While recording in Astoria Park and Central Park was fun, I needed somewhere that wasn’t a park. Just for a change. But I still wanted something distinctly New York City. So, what about the subway?
That checks boxes for “not a park” and “distinctly New York City”?
Background
I feel compelled to explain my thought process for this.
Initially, I had the idea of setting up in a corner of a subway station. But, I figured trains are loudest when they’re screeching to a stop and you’re on the platform. It’d be difficult to get something usable.
Then I thought, “Why not record with my mobile set up, while being mobile?”
And, no more than the tour guide in Central Park, I might pick up some cool and interesting background sounds.
But, also, I didn’t want to bother people. So I decided I would…
- Do it mid-morning: I always find it the quietest time; it’s in between people going to work and moving out and about for lunch
- Sit on a two-seater at the end of the carriage: as out of people’s way as I could – essentially playing to myself in the corner
- Only do two takes – whatever I got, I got: the song is only two minutes long; so the whole thing should only take 10 minutes or so
Additionally, some other thoughts my little brain did think included…
- It’s New York City: this will be so far removed from the weirdest thing anybody has seen on the subway
- Earphones: I can’t find a percentage, but I guesstimate that I see 75-90% of subway passengers wearing earphones/headphones/buds – they wouldn’t be bothered
- The Taylor TSBTe: it’s a small guitar, and isn’t very loud; therefore also helping to minimize bothering people
- I wasn’t looking for anybody’s attention: as I have noted, I was just sitting in a corner playing for myself; I wasn’t playing and singing in people’s faces, looking for money
- It looks like pretentious, artsy twaddle
Ultimately, I didn’t think it’d bother that many people, so I went ahead with my little bit of fun.
Rig run down
- Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphone
- BandLab Link Digital audio interface
- Pig Hog 10ft XLR cable
- MXL V67G microphone
- Beyerdynamic DT-240 Pro headphones
- Portastand Compact Mic Stand 2.0
- Taylor TSBTe
- Acoustic guitar strings: Ernie Ball Earthwood Medium Light
- Dunlop Gator Grip 1.14mm picks
- Audio Evolution Mobile for Android DAW app
Perhaps obviously, the rig is identical to what I used in Central Park. Except for the guitar, again, perhaps obviously.
Check out the buyer’s guide on Pinterest.
Recording Dawn and Tim TSBTe on the subway
I boarded at Broadway station in Astoria. I think I opted to go towards Manhattan, because I’d have more time/distance to play with.
Now, to save time on my usual step one, I connected as much as possible at home.
My phone, audio interface, headphones, and XLR cable were put into my bag already connected like the picture above. The mic was put on the stand, and carried as it was in the picture above.
As the N train stopped, I had to look in a couple of carriages before I found one with a free two seats at the end.
Setting up on the train, the mic stand was trickiest. I had to keep it close enough so it wouldn’t obstruct people boarding, but also have a bit of distance between the mic and the guitar.
Also, shortly after I set up, it started falling over as the train stopped. So, I had to spend the rest of the session holding it down with my foot.
As with the Central Park session, admin was done at home. On this occasion, admin just meant continuing the project I’d been using in Audio Evolution. So, all I had to do was open Audio Evolution, tap the track, the arm button, and record.
Although my first take was decent, but I did another one. The second take finished just as the train pulled into 5th Avenue station, which was perfect for some great background noise…
I had packed up by 57th Street – the next station – got off the train, and went home.
Conclusion
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lols: it’s ridiculous; it cannot help but be the lols | Pretentious: however, some will not perceive lols |
| Sound of the underground: picked up some cool background noise | Comfort: while I got it done, it wasn’t a comfortable session – between my foot on the mic stand, squashing myself into a corner, and trying to rush through it |
| The guitar sounds better than you think it would: but that’s probably a fluke |
So, it was fun, and I’m glad I did it. But I won’t be rushing to do it again. I can’t pretend it’s not hassle.
Finally, this is what I’m going to work with to complete the track. Largely, due to the announcement I managed to capture at the end.
Subway session: I didn’t meme to offend you
Because I was busy recording, I didn’t notice somebody taking a picture of little old me, for the benefit of Twitter.
Gotta love the acoustics in this train car pic.twitter.com/MBKqcvVFG2
— Evan Kaloudis (@evankaloudis) July 31, 2019
Then, the picture was posted on Reddit, where folks were mostly very offended by it all. Check that top-rated comment! Yikes!
Next, on its way to Instagram, it turned into a meme…
And finally, on Facebook, the meme had been screenshot and posted on New Urbanist Memes for Transit-Oriented Teens.
So, that was all weird.
On the whole, my thoughts on the matter are best summarized by Father Fintan Stack…
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