A sound diary records what you notice through listening: a gate opening, birds outside a window or the rhythm of work in an agreed recording space. It can be a private creative exercise or the beginning of an audio story. Start by listening before reaching for the record button.
Choose one sound to explore
Spend a few minutes noticing the layers around you. Which sound is closest? What repeats? What changes when you move? Choose one subject rather than trying to capture everything at once.
Make a short test recording and listen back. The microphone may pick up wind, handling noise or distant conversation more strongly than you expected. Change your position if needed, without entering a restricted or unsafe area to get a better recording.
Keep notes with the audio
Record the date, broad location and what you intended to capture. Note anything important about how the recording was made. Give the file a name you can recognise later rather than leaving a collection of unrelated default filenames.
Add a sentence about why the sound interested you. Those notes can reveal a pattern after several recordings: changes through the day, recurring activities or the contrast between quiet and busy places.
Decide what should remain private
Be thoughtful about conversations, identifiable voices and places where people expect privacy. Ask permission where appropriate and explain any planned public use. Having a recording on your phone does not mean every part is suitable to publish.
When arranging a finished piece, avoid edits that make a location or event seem different from what you actually recorded. Introduce the context in your own words.
Our voice recording guide covers basic recording checks. If your diary develops into a community story idea, contact Intsetse FM with an outline before sending a large collection of audio files.