Author: Han Wen

This project has significantly reshaped the way I understand field recording and sound art practice. At the beginning, I approached natural sound as something that exists independently in the world, which could be transparently captured through recording technologies. I assumed that microphones functioned as neutral tools that simply document sonic reality. However, through a combination…

This week I focused more closely on the role of technology in shaping how environments are heard and understood. While continuing my experiments with synthesis, spatial processing, and environmental textures, I realised that many experiences of “natural sound” are already deeply technological rather than purely acoustic or direct. During the process, I began comparing the…

This week I continued experimenting with artificial environmental sound and became increasingly interested in the idea of authenticity in listening. As I developed more synthetic ambient textures, I noticed that some of the sounds I created felt surprisingly believable, even though they were produced entirely through synthesis and digital processing rather than traditional field recording.…

This week I began experimenting with the creation of artificial environmental sounds using synthesis techniques rather than relying on field recordings. Instead of capturing existing environments, I worked with basic sound design tools such as noise generators, filters, modulation, and layering to construct sounds that resemble natural atmospheres. I explored how different types of noise…

This week I explored the work of Chris Watson and other field recording artists. I was interested in how recordings of natural environments are presented as realistic and immersive experiences. However, I realised that field recordings involve many decisions, including microphone placement, editing, timing, and sound selection. This means recordings are not simply direct captures…

This week I began researching the concept of “natural sound” within sound art and field recording. I was initially interested in why certain sounds, such as birdsong, wind, or flowing water, are commonly understood as “natural,” while urban sounds like traffic, machinery, or electronic noise are often excluded from this category. I started thinking about…