We conducted field recordings at several iconic locations throughout Edinburgh, including the Royal Mile, Princes Street, Dean Village, Waverley Station, and Portobello Beach, each chosen for its unique soundscape.
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In Dean Village, the uneven terrain necessitated a flexible recording setup, so we used two Schoeps MK4 microphones mounted on a boom pole. These microphones come equipped with Stereo Windshields preset to the XY recording configuration, so we changed our recording plan from ORTF to XY configuration instead. During the sound walk, we identified the sound of flowing water as the distinctive soundmark of Dean Village. We then strategically captured this sound from various distances—distant, medium, and close-up shots—to record the water’s diverse sonic expressions.
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At other locations, the presence of large crowds made it impractical to use such conspicuous equipment. As a result, we switched from Mixpre6 to the more handy Zoom H4n recorder, which features an integrated XY stereo microphone. Although this handheld recorder’s built-in microphone has limited optimal working distance and does not match the sound quality of the MK4 pair, it allowed us to capture the essence of each place without disrupting natural behaviors. For instance, on the Royal Mile, we captured the iconic sounds of Scottish bagpipes and crowd applause; on Princes Street, the ding-ding of trams and the hum of busy traffic; and at Portobello Beach, not only the waves but also the sounds of beach volleyball and lively chatter from seaside restaurants.
This strategic adaptation to each location’s specific acoustic environment allowed us to capture the most authentic and vibrant sounds possible. These recordings not only document the sonic diversity of Edinburgh but also enhance our project’s ability to transport listeners into the heart of each iconic place through sound.
