BTS – Festival Crowd
Behind the sound of the Festival Crow surround collection.
Capturing the Soul of the Aurillac Festival : A Sonic Journey into the Heart of the Crowd
Every year for over 35 years, the quiet town of Aurillac transforms in August into the bustling stage of a street arts festival, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. This usually peaceful town becomes a lively scene where artists and spectators fill every street corner. Laughter, cheers, and vibrant reactions echo throughout, enveloping the town in a dynamic blend of sound and visuals.
This year, I experienced the festival from a new perspective : that of a sound recordist captivated by the rich ambiance and the flow of the crowds. Armed with a 5.0 surround sound recording system, I roamed the streets of Aurillac, capturing the sounds, murmurs, bursts of voices that bring this festival to life. My goal? To capture the sonic texture of the crowd and the vibrant energy of their reactions that make this place so unique.
In the photos, you can see my equipment, a 5.0 surround system mounted on a boom pole, clearly visible above my head. In any other context, this setup would draw all eyes, but here it blends seamlessly into the festival’s quirky atmosphere. Both spectators and artists are used to it, and amidst the offbeat vibe, even the most noticeable equipment goes almost unnoticed.
The Surround sound 5.0 system in the crowd
Of course, working in such a dense crowd brings unexpected interactions. Curious glances and spontaneous exchanges become part of the experience, despite my efforts to stay discreet. In post-production, it took special care to remove these interactions to best convey the collective ambiance without interfering elements.
This sonic immersion was an enriching adventure, an exercise in patience and precision to capture every nuance of festival life. Surround sound added an immersive dimension of course, faithfully recreating the intensity and depth of emotions flowing through the crowd.
Ultimately, this project allowed me to capture not only sounds but also the very essence of a festival where art and life intertwine at the heart of the city.
Find out more about this sound collection
Have you ever hidden in a moving crowd with recording equipment ? Share your stories in the comments below !
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