Plan location sound, test recorder and wind protection, capture useful takes and metadata, and verify redundant copies before clearing media.
Identify the source, permitted access, recording window and the perspective needed by the editor or library user. Record privacy or permission constraints and any location restrictions. Choose expected channel count and take duration, then plan media capacity, batteries and a second copy.
Check the recorder’s input type, microphone power requirements, cables, storage format and free space using the equipment documentation. Fit suitable wind protection and isolate handling noise. Record a short file, stop it and play it back before relying on meters or an armed-track indicator.
Capture the loudest reasonably expected source and listen on headphones at a controlled monitoring level. Verify peak margin in the recorded file and check for wind overload or analog input distortion that a digital meter may not reveal. Change placement or protection when noise overwhelms the source.
Slate or log a unique take ID, source description, position and settings. Capture clean starts, natural decays and ambient beds with sufficient editorial handles for the task. Keep notes on interruptions, moving sources and unexpected events so later selection does not depend on memory.
Play representative starts, middles and ends of every important take and inspect file duration and channel count. Copy recordings and logs to separate storage, verify the copies with file comparison or checksums, and keep the original card until those copies are confirmed.
Deliver the requested raw recordings and any clearly labeled processed versions. Include take IDs, source and location context at an appropriate privacy level, microphone arrangement, format and known defects. Preserve originals and permissions with the archive; avoid destructive cleanup during ingest.
Estimate byte-aligned PCM payload and entered overhead for the planned recording inventory.
Write and download the task brief, measured results and handoff decisions as Markdown.
Compare the measured sample or true peak with an explicit ceiling; keep crest factor separate.
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Shure’s recording guidance covers directional pickup and placement tradeoffs. Evaluate the actual source and microphone arrangement.
Keep the following evidence with the actual version used for this task.
| Record | Include | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Take ID, source, time and permitted location context | Match audio to the log |
| Capture | Microphones, arrangement, gain and format | Listen for wind and handling noise |
| Archive | File inventory and verified copy locations | Retain originals until verification |
A clean isolated sound and a separate ambient bed often give an editor different useful options.
Choose safe, permitted positions; recording goals do not justify entering hazardous or restricted areas.