British Library Sound Archive: Exchange - waking up in London

I have been fortunate enough to be selected for a staff exchange between the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) and the British Library Sound Archive. Time lapse between the notification of selection date and departure was barely 2 months - I arrived in the UK on the Friday just gone and feel a little like Alice might've felt at the bottom of the rabbit hole. I haven't been to the UK before and this year I will be making the journey to England twice (again in late October, to work under the expertise of Chris Watson and to head to the festival, 'L'Espace du Son'). I must say that the flight was the toughest I have had to do to date - I'm not sure if I was just overly sensitive or if - infact - it is a troublesome journey - either way - I'll be getting use to the experience with three more trips still left to go in this year.

To further mix my muddled thoughts - I will be contributing to two blogs during my time here - ultimately - attempting to split my identity into two - that of the artist and that of the archivist.

For the sake of clarity and to fulfil the exchange duties, I will dedicate the blog on the NFSA website to more technical and work specific details whilst general musings, inspirations and thoughts will be compiled here, on my personal blog.

Let's see how I go shall we... Crack on!! (learned that one today).

Some travel tips for you:

Fast, affordable accommodation: Airbnb. An incredibly helpful way of finding a place to stay when a hostel or backpackers won't cut it and homely touches and appliances such as washing machines, kitchens and quiet garden areas are required/desired. My stay in London is over three weeks - long enough to send you a tad barmy in a hostel (unless you don't mind pinning towels around a bunkbed to create your own, 'personal working space'). You will find all sorts of accommodation in all parts of the world on this website. I managed to find a room in an apartment, 30 min walking time from my work place - sharing with other similar aged and working individuals.

Travel sickness: XANAX. Never tried this before but it really does help alleviate anxieties that often amplify/spark travel sickness. I took minimal doses (half a pill) and that was enough to calm my nerves, settle my stomach and allow me to doze. I also took some tic tacs - found these helped too.

Pre-booked taxi from Heathrow airport to private address: London Heathrow Cars. While they are not particularly cheap - they are not more than a normal taxi and that is for a service that includes your own personal driver waiting for you at touch down. I knew I would be a bit fragile after the flight and so booked in advance. I did find some other cheaper options such as Shuttle Direct however, they would not deliver to personal addresses - only hotels. Well worth the money if your accommodation involves a couple of connecting trains and a few blocks walk to get there....

Compact, affordable and light (stereo) recording device: H2N Zoom. I haven't tried this one before but have heard many a good thing about its capabilities. At around $230, with 24bit/96khz I am happy. It has a stereo mic input of a single 3.5mm Jack so I have taken my own Rode NT4 to make things as easy as possible. For non complex - basic audio capturing minus the worries that come when travelling with expensive audio equipment - I'm sure it will suffice. Will keep you posted.

Small carry-on bag for laptop and gear: Crumpler Yee Ross. Isn't meant to fit a 15" laptop but it does (even with a padded pocket to protect it). In addition to the laptop, this bag can also fit a small handycam, microphone(s), books and all your usual small necessities as required in travel. It's hardy, waterproof and the smallest most convenient hand-luggage bag that I have found for my needs - to date.

That's all I can put to page tonight. Jet lag is a little overwhelming so to bed I go.

TBCont'd...   

Letter's from Home: Travel Tips

I have made it back to Australia with gathered sounds intact. The oncoming months will be spent piecing together the works I initiated while at Noirlac - I am painfully aware of the fact that I am removed from Noirlac. If I discover I want a particular recording I can no longer walk out the door and into the environment I wish to record. I am separated from the space - and now - have to work in reflection of an experience rather than in the moment itself.

On another note - I wanted to post some general travel tips for other fellow sound artists. Small yet crucial details that I often wondered about and on speaking with others - could never find an answer to.

#1) Travel Insurance 

There was no way I was heading overseas without ensuring my recording gear was well and truly covered. Having spent years working below average jobs to put together my recording arsenal the thought of losing it in a single moment is enough to send me into foetal position. Standard travel insurance will not cover items above say $500 - $700 with the exception of a few specific items such as laptop, camera and phone. I managed to find a company who offered travel insurance for the entertainment industry - specialising in high-end production equipment. Action Insurance Brokers was their name. They weren't cheap by any means but they covered everything and anything I asked for - even making last minute changes over night with no problems at all. I found the most cost effective option was to take standard insurance (such as TID) to cover all my general gear and microphones under $700 (Laptop, camera, phone, leads, mic accessories etc), then all my high end equipment I insured with AIB.

#2) Packing: the eternal search for the perfect bag

Despite my insurance there are certain items I did not want leaving my side. Select microphones and my recording device were heading into the general luggage over my dead body - yet as you know - hand luggage is extremely limited and microphones need to be packed with care. 

Enter - the Crumpler Karachi Outpost. This badboy comes with detachable padded panels that you can pull out and change at will, as well as a laptop bag and side pockets. The image to the right is how the bag is on purchase, shots below are of how I packed my gear.

            

What you can't see is that under this top layer there was actually another layer of gear again, separated by the padded panels. Space was not a problem.... Weight however, was a concern. Return flight entailed frantically pulling items out of my hand luggage and shoving them into my general bag to appease an over zealous flight centre employee. Another plus is the fact that this bag only has one main zip for entry. This is positioned at the back of the bag, making it impossible for someone to access it when it's on your back. Team this with the fact that it's weather resistant, comfortable even at over 10kg and folds opens frontside down providing you with a portable work station and I was sold. Again, it was not cheap but seeing as my last bag managed to 'live' for 7 years - I think it's well worth it.

#3) Seeing the Countryside of France

:: Bike with boompole ::

- Can't say this would be viable for the wetter months of Europe but during the sunny season - highly reccommend it - particularly if you plan on heading to areas where a car cannot go (forests, private land). Bikes are a lot easier to hide under scrub and life over fences. They also allow you to listen to your environment as you travel whilst not polluting it with your own car engine. Nature is not frightened away and the locals are more lightly to greet you as you go sailing by. Team the above with my lantern, backpack carrying recording equipment and windjammer and I was prepared for anything, anywhere, anytime.