"The rise of mobile devices equipped with high-quality microphones has made field recording more accessible than ever before. What was once a specialized practice associated with subgenres of experimental music, soundscape ecology, or documentary work has become a ubiquitous feature of contemporary sound creation. In this shift, the focus appears to move away from intentional listening toward mere accumulation. The question why record? becomes increasingly pressing, in technical, aesthetic and cultural terms. This lecture, jointly organized by Sound und Experiment at the ADBK and the Sound Art MA at the HMTM, focuses on the multifaceted notion of field recording, exploring both artistic and technical approaches. It brings together perspectives on the historical use of recorded material in electro-acoustic music, recording at the fringes of human perception, experimental microphone design, and performative strategies with recorded matter. Invited speakers will share their methodologies across contexts ranging from intimate soundscapes to expansive environmental recordings, offering participants critical insights and practical entry points into recording on different scales."
*The lecture will be held in English.