How to record your sleeptalking

• Posted by admin on October 4th, 2008 filed in Sleep Recordings
• 2 Comments »

Obviously this question comes up quite often.  Unfortunately, recording your sleep talking isn’t exactly simple.  I’ve not yet come to terms with a way to convey this challenge to the masses.  To me, any guide that stipulates you need a $200 mic and preamplifier fails to achieve the stated goal (in this particular instance).  But, for the sake of having something down on .. e-paper (yuck) I will quickly outline what you need.

You will need:

• A good microphone.

• Software to record.

Simple, right?  Not so.  Your microphone needs to produce a visible waveform in the recording software.  For most, this will mean a preamplifier on the mic input.  If you do not know what this is, ignore it and search for the mic that will do the job without.  Why do you need a visible waveform?  Are you going to listen to 8 hours of sleep in real time?  I think not.  You need the visual cue.   Even if your mic does the job but is fairly quiet, it is likely you will not see any visible representation of sound in your recording program.  You absolutely need this.  It is only through experience of knowing that I have a filthy habit of sleep talking during aircraft flyovers that I found this gem.  You will miss things if you are not able to see them.  An aircraft flying over masks any speech.

Junkie Style

Most mics you see in a department store cater for close range pickup.  That is, for speaking into the mic.  Unfortunately, the unconscious version of yourself will not play ball.  All that tossing and turning bites you in the buttocks – we’re all scalliwags whilst sleeping.  This means you need something that more than likely, costs more than $15 and is not purchased from a newspaper store inbetween a toffee shop and cobbler.

I can’t really help at the moment on this front, I’m experimenting with mics myself, trying to find something I can recommend.  There is nothing more telling than getting in bed, placing the mic and then mumbling, whispering etc whilst test recording.  Shame they don’t have test beds in stores.   Disgraceful.  If it is possible, steal the mic.

Anyway, that will do for now.  On to the inanity.  Pretty slim pickings all week until last night which I present in a separate player (Oct 4).

Sleeptalking – September 26-Oct 3

• “Between, Between, Next Wherever, When there is, weird spaces”
• Gibberish “Right in centre”
• “That wasn’t very good was it?”
• “Is it m__ of chioce? no”
• Amusing noise
• “Yeah I don’t know about that”
• Gibberish, “Nothing amazing”

Sleeptalking – October 4

• “Ooh don’t think they would go with that one, think we’re going to lose that one”
• “HmmmMMmm.  I’m thinking, well yeah i mean great -  but not going to happen
• (almost a neigh?)
• “That crap different, DIFFERENT”