Up until now, I've been recording the sounds of nature and towns in the Setouchi region and posting them as videos on my YouTube channel, " Setouchi Ambience ." Then, one day, I suddenly began to think, "Perhaps these sounds themselves have value?"
What is POND5?
POND5is an online marketplace where creators from all over the world can sell videos, audio, photos, sound effects, and more.
Many creators, including TV stations, film production companies, and YouTubers, purchase materials from it.
As long as you register, you can sell your recorded sounds to the world, even from Japan.
When I saw this explanation, I thought, "This might help me make the most of my recordings."
It all started with a conversation with ChatGPT
It all started with a conversation with the AI assistant ChatGPT.
I asked ChatGPT if there was any way to reach people overseas other than through YouTube, and ChatGPT suggested the idea of selling audio materials on POND5.
I was skeptical at the time, but when I thought about it, I realized that I had already recorded many natural sounds in high quality, and it made sense to sell them as materials.
The recording of the rain was a treasure trove
I often do "rainy day shoots," so I record audio separately using a TASCAM Portacapture X8 while simultaneously shooting video
In other words, I have a large amount of high-quality rain sound material that I recorded during previous shoots.
Among them are unique natural sounds such as the sound of rain in a quiet Japanese garden and the echo of rain in a tunnel.
I thought it would be a waste to let it sit there and decided to try selling it on POND5.
Hitting the ID wall
I immediately created an account and proceeded with registration, but I found out that I needed to submit identification.
First, I tried to verify my identity using my Japanese driver's license.
The result was...unfortunately, it was rejected.
It seems that the POND5 system does not recognize a Japanese driver's license as an official form of ID.
I couldn't help but say to myself, "That's right (lol)."
The thunder recorded at Goshoji Temple was a turning point
While continuing to film for YouTube, a turning point arrived. I encountered a thunderstorm at Goshōji Temple in Utazu Town, Kagawa Prefecture . Fortunately, the sound I was recording with my TASCAM Portacapture X8 perfectly captured the lightning strike.
The recording was free of distortion and achieved high-quality 32-bit/96kHz audio, making it perfectly suitable for sale as source material. At that moment, my desire to share my recordings with the world grew stronger.
Next goal: Re-obtaining a passport
POND5 requires a passport for identity verification.
Since my passport had expired after returning to Japan, I decided to apply for a new one.
In my next article, I plan to share my experience applying for a passport online . I'll also write about how the Japanese application system has changed as online processes have become more prevalent.
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