Bring in the Bees
My approach to authentic, on-location sound for the Hive.
The sound of a hive is unlike anything else.
They are distinct, alive, and changing in every moment. We’ve all heard the generic “buzzing” clips that get dropped into media when bees are referenced, and while those more hyper-realistic sounds have their place, I wanted something more authentic and wanted to bring us closer to the true character of the hive. Not only was this a great way to practice capturing those sounds,
I wanted our users (of Krotos Studio) to be able to create environments that felt closer to the hive.
The hive
Setting up in the tranquil apiary, I got to work recording the hives. I wanted to capture every moment: the hive at rest, the opening, the gentle movement of frames, the inspection, the use of the smoker.
I needed everything that contributed to the movement of the hive and how they change when someone moves around it.
The setup
My trusty field recording kit - my Rode NTG-2, Zoom F4 field recorder, Deadcat (the fluffy bit - no cats were harmed in the making of these recordings), JRF contact microphone and stand.
The results
