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So, while the rest of the East Coast is freaking out, I plan on going out and recording as much chaos and destruction as my SD cards can hold. I was wondering if any others will be doing the same, and if any of you have tips for recording in bad weather. Really bad weather.

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    LOL! Great minds think alike @Miles! You beat me to it by 3 minutes!
    – Steve Urban
    Aug 25, 2011 at 23:15
  • @Steve Yeah, but I cheated. Yours is twenty times longer than mine. :D
    – Miles B.
    Aug 25, 2011 at 23:18
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    I'm thinking of doing it as well. Will just have to sneak out when the wife ain't looking. ;)
    – Shaun Farley
    Aug 26, 2011 at 0:24
  • Jealous! Would love to hear the recordings.
    – ChrisSound
    Aug 26, 2011 at 1:14
  • I can't believe how well the East Coast is set up for rain and storms. If this happened in L.A. I could get the wind, storm, rain FX as well as millions of people panicking and screaming and not knowing what to do. I miss the seasons Fall, Winter, and Spring. L.A. only has Summer. :-(
    – Utopia
    Aug 26, 2011 at 4:01

2 Answers 2

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Just a safety thing - we have lots of hurricanes here in the south. If you are in a wooded area, I would record blind, your headphones removed the ability to accurately localize something and that could make the difference in having something hit you or not. Its really scary to hear a tree break and go oooo that sounded awesome and then it falls 3 feet from you....true story.

On a side note usually it is lots of rain and wind, not too much thunder. So focus on the objects moving and rustling, back of mic into the wind or using a wall to block the wind on your mic but focus on an object in the wind. If the eye of the storm passes over you, it will be intense, then dead calm, then right back to intense. Really cool transitions/ storm swelling opportunities. The last few hurricanes here, that time was spent repairing holes in the roof and tree removal from said roof, so I could not take the time to record it.

I have always wanted to bury/attach a contact mic onto a tree and record the wood stressing in the strong winds, but have not had the chance.

Not sure how strong the storm will be when it hits, but cat 3's and 4's are pretty intense. Alot of that feeling comes from so much happening all around you at once, multiple perspectives/ surround recordings would really bring that out.

Best of luck, hope to hear them, stay safe and be aware of whats happening around you.

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  • @Michael Gilbert, excellent advise! Love the contact mic in a tree suggestion.
    – Jay Jennings
    Aug 26, 2011 at 4:59
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Ok, I hate to be that guy, but...

As exciting as it definitely will be for all of you who'll be out recording the hurrcane, you'll also be greatly profiting by the gross misfortune of potentially thousands of people. The value of the damage will probably come in at well-over a large number of millions of dollars.

It is also more than likely that someone amidst the chaos will lose their life.

Perhaps for karma's sake it might be best not to rapturously exclaim at, and rejoice in, the destruction of other people's lives and livelihoods?

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  • Thank you for that wisdom @harry. Events like this have many faces. Also, by going out into this stuff, I'm risking ending up on the misfortunate side. :-S
    – Miles B.
    Aug 26, 2011 at 6:26
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    Or you could end up being in the right place at the right time to help someone in need.
    – Jay Jennings
    Aug 26, 2011 at 7:54
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    Don't see how he would be profiting from the misfortune of people? It's not his fault the hurricane is heading their way...bit far fetched, I don't think it was his intention to disrespect the power and destruction of the hurricane or the damage it will cause. Whether they're recording or not they can't help someone lose their life. Get out there and record it just be careful! Maybe contact some stormchasers and ask if you can go with them as atleast they will have experience in it.
    – edmatthews82
    Aug 26, 2011 at 12:19
  • @Jay @edmatthews82 - Indeed, given the opportunity I'd be out there myself. My problem is not with the act of recording the storm, but the mode of thought that those ^^^ exclamation points imply.
    – g.a.harry
    Aug 26, 2011 at 12:26
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    When life gives you lemons, you tear them apart for Foley.
    – Miles B.
    Aug 26, 2011 at 16:29

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