Natureguy Studio's recording engineer background, techniques
Background:
Hi, my name is Bruce Rutkoski. I own Natureguy Studio, and do all the
nature sound recordings, editing, and mastering of the CDs. I also do
the photography and artwork. Natureguy is a nickname that fits me pretty well, since I really enjoy
the outdoors. Some of my hobbies include backpacking, biking, rollerblading,
outdoor photography (my photos all over this web site), 4 wheeling, and of course recording nature sounds. My professional background is in electronics, business, and
wildlife research. I also own a company which
develops and manufactures electronic equipment for wildlife research and the
outdoor recreation industry. I obtained my initial knowledge about microphones and
recording equipment by working at a nationally known microphone company in the
late '80s. I started recording nature sounds for personal use while working
there, and have since dramatically improved my equipment and techniques. Wildlife recording is largely a self-taught skill,
but I also pick up a few tips from contact with other wildlife recording
engineers. I record the sounds of nature because I find nature to
have a pure, beautiful order and peace that is incredibly relaxing and
soothing to our souls, and I would like to share that. It
is truly a gift to hear from my customers how much they enjoy my
recordings, and how much of an impact I have made for some.
Techniques:
Technological leaps continue to make dramatic
improvements in recording wildlife sounds. As of 2007, I am recording 24-bit
audio with a preamplifier I specifically designed to be better than any
available on the market. My microphone preamplifier uses current,
state-of-the-art, low noise front end electronics, with extremely low
distortion, and generates a digital stream with a true 120dB dynamic
range. The sound from a CD achieves only 16-bit audio with 90dB of dynamic
range, but it is important to record in 24-bit audio for the challenges
of recording nature environments. I am using the world's lowest noise
microphones for my stereo recording rig. The results are what I call Gold
Series CDs, and they are some of the absolute best nature sounds CDs on
the market today. Digital editing
with a PC has become very important. Mixing and enhancing the audio improves the
listening experience. I have developed my own specialized
sound intensifier equipment for optimal recording in challenging outdoor
environments. I am constantly testing new techniques and
equipment to obtain even better results. Previous to 2007, I recorded with high dynamic range, low
noise digital equipment, and used very good Sennheiser microphones. That
equipment worked great, but I continue to push the limits and record in
more challenging environments. I primarily use two
set-ups, a stereo field microphone pair with my own specially designed
wind screen, and a single, highly directional microphone, of my own
proprietary design. Even though parabolic dish microphones
are
commonly used in the wildlife recording industry, I no longer use them. I have found that recordings made
with parabolic dishes tend to sound tinny, fake, distorted, and do not represent
the true sound as it would be heard by the ear. Instead, I have developed special
directional intensifiers to replace the parabolic dish. You will notice, when you
listen to my recordings, the depth
of field is better when compared to others. This means that you will hear sounds that
are nearby as
well as distant, which is very similar to what you would hear with a good ear
while actually at the location -- something I have worked very hard to
reproduce. I do mix some sounds into the original recordings to make the
recordings more pleasing to the ear. I am careful to only add sounds that
were at the location when the original recording was made, but weren't
captured by the single recording. This is my technique to keep the
recording sounding natural and true to the location. You may find some
other nature CDs to have sounds that shouldn't be heard at the same time,
as they mix in species in what seems like random chaos. I generally
don't list all the places I record, as I do not wish to promote people
visiting the few peaceful wildernesses left. Nature is better off left
alone and protected as much as possible. I
rarely record anywhere near somewhere popular, and concentrate on out-back
places rarely heard of.
Goals:
My personal goals are to produce nature sound CDs that capture the true essence
of nature and create a sense of adventure that people will enjoy. I strive to record
the environments as they would actually sound if
you were at the location in person-- often much better.
Additionally, I would like to preserve the sounds of natural environments
for all the future to hear. I am often left with the feeling that I am
recording the last peaceful places where wildlife still thrives in natural
environments. I fear future generations may not know what
they loosing or have lost completely in a rapidly changing world.
Today's Challenge:
Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find places that
are free of manmade noise, where good recordings can be obtained. My highly
sensitive equipment requires a minimum distance of 30 miles from
trains and planes, 10 miles from highways, and 3 miles from roads and homes to
make high quality recordings. Additionally, areas with abundant wildlife are
rapidly diminishing, as are bird populations due to human contributed issues. It therefore requires a lot of time and effort to not
only find good recording
areas, but to camp out in remote locations. Recording nature sounds is incredibly
difficult, and takes a lot of patience. As much as I seek out remote locations,
I still have to throw out almost 70% of my recordings due to noise from
mostly jets and motorcycles, but also cars, trucks, trains, oil/gas rigs, and
everything else no one wants to hear on a
nature sound CD. Only my best recordings ever make into my nature sound CDs, sometimes it
may take 2-3 years of recording seasons to produce some CDs. The listener is left with the peaceful sounds of nature
as it should be found in a perfect natural environment.
Use of my sounds:
I occasionally get requests to use my sounds for various projects.
Understand that all my sounds are copyrighted due to the expense and
effort taken to record them. Please respect that effort! You may request to use my sounds by
emailing
me. I will need to know specifically which sounds you are interested in,
what your project is in detail, the audience size, expected sales, and any
other details you have for your needs. I will write back with the costs
and or release for use of my sounds. There are times where I will give
sounds for free to non-profit organizations, or for a project I would like to
donate to. Don't expect free sounds for your CD or DVD project for resale.
I have the right to refuse any use of my sounds. Royalty-free sounds can
be purchased elsewhere.
We're on MySpace! Add us as a friend:
http://www.myspace.com/natureguystudio
Enjoy longer samples from some of our albums, meet others who also like
nature sounds, and leave us notes.
Visit our blog at:
http://natureguystudio.blogspot.com
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