gregweddig.net

We are just heading into the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic surge here in California. I needed to get my new recording rig out locally to confirm that I can backpack it (yes), not damage it while traveling (yes) and fit all of my necessities (tent, sleeping bag, etc.) (probably). My backpack in the the far right middle of the photo.

The crackling you hear is from the power lines above, this is in Chico, California’s Bidwell Park and the city rumble is heavily rolled off the bottom end. One can hear park users in the distance. It is a quad recording so if you can figure out how to listen to four channels please enjoy the immersion

I recorded in the same place about 10 years ago as outlined here. That was stereo, this is a quad with a sub-cardioid (MKH 8090), into a SD MixPre10 II.

I was on a scouting trip to the northeast corner of California, checking out the Warner Range and other recording opportunities.  I was in Cedarville having a greasy breakfast a a local joint which had a little buzz going that morning, it wasn’t just the coffee.  I found out that one of the large ranches was transporting  200-300 head of cattle to their Summer grazing grounds up in the mountains.  This involved a cattle drive through the middle of downtown.  Since by the time I got out of breakfast the herd was fast approaching, I pulled out the microphones and this is what I heard:

As I continued exploring the area I had several other opportunities to drive through the same cattle swarm.  Good thing I wasn’t in a hurry.

MS, Schoeps MK21, SD 744t

Photo Courtesy of t_camuti ©2006

The sound you are about to hear is one that fascinated me the first time I took a walk in Bidwell Park.  In January I recorded it, reported to be the third largest urban park in the US, Bidwell Park is located within the city limits of Chico, CA near “Lake” Oroville and the Oroville Dam whose power travels along said lines.   The crackling that is heard is an effect called corona discharge [Wikipedia] and is caused by the interaction of power and humidity or other particles in the air surrounding the lines  (as I understand it).

As you can hear the city of Chico is on the right side of the image, it is somewhat heavily rolled off to provide a more pleasant listening experience.

MS, Schoeps MK21, SD 744t

On January 29th after 21 hours of labor (and about the same amount of compressed audio recording) we heard this very first sound:

Nicole and I are proud parents.  I won’t share the rest of the recording with you.  Surprisingly, none of the nursing staff gave me trouble about having a large microphone in the room, I guess it’s less equipment than those who bring video in.  I think I would find video less intimate and actually easier to watch than listening to the sounds of a woman laboring and delivering.

It brings tears to my eyes hearing these first cries again.

Thanks for allowing this diversion from the usual content.

–greg

Happy Holidays (Chico State Brass Band & Vocal Duet @ Enloe Hospital Tree Lighting):

It was about 2pm in the afternoon when this bell started ringing across the square in the center of the city.  The belltower (钟楼), across from the appropriately named drumtower, and between the Belltower Hotel, once contained a much larger bell used for announcing the time.
Captured with DPA 4060 lavaliere mics into the SD 744t.  Use headphones for best effect.

April 25th, 2007
Across from our hotel in Xi’an was a fish market: eel, flounder, toads, and jellyfish were among many that were unknown to us.  The highlight of this recording for me was a boy of about 6 or 7 who paused in his shrimp de-veining duties (or whatever his family was doing) and said “hello”.  The sound that comes out of his mouth sounded like a musical note, or the ploink of dripping water.  Captured with DPA 4060 lavaliere mics into the SD 744t.  Use headphones for best effect.

April 23, 2007
Returning from our exploration of this steep and remote section of the Great Wall, my traveling partner Ron and I came across this blind man playing his sanxian (三弦).  He blessed us with two songs, the second of which is represented here. Derived from an MS recording, Schoeps MK21/8 into a Sound Devices 744t.

It is Spring at the Summer Palace (頤和園), my wife Nicole and I were exploring the freshly blooming flora and we came upon this ethereal voice from the far reaches of the woods.  The close singer, reports Nicole, seemed to be mocking the mysterious voice.  Hordes of Chinese tourists were also present.  Captured with DPA 4060 lavaliere mics into the SD 744t.  Use headphones for best effect.

April 22, 2007 / 9:22 am
Nicole and I were heading to the Summer Palace.  We picked up this bus near Wangjing District and took it to Chaoyang, near the hospital where she was working at the time.  The bus was packed pretty full, comfortable for those of us used to riding MUNI buses through San Francisco’s Chinatown during rush hour.
DPA 4060 lavaliere mics into the SD 744t.  Use headphones for best effect.

Maryland Nature Recordists outing with Danny Meltzer, his recording can be found here.  This is based on a double MS recording, featuring Schoeps MK21 sub -cardioid  capsules. Download the wma file to listen.

MUNI in San Francisco, CA  Short clip of longer recording.
I was heading to the Embarcadero farmer’s market from Western Addition where I was living at the time (hi Shanan!).  Use headphones for best effect.
Quasi-Binaural, DPA 4061, HHB MDP500