Rocks and Shells
Today i spent some time recording various shells and bullet casings impacting a rock for the casing physics impacts found in the game i am currently working on.
Casings and bits right to left ;
12 Guage Shotgun Shell, Big Fat Brass Slide, Really Thin Brass Slide, WW2 German Mauser Replica Casing, WW1 German Mauser Casing (Actually fired in anger and picked up from a feild in Verdun, Belgium), WW1 German Mauser Bullet (agian from Verdun), Bullet from replica casing and a WW1 allied bullet collected from the Somme
The impacts on the rock from the various casings was recorded using a RODE NTG-3 and a sE Electronics 2200a.
Recording Cars
As described in a previous post im currently working on an independant game, the game features a jeep and motorcross bike as two playable vehicles. As a bit of a test to see the results i could get i went out and recorded my 13 year old Audi A4. Il be using some more suitable vehicles for the game.
After reading some tips on recording cars from Tim Prebble's exelent blog (Shamless Plug--> The Music Of Sound) I decided to use two dynamic microphones, a Shure SM57 and a Shure SM58 Beta. I covered both of these in a condom and then wrapped them in two old tea towels to reduce vibration.
Word of warning! don't use lubricated condoms, (as i did initially) as you end up with slightly lubed microphones. I can't yet see the advantage of having a lubricated microphone, unless you're trying to insert it into someone.....
I placed the SM57 in the engine bay pointing diagonally at the engine, initially i had the cable routed through the passenger side window but this left the mic cable running right past the battery which introduced some interesting interference. So instead i routed the cable through the driver side window and taped it over the dashboard.
The SM58 was put over the exhaust and the cable was routed over the boot and in through the rear passenger window.
Meet Norbert – Crash Test Torso
I have been working on an as of yet unnamed game project that has recently required some bodd falls/impacts. Step in Norbert. Norbert is several phonebooks an argos catalogue and some rolled up newspapers wrapped in a faux leather jacket. The arms, neck and bottom of the jacket have been taped up as well as the zips. This was done to try to deaden the sound and stop any unwanted paper/zip rattles.
Norbert has so far survived being thrown down the stairs and into a wall with some interesting sound results.
He has yet to be thrown out of a third storey window.... but he will be.