OSCILLATIONS
An Introduction to Field Recording & Sound Production
A two-day workshop for absolute beginners who want to:
- find out more about sound production
- learn how to record in a range of locations
- discover the creative potential of editing & mixing
only six places available
info
Jon has worked in a multitude of creative disciplines, as a creator himself, as an artistic facilitator and as an educator.
Having a passion for all sound disciplines, he has worked as production sound recordist, audio post-production engineer, in studio and live sound for music, theatre and AV. But, above all, his number one love is with field recording and exploring creative applications for sound.
As co-founder and collaborator of arts collective Kinokophone, Jon has exhibited works in the UK and USA, and has hosted sound cinema events in collaboration with prestigious arts venues such as the Whitworth, Manchester and The British Sound Library, London. Kinokophone collaborate with artists internationally from Japan to the USA and were largely involved in Rule No. 5, a permanent exhibition at the Bobst Library, NYC. They continue to dream, listen and create, with new works planned for 2026.
As an educator, Jon has taught formally at degree level in audio engineering and music production for Futureworks, Manchester. He has facilitated and trained in video production and post-production at The University of Manchester, primarily at postgraduate and research level for the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology and film studies. He has over 60 credits for production sound and audio post-production for ethnographic documentaries, many of which have screened at festivals worldwide.
Jon currently holds a part-time position as Senior Music Technician at The University of Manchester, where he facilitates and supports teaching and learning in Electroacoustic Composition, in addition to postgraduate research which often involves innovation in the use of technology and multichannel audio for spatial composition and performance.
This workshop is for anyone, from any discipline, who is interested in acquiring fundamental theory and skills for working with sound recorded outside of a controlled studio environment. Whilst there are many overlaps, field recording often requires a unique approach and can pose several unique challenges.
Whatever your background and discipline, this course will allow you to:
- carve out dedicated time for learning new skills
- experiment with simple but quality recording equipment
- discover how to focus your creativity when working with recorded sound
This course has been developed for those new to working with sound or in the field and attempts to demystify the technologies and workflows associated with digital audio.
Day 1:
- Consider what we understand by the term ‘field recording’
- Focus on the role sound plays in the way we sense and experience our environment
- Learn some basic sound theory to better understand how the equipment we use to capture it is designed to function, and therefore how to get the best results from what we have available
- Explore various field recorders, microphones and accessories
- Unpack technical terminology to create a personal and practical checklist
- Learn recording techniques and take time to experiment. Participants will be encouraged to leave the studio to gather recordings. Jon will offer suggestions on possible locations to suit your individual interests/disciplines and a local map will be provided.
Day 2:
- Discuss how you might begin to develop a workflow to suit your needs and to explore the possibilities of what can be done with your recorded audio from Day 1.
- Implement a logical and reliable backup strategy to ensure that your work is safe, easy to access and ready for collaboration.
- Explore audio post-production and the processes involved using a Digital Audio Workstation to craft a final mix ready for output
- Participants will be given time, with support from Jon, to work on creating a piece using their recorded audio from day one and/or any existing material brought to the workshop
- Presentations of recordings or mixes created during the workshop
DETAILS
The workshop will take place in an art studio in the old mill town of Hebden Bridge (HX7), West Yorkshire. Address details will provided after your booking has been confirmed.
Time: 10:00 - 17:00
Dates: Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May 2026.
There will be plenty of time for refreshment breaks and there will be a 1 hour lunch break.
The two-day course costs £240.00 per person.
Tea and coffee will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own packed lunch or explore the cafes and markets in Hebden Bridge.
Be prepared for all weather. You will be encouraged to explore external recording locations so dress appropriately, including for rain - this is Yorkshire!
You are required to provide your own laptop* to work on. It must be capable of running the software detailed below.
We will be using Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software called Reaper, which is open source and cross-platform. Further details and instructions will be provided after your booking has been confirmed.
Please do bring your own field recording equipment if you have some - this could be a good opportunity to finally spend some time learning, with guidance, how to use it.
Heaphones will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own if you feel more comfortable doing so or have a preference to spec.
*if you are unable to bring your own laptop, please get in touch as I may be able to provide a limited number of workstations for use during the course.
Hebden Bridge is situated in the Calder Valley, somewhere between Manchester and Leeds.
It has good rail links and the station is only a 15-20 minute walk from the studio.
Driving is possible, but be aware, parking is very restricted in the town centre, espeically at weekends and I highly advise against it.
There are plenty of options should you need a place to stay (Hebden is a nice place to make a weekend of it!). Here are a couple of starting points:
IOU Hostel: independant accommodation for artists and visitors
HebWeb: local messageboard, news and ads
Hebden Townhouse: central boutique B&B
The White Lion: central hotel, pub and restaurant