Enis is the Co-CEO at Vadi Sound, Sound Designer, Field Recordist and to be Audio Developer. He started sound production at 18, field recording at 20, initially for his music. In 2016, he lay the foundations for Vadi Sound Library where he published all sound effects for free and wide usage on web. This brought attention and demand for the first complete sound effects library in Turkey and one of the few worldwide. Enis was later joined by Aslı Yalçın, Co-CEO and Field Recordist at Vadi Sound, and together they turned Vadi Sound into a global sound effects and audio tech company for game, film, podcast and arts.
Today, Enis and Aslı have a conversation around the things that shaped Enis to become the field recordist / sound designer he is now and his formula for level up sound experience.
So Enis, what really inspired you to begin field recording?
Like with many of us, my first motivation was my music. I started field recording for my ambient/drone music first and then after listening to Chris Watson’s field recordings for the first time. Only then did I realize and said wow – this is an actual profession, a form of art even and much harder than it seems! I remember listening to those nature sounds and losing my mind. And just like that, I bought a Zoom H4 and then one thing led to another and here we are!
That’s great! And how did you choose your locations back then?
Where I lived was a goldmine for nature recordings and I recorded sounds in the forests and the valleys and mixed them for my music. Actually, Vadi Sound brand name derived from those times in the valley (valley means “vadi” in Turkish).
Tell us about field recording that you want to make before you die?
Oh, that’s a good one! Let me think… I really like recording at places that stretch me to my physical limits. I like recording where the waves of the sea are the roughest or recording wild crickets chirping at the height of summer heat! Or even places where you are not supposed to be recording, restricted areas, high security places etc! This is so much fun when you make it an adventure. One of my dreams is to record the earth from the highest altitude possible for recording. My fallback plans would be the Dawn Wall at the Yosemite National Park or Mount Fujiyama!
(Humming Hills / Istanbul City Ambience Sounds –from Vadi Sound Library)
That sounds fun especially for newbies! So, how do you define your approach to field recording? And any specific advice to newbies at sound design/ field recording?
Well this is really personal but… for me 80% of the job is about intentional listening and research, research and research 🙂 Listening is a very subjective activity. What amazes me may not interest others at all! This is why you can start field recording with what you really really like. And then become good and then great at it! If it is the city that you like recording, you can record that. If it is the guns instead, go for them! Then, even the pressure points of gun triggers will interest you massively. And this has the power to change you even biologically… it is magic!
Wonderful. How about your equipment advice for newbies?
I’d rather not wait for the best equipment, if it is a mobile phone you have, you can even start with that! With more experience, you will find your right recording equipment. Nowadays, there are fans of certain mics or else, and that is also ok, but I’d rather diversify my toolkit with at least 3-4 different mics and recorders.
How about the technology, what’s its role in your sound design routine?
Since high school, I am obsessed with audio software and technology. They called me the (computer) “doctor” where I lived back then. I am a big Reaper fan since 2017. Nowadays I am learning audio programming with C++ and Juce and I am crazy about it! I can talk until tomorrow about manipulating sounds so promise to talk more on that in our next interview!
For unique foley sound effects, have a look at our royalty-free subscription service Vadi Sound Library, and our SFX Store for your access to impactful single sounds or complete thematic bundles.
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