Feb 28, 2024 - Dan Dugan of Dan Dugan Sound Design and the Nature Sounds Society, spoke about nature sound recording to the PNW Section via Zoom, from his San Francisco studio. Photo courtesy Dan Dugan.
The PNW Section held its February meeting on Zoom and featured automixer expert Dan Dugan in a different role - nature sound recordist. Speaking from his San Francisco headquarters, Dan spoke about his work in the Nature Sounds Society and with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), recording the sounds of nature. Many examples were played, many in surround converted to binaural. Some 71 persons attended on Zoom, with the percentage of AES members unknown due to a ticketing glitch. Historically on average, 60% are members.
After opening remarks by Section Chair Dan Mortensen, Dan Dugan was introduced by meeting organizer and PNW Committee person Jess Berg.
Mr. Dugan said that Zoom audio can be excellent if configured properly. His surround examples would be played through the "Virtuoso" surround to binaural encoder by Applied Psychoacoustics Labs. Headphone monitoring was recommended.
He discussed why nature recording can be useful, including scientific uses, education and art, plus putting it all together with camping in the wild was fun. The Nature Sounds Society (NSS) was created to embrace this work, and recently the U.S. National Park Service has actually recognized the value of soundscape preservation and noise management. Dan participates, with others in the NSS, to record and document natural sounds in some U.S. national parks as part of the parks' scientific studies. He covered many aspects of doing recordings, including setups and gear, from a simple recording vest to multichannel surround systems, along with techniques such as the best times of day for certain sounds.
Next, several examples of soundscape recordings were played, including sites in Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Lava Beds (including national parks, monuments and refuges).
Extensive discussion followed, including esteemed guests Bernie Krause (a pioneer in the scientific study of soundscapes) and Gordon Hempton (the Soundtracker), who have presented at past section meetings.
Media will be available on the PNW Section website in its "archive" area. Due to Zoom audio recordings being mono, a special clean stereo audio recording of the meeting was done by Mr. Dugan and will be used for the video. https://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/
About Dan Dugan
When Dan was a child, his parents took him to the theater and to concerts. He always wanted to go backstage to see the light board. In his teens he built a huge model circus and two small pipe organs. He was very active in music, singing bass in choruses, madrigal groups, and his church choir. Dan studied math and physics in college but dropped out to work full-time in the theater doing lighting. That became his first career.
At age 24 Dan specialized in theater sound, working at the Old Globe in San Diego and ACT in San Francisco. The title "Sound Designer" was created in 1968 "to describe what Dan Dugan does." He provided audio for eight seasons of the Mondavi Jazz Festival and engineered several independent record albums.
Dan demonstrated the first effective automixer at the New York AES in 1974. Today his invention is everywhere: in conferences, talk shows, news panels, sports panels, and election debates. The Cinema Audio Society gave Dan their Outstanding Product Award. He has received an Engineering Emmy for his contribution to television.
Dan does scientific research in the national parks, making longitudinal studies of soundscapes over time. He works in his laboratory in San Francisco, manufacturing his inventions and editing his immersive soundscape recordings. Dan is a Life Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society.
Dan Dugan Website:
https://www.dandugan.com/
About The Nature Sounds Society
The Nature Sounds Society is a world-wide organization whose principal purpose is to encourage the preservation, appreciation and creative use of natural sounds. The Society promotes education in the technological, scientific and aesthetic aspects of nature sounds through its programs and a diverse network of contacts.
People concerned with natural sound and natural quiet include biologists, museum professionals, park rangers, birders, conservationists, sound designers, musicians, artists, radio producers and many more.
Nature Sounds Society Website:
http://www.naturesounds.org/
