.
Topics include recording basics, microphone handling and placement, interviewing techniques, and recording with ambient/background sound. We recommend this workshop for beginners; however, we will touch on topics relevant to anyone who runs into challenges recording in the field.
Bring your questions and your listening ear.
PAST PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID
“Terrific practical lessons from a true sound recording artist”
“Instructor was knowledgeable and gave practical lessons from her own experiences including her mistakes. She was a terrific teacher.”
“Dianne is a national treasure with decades of experience and the ear of a master”
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Dianne Ballon is a sound artist. Ten of her sound works have aired on NPR’s All Things Considered. At Shenandoah National Park, she was awarded an Artist-in-Residency and created a sound portrait of the park. At the Goethe Institute, she presented her sound installation Musical Instrument Dreams. For the international radio art competition 60 Seconds Radio, she was awarded for her field recording of boats creaking at a dock in Iceland. She taught audio production and radio theatre at the University of Maine at Augusta and, for more than 10 summers, was a member of the teaching and production staff at the National Audio Theatre Festivals. Currently on exhibit, she produced the audio for “The Marines and Tet” exhibition at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
PRICING
The cost of this two-hour workshop is $50 for non-members and $40 for members of the Podcast Garage
IS PRICE A BARRIER?
We understand that this time is financially fragile for many and seek to make our workshops as affordable as possible. All Podcast Garage workshops have one free spot available, and for those who are not able to pay the full price for the workshop, we are able to offer financial assistance to a few participants per workshop. Learn more about how to apply for a free spot or financial assistance.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please register for a workshop in advance whenever possible; we cannot guarantee entry for walk-ins. If registering is cost-prohibitive, please email us at boston@podcastgarage.org or apply for a workshop scholarship.
In the event of low enrollment or severe weather, we may cancel or reschedule a workshop. You will be notified at least three business days before the workshop and offered a full refund. Please keep this in mind while making any travel plans.
If you wish to cancel your registration for any reason, please notify us 24 hours beforehand for a full refund. We can provide “credit” to the Podcast Garage for any cancellations under 24 hours.