Immersive Audio & Creative Recording with Jamie
Learn to capture immersive audio and soundscapes of the stunning lochs, sea, and woods in the Scottish Highlands with sound artist Jamie. Build your own sound archives, record, create installations or write sonic novels inside an old, picturesque church converted studio.
- Lunch, Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1410
- Additional guest(s) (max 2)
- USD $600
Accommodation
- One Guest
- USD $250
- Additional guest(s)
- USD $150
Meet the Artist
Jamie is a composer and sound artist who builds soundworlds from words and voices, field recordings, and music. As a child in headphones, he was fascinated by the voices and sounds that would transport him to the farthest shores of his imagination, and spent the last 35 years following this passion wherever his ears will take him. Whether producing other artists or composing his own sonic novels, he combines ambisonics, binaural recording, location sound, mono and stereo recordings, and many other unusual and experimental techniques.
He describes his home studio as a “magical fusion of the old and the new” - an old church hidden in a secluded Scottish glen, surrounded by mountains, with beautiful acoustics and cutting edge immersive audio technology. You'll feel right at home, as his artist wife Charlotte and daughter Molly are just as welcoming as Jamie, and love offering their daily freshly baked bread!
He describes his home studio as a “magical fusion of the old and the new” - an old church hidden in a secluded Scottish glen, surrounded by mountains, with beautiful acoustics and cutting edge immersive audio technology. You'll feel right at home, as his artist wife Charlotte and daughter Molly are just as welcoming as Jamie, and love offering their daily freshly baked bread!
VAWAA Includes:
- Create your own personal ‘secret place’: capture the soundscape and sensations of the magical Scottish Highland in immersive 3D audio, to return to whenever you want simply by pulling on your headphones.
- Become a sound collector: start building your own sound archive to take away and use in your own projects, art installations or as sonic postcards to share with friends and family.
- Learn how Jamie creates ‘sonic novels’, where words, music, field recordings and sound design combine to create an immersive story told through sound, then try it out for yourself with words and texts you want to bring to life.
- Explore how ‘thinking spatially’ about sound can bring a new dimension to your own art project.
- Capture spatial audio by using ambisonic microphones, a binaural ‘dummy head’ and various other spatial microphone arrays.
- Work with spatial audio tools in the Reaper DAW, using state of the art software as well as freeware you can use at home.
- Learn how to make great narration recordings in both studio and non-studio environments.
- Experiment with recording music using our inspiring collection of instruments: from the everyday (piano, drums, guitars, organ, violin), the unusual (clarsach, theremin, pianoharp) and the downright odd (bone marimba, bullroarer, thunder rattle) we are sure to have something you want to pluck, blow, hit or swing.
- Discover how to capture perspective, depth, and dimension in a recording.
- Assemble your project in the Reaper DAW and learn how to use panning, effects, and editing to polish up your finished mix.
- Find out how to monitor your mix on headtracked headphones, static binaural and multichannel loudspeaker arrays, as well as good old stereo.
- Escape your creative rut: bring along your own music project and collaborate with Jamie to take it in a new direction, overcome ‘writer’s block’ or simply to lose yourself in the process in this inspirational environment.
- Go on a field recording expedition to the hills, lochs, sea, woods and other sonically interesting environments surrounding Appin (and maybe a town if we need one!)
- Hiking
- Wild swimming
- Mountain biking
Stay at Jamie's
Jamie's cabin has a real back-to-nature feel that will make you want to ditch your phone and take in the beautiful surroundings. Simply furnished, the cabin has a wood burning stove, sleeping platform with comfy king size bed, wi-fi, and a peaceful view of the mountains. The covered outdoor kitchen has cold running water, two gas burners, fridge, induction hob, kettle, toaster, microwave, pans, cookware, and a large barbecue that can be used year-round in any weather. The shower room and toilet are housed in a separate building, a thirty second walk from the cabin.
You will also be around a friendly cat.
You will also be around a friendly cat.
Explore Argyll, Scotland
This coastal district's pristine natural environment is the perfect place for field recordings with minimal traffic noise. The beautiful scenery and abundance of wildlife never fails to inspire everyone who visits. Secret woodland paths, hidden ruins, and a land drenched in myth and legend await. You can see Castle Stalker of the 14th century, located on a tiny island in Loch Laich. Explore on foot the many beautiful hills and glens surrounding the studio, with world famous mountains such as Glen Coe and Ben Nevis. Enjoy the many outdoor activities available in the surrounding area, such as wild swimming, sea kayaking, fishing, diving, caving, rock climbing, snow and ice climbing, mountain biking, coasteering, beachcombing. You can go on a whisky tour, try out whale watching, or on a clear winter’s night, camp outside to see the Northern Lights.
Additional Details
All the seasons in the West Highlands are different and have their own charms. Fall is full of color, and the deer are roaring on the hillside. Winter brings snowy white hills, roaring fires, and hearty food. Spring is beautiful with the clearest skies and the easiest access to the mountains, while summer means long days. Although July, August, and September are high seasons for tourists, Glen Creran generally remains quiet.
If a project needs extra time, we can either extend your VAWAA or (if possible) collaborate remotely using file sharing services for the same daily fees.
This VAWAA is available for a longer duration. Please ask when you send your booking request.
While guests of any level or experience are welcome, we recommend having a basic working knowledge of digital audio, use of microphones and familiarity with Reaper DAW to get the most out of your studio session.
You will also be around a friendly cat. If you are allergic to cats, please bring suitable medication before you arrive.
Jamie speaks English.
If a project needs extra time, we can either extend your VAWAA or (if possible) collaborate remotely using file sharing services for the same daily fees.
This VAWAA is available for a longer duration. Please ask when you send your booking request.
While guests of any level or experience are welcome, we recommend having a basic working knowledge of digital audio, use of microphones and familiarity with Reaper DAW to get the most out of your studio session.
You will also be around a friendly cat. If you are allergic to cats, please bring suitable medication before you arrive.
Jamie speaks English.
Guest Reviews
Emily M., United States
Extremely memorable, unique and impactful experience. I learned so much about music and sound theory in just a few days that I felt as if I had experienced a semester long university course. I am interpreting and analyzing sound in new ways every day as a result (especially noticing resonance and reflection). The experimentation and recording we did was creatively inspiring and Jamie was game to t Read more
Jane T., Canada
The Immersive Audio and Creative Recording VAWAA with Jamie was brilliant. The location is stunningly beautiful, Jamie's knowledge of his craft excellent and he is a very professional teacher. The accommodations and food above par. I was an absolute beginner and I found it a fascinating experience. Very appreciative to have had this opportunity and I shall wax lyrical for days when I return home t Read more
