(Nomad Day 2869)
Dear Journal,
Today I feel a mixture of emotions. It is difficult to define precisely.
At times, I feel overwhelmed by the scale of the projects I choose to undertake. Over the past few days, I have been refining my recording rig while simultaneously planning upcoming trips. Things are not always as smooth as I would like, and I tend to forget that the hours in a day are finite.
I am deeply driven by passion. When I commit to a task, I immerse myself completely and pour as much of myself into it as possible. The downside is that my time estimates are often far from realistic. Recently, I hoped to edit a substantial number of sounds, yet I found no time to do so. I feel disappointed about that, but life moves forward.
At the moment, these are the projects on my plate:
- Extending my recording rig. I am searching for the optimal windshield solution while maintaining portability. My standard setup is a four-channel double ORTF configuration. I have decided to experiment by adding a pair of AB microphones placed slightly higher, providing a feed for height reproduction systems such as ambisonics or Atmos. It can also simply enhance a stereo image with a wider spatial impression. I am reducing weight as much as possible, minimizing tripods and mounting hardware, and cutting down on cable complexity. As always, I aim for a streamlined system. Additionally, after my difficult experience in Sumatra, I no longer fully trust any single piece of equipment. No gear is immune to failure. Even the most reliable and expensive devices can fail without warning. From now on, I will record simultaneously to two separate recorders whenever possible. Redundancy is no longer optional; it is a basic safeguard.
- Refreshing my legal license agreements. I am reviewing and strengthening them to better protect my sound libraries, both now and in the future.
- Developing new listening experiences. I want to share my sounds and stories in more thoughtful formats that reach a broader audience.
- Planning my next trip. Visa rules, logistics, bureaucracy. Sometimes a place is difficult to access not because of geography but because of administrative barriers. Paradoxically, that makes such locations even more valuable for my work, as they remain less documented.
- Preparing a new premium sound library for Articulated. This project builds on years of recordings. I will not reveal details until it is ready, so for now it remains a quiet, secret endeavor.
- Building an additional “invisible rig.” I am testing a compact recording system designed to be left unattended.
- Editing. I want to dedicate more time to post-production. My hard drives continue to fill with raw material waiting to be shaped and curated.
- Recording. I also spent some time recording around my base in Penang, few popular spots and the infamous colorful Thaipusam festival.
All of this, and more, and tomorrow I leave for my next destination.
