Field Methods links

I. General principles

EMELD School of Best Practice
http://emeld.org/school/index.html

Matrix Oral History Project
http://www.historicalvoices.org/oralhistory/improve-ad.html

Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project
http://www.hrelp.org/documentation/whatisit/

Documentation of Endangered Languages (DOBES)
http://www.mpi.nl/DOBES/INFOpages/applicants/dobes-ling-aspects-lang-doc.html


II. Audio Recording

A. Principles, techniques & sources for recommendations

  1. Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity
    http://www.linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/thieberger/RNLD.html
  2. Language Archives Newsletter
    esp. Vol. 1, Wittenburg et al., Digital Formats for Images, Audio, and Video
    http://www.mpi.nl/LAN/
  3. The Vermont Folklife Center
    http://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/res_audioequip.htm
  4. The Spoken Word Project
    http://www.historicalvoices.org/spokenword/resources/audiotech/a_d.php
  5. The Transom: Jay Allison, The Basics (of field recording).
    Aimed at reporters, but relevant to linguists.
    http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200101.basics.jallison.html

B. Recording equipment

  1. Terminology
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power
  2. Recorders
    1. Edirol R-1 Portable Digital Recorder - $400
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.audioamigo.com/edir1.html
      tips & warnings: http://raven.cc.ku.edu/~pyersqr/Mayanlgs.htm
      http://www.mpi.nl/LAN/
      Vol. 6, Jukes & Nathan, Review: Roland Edirol R-1
      Note: apparently there have been problems with volume and battery usage with this device. See next entry for an improved version.
    2. Edirol R-09 Wav/MP3 Recorder - $400
      http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=757
      Records to SD (Secure Digital) cards, not compact flash.
    3. Marantz PMD 660 - $500
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.proaudiosuperstore.com/marantz-pmd660.html
      review: http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200503.pmd660.html
    4. MicroTrack 24/96 Professional 2-channel mobile digital recorder - $350
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrack-main.html
      review:
      http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/digitalmedia/2005/11/30/m-audio-microtrack-review.html?page=1
    5. Marantz PMD670, tabletop solid state recorder - $700
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.zzounds.com/item--MARPMD670
      reviews: Lynda says 'it's a bit delicate'
      http://www.hrelp.org/archive/reviews/marantzReview.html
    6. Cassette recorder: Marantz PMD222 - $450
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.american-digital.com/prodsite/product.asp?p=165
  3. Microphones
    Advice & explanations: http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200106.microphones.jtowne.html
    1. Shure SM-58 - $100
      'The most popular all-purpose vocal mic in the world. Very rugged, good sound. Cheap.'
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.zzounds.com/item--SHUSM58
    2. Sennheiser 421 - $350
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.zzounds.com/item--SENMD421II
    3. Shure WH-20 headset - $130
      specs, pix, & prices: http://www.shure.com/microphones/models/wh20.asp
    4. Windscreens:
      http://www.markertek.com/ProdList.asp?cat=AUDIOEQUIP&subcat=MICACCESSR&prodClass=WNDSCREENS

    C. Digitizing/Editing/Converting

    1. Audacity from SourceForge - Free
      http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
       Clunky but adequate cross-platform (Mac, PC, Linux) program.
      To save wav files in MP3 format, you also need LAME:
      http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&item=lame-mp3

      Tutorials available from the Audacity homepage.
      Easy to use for:
      • digitizing : allows you to record in 44.1/16-bit wav format (CD-quality, good for speech)
        or 96/24-bit wav (best for music.)
      • exporting in alternate formats, e.g. mp3, for working/presentation copies.
      • editing: trim noise, silence, microphone clunks, coughs, & gossip.

    2. SoundForge Audio Studio (PC) Campus Computer Store ~$50
      Slicker, easier-to-use, more powerful than Audacity.
      http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/showproduct.asp?PID=975
    3. Peak (Mac) order online ~$129
      Slicker, easier-to-use, more powerful than Audacity.
      http://www.bias-inc.com/products/peakLe5/
    4. Flying Cow (analog-to-digital converter) $290
      Best quality = 44.1/24. Good enough for speech. You'll also need a sound card with SPDIF (digital) input.
      http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/189928-REG/M_Audio_99004074400_Flying_Cow_2.html
    5. Lucid DA9624 (analog-to-digital converter) $600
      Best quality = 96/24. Also will need a sound card w/SPDIF input.
      http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=167933&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
    6. M-Audio MobilePre-USB (analog-to-digital converter) $135 Best quality = 44.1/16. Good enough for speech. Connects to either Mac or PC through USB.
      http://www.core-sound.com/mobilepre-usb/1.php

    III. Video Recording

    A. Principles & techniques

    1. School of Best Practice
      http://emeld.org/school/classroom/video/index.html
    2. Equipment recommendations from DOBES
      http://www.mpi.nl/DOBES/INFOpages/applicants/dobes-recomm2.html
    3. General information about video on the internet,
      esp. links to free video editing software and information.
      http://www.internetvideomag.com/FreeVideoTools.htm
    4. Microsoft MovieMaker for Beginners
      Mostly for vacation videos, but some useful advice for linguists.
      http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/getstarted/default.mspx

    B. Equipment

    1. Sony DCR-TRV19 - $400
      mini-DV format, no analog inputs
      http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/camcorder/sony-dcr-trv19-reviews.html
    2. Sony HandyCam DCR-TRV900 - $1632 (rec. by MPI)
      3 CCD, mini-DV format, analog inputs
      http://www.epinions.com/content_21766639236
    3. Accesories (rec. by MPI)
      • A UV filter: minimizes blurring, keeps lens dust free.
      • additional lenses for wide angle and the necessary filters,
      • tripod,
      • spare batteries,
      • chargers (car, solar, mains)
      • microphones and headphones.

    C. Digitizing/Editing/Converting

    How to articles:
    Digital Video cameras buying guide
    http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1847886895
    1. Lists of freeware
      http://desktopvideo.about.com/od/softwarereviews/tp/bestfreesw_ro.htm
    2. Microsoft Movie Maker (free download)
      titling; input: - practically everything; export: wmv, wma, (dv)avi http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/default.mspx
    3. Apple iMovie HD 6 (free w/new Mac; w/out $20, inc. iDVD)
      titling; dv, hdv, mpeg-4 input formats; export to iDVD in .mov only
      http://www.apple.com/ilife/imovie/
    4. AVS Video Converter (PC) - $30
      Seems to convert from anything to anything
      http://www.avsmedia.com/VideoConverter/index.aspx

    IV. Texts

    A. Fonts

    1. The Unicode home page
      http://www.unicode.org/
    2. Doulos SIL Unicode IPA
      http://www.sil.org/computing/catalog/show_software.asp?id=91
    3. Claris SIL
      A single Unicode-based font family that contains near-complete coverage of all the characters defined in Unicode 4.1 for Latin and Cyrillic-based writing systems, whether used for phonetic or orthographic needs. In addition, there is provision for other characters and symbols useful to linguists. These fonts make use of state-of-the-art font technologies to support complex typographic issues, such as the need to position arbitrary combinations of base glyphs and diacritics optimally.
      http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=nrsi&id=CharisSILfont
    4. Arial Unicode - $100
      http://ascenderfonts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=ARI01
    5. Lucida Unicode
      Comes installed with Windows XP and Mac OSX (called Lucida Grande)

    B. Keyboard layouts

    (for your character set, from Anthony Aristar)
    1. General explanations
      http://wordprocessing.about.com/od/wordprocessingsoftware/l/blSymbolkeys.htm
    2. Programs for defining your own keyboard:

    C. Text formats

    About XML:
    Sperberg-McQueen, C. M. and Lou Burnard, 2001. A Gentle Introduction to XML.
    Chapter 2 of TEI P4: Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange,
    XML-compatible edition. TEI Consortium.
    Available at: http://www.tei-c.org/P4X/SG.html

    D. Transcription & Annotation

    1. Transcriber - Free
      http://trans.sourceforge.net/en/presentation.php
    2. Shoebox - $25
      http://www.sil.org/computing/shoebox/
      Helpful guides from linguists at University of Melbourne:
      http://www.linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/thieberger/CALW/Shoebox5.htm
    3. Toolbox - Free
      http://www.sil.org/computing/toolbox/
    4. Elan - Free from MPI
      http://www.mpi.nl/tools/elan.html

    V. Miscellaneous equipment

    1. Batteries: http://www.all-battery.com/
    2. Cables: http://www.cablestogo.com/index.asp?
    3. Compact flash cards - 2GB = $209
      http://www.flash-memory-store.com/compactflash.html?gclid=CI_jn43m5oICFRQtSgodhFqG0w
    4. Secure Digital cards - 4GB = $85
      http://www.datamem.com/viewcat.asp_Q_C_E_768
    5. World Electric Guide
      Information about power supply in every country in the world, including what kinds of plugs are used where. Note: you can get a kit with all the adapters you could ever need at Whole Earth Provision Company.
      http://kropla.com/electric.htm
    6. Card reader - ~$50
      Connects to your laptop through a USB port and allows you to read in the data (audio & video) from your compact memory cards.
      http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=1508&sku=29555&engine=adwords!654&keyword=%28compact+flash+card+reader%29
    7. A bag to put all this stuff in ~$200
      Line it with bubble wrap or high density foam to protect your equipment.
      Carryon size: 'The safe maximum size is 45", in the form of a 22" x 14" x 9" bag. Some airlines allow up to as much as 55", but most do not.'
      (from: http://www.thetravelinsider.info/travelaccessories/internationalcarryonluggageallowances.htm)
      All the bags you'll every need:
      http://www.ebags.com/