Devonstream

Share a Devon sound that means something to you.

We want to fill Devonstream with the sounds and voices of the county. We’re seeking contributions of voice and soundscape recordings that we can add to Devonstream’s playlist.

There’s no need to have special recording equipment for this – the voice notes app on a smartphone or tablet will do the job. (Of course if you do have more specialist recording kit, feel free to show us what you can do with it!)

Share a Devon sound

If there’s a place in Devon that means something special to you, we’d love you to share a recording of the ambient sound there. It could be anything — for example:

• A stream on the moor
• The lapping tide or crashing waves on the coast
• Birdsong in your garden
• The crowd at a sporting event
• Aircraft taking-off/landing at hospitals or air bases
• Livestock on a farm
• Foghorns in Plymouth

We’re looking for clips of about 30–60 seconds.

Share your voice

Try recording the phrase ‘this is Devonstream’. There’s no need to put on a special ‘radio’ voice – just say the words as if you were introducing it to a friend.

Recording tips

Here are some simple tips to ensure your recordings are as good as they possibly can be:

• Choose your location carefully
  Microphones can be very sensitive to background noise and echo (the sorts of things our ears are able to filter out). Be aware of noises like fans (including the ambient drone of extractor fans or the fans in electrical devices); traffic; neighbours doing DIY; etc. Be aware of echo, too: rooms with lots of hard surfaces create lots of echo which can reduce the quality of your recordings; rooms with lots of soft furnishings or bookshelves give a much better sound (bedrooms are often good recording locations – especially with the wardrobe doors open – or even under the duvet!)
• Be aware of what you’re wearing
  Clothing that rustles and jewellery that jangles can be distracting, so these items are best avoided when recording.
• Add a makeshift windshield to your microphone
  If your voice recording contains noticeable puffs of breath (sometimes known as ‘plosives’ or ‘pops’), or you’re recording in breezy conditions and you can hear wind noise, try putting some fabric or foam over the microphone on your recording device (usually on the bottom edge of a smartphone). Socks and bits of sponge work well!
• Keep your device still
  Place your recording device on a stable surface for the duration of your recording. Unwanted noise from the handling of your device can be picked up by the microphone and spoil your recording. To avoid vibrations from a table, desk or other hard surface being picked up by the microphone, place your device on something soft: rolled-up jumpers and scarves work well here.
• Get permission
  Make sure you have the permission of everyone identifiable in your recording. If you’re making recordings in a private place, ask permission from the relevant people before you start recording, and respect their right to say ‘no’. If you’re making recordings of other people’s voices, include them giving their consent for the recording to be used (of course, this part will be edited out before the recording is broadcast).
• Stay safe
  Don’t trespass or put yourself in danger in order to collect your recording. Follow the usual health and safety guidance for the places you visit.
• Listen to your recordings before sharing them
  It might take a few attempts to get them sounding spot-on. Experiment with some different settings and recording locations to see what works best. Please only send us your best attempt!

Send us your recordings

When you’re happy with the way your recording sounds, email it over to hello[remove this]@devon[remove this].stream.

You can also send your recordings via WhatsApp to 07400 920950.

Include any background information that you think is relevant: in particular, it’d be great to know who you are and who/what you’ve recorded. Please also confirm that we have permission to use the recording on Devonstream. We look forward to hearing from you!

(Please don’t use these details for sharing music or other fully-formed content for inclusion on Devonstream — use our dedicated upload site instead.)