Direct mp4 download or play: Bicycle Horn Underwater 2016
If that wasn’t dumb enough here is an audio only download or play:
Bicycle Horn Underwater 2016 mp3
I made this for Negativland last year for possible use in live performances, but it proved to be too silly. The audio effects were created from a VST plugin called Argotlunar. Other posts with my bicycle horn are here, here, here, and here.
Lists 59, 23, 72, 42, 31, 32, 33, 30 and 57
Posted on April 19th, 2017
Direct mp4 download or play: Lists 59, 23, 72, 42, 31, 32, 33, 30 and 57
While tuning my Airspy software defined radio (SDR) at my location in Seattle, I stumbled onto this broadcast on a band meant for two-way radio communications such as police, fire departments, taxis, Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service(GMRS), both analog and digital. I listened closely to the poor sound quality and managed to type in a Google search and came up with “Harvard Sentences.” After listening for awhile I noticed certain lists of sentences were playing in a certain order and then looping. At approximately 4 minutes and 43 seconds list 59 begins “Every word and phrase he speaks is true.” Then after list 57 “Prod the old mule with a crooked stick.” at about 11 minutes and 12 seconds, the groups of sentence lists repeat in the same order. I guess a beginning and ending could be anywhere in the groups of sentences, but to me, it seemed like “Every word and phrase he speaks is true.” is a logical starting point. Here’s an interesting article about the “Harvard Sentences.”
I don’t know why this is being broadcast, but in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I recall 454 to 455 and 152 to 153 megahertz being used by the telephone company for mobile phone calls. This, of course, would have been before cellular. Here is a full list of sentences. Any thoughts on this matter?
Direct mp3 download or play: Harvard Sentences April 20th, 2017 at 1:57 AM PDT on 454.650 Megahertz
The first recording was made on April 19, 2017, 2:39:11 PM and this last sample aaudio-only recording was made over 11 hours later. This recording shows the loop point where list 57 ends and list 59 begins. I think “085709Z” in the SDRSharp file name is the universal time. In other words, 8 hours, 57 minutes, 9 seconds is 1:57 AM and 9 seconds pacific daylight time. The “Z” is for Zulu, which is another name for universal time.
The Weatherman's Club Soda Break – Mint Test
Posted on September 2nd, 2015
Direct mp3 download or play: The Weatherman’s Club Soda Break – Mint Test
Here is probably one of the most fun and memorable times of being on the radio on Over The Edge with Don Joyce. As far as I know, it was from the year 2000.
The winner, first place – Peppermint and Wintergreen Altoids at the same time.
Second place – Citrus Orange Blitz
Third place – Velamints Chocolate Mints
Fourth place – Mentos Cool Chews
Last place – Ice Breakers Cool Mint – made me feel “gothic.”
The Club Soda: Calistoga Sparkling Water, 1997 label.
This small fuzzy image is all I could find of this label style, which I think was still being used in the year 2000, when I was on Over The Edge.
Thunderstorm 8-12-2015 (Updated 4-22-2018)
Posted on August 17th, 2015
I’ve updated the audio file with the dynamic range expanded to 0 db. The loudest part, which was as much as 10 db above 0, just after 6:27 was clip repaired manually (each sample hand drawn) to minimiize pumping effects of compression. I’m including a lossless FLAC file for downloading, too.
Thunderstorm in Seattle 8-12-2015 waveform – peak level 0 db
Below is the original post.
Direct mp3 download or play: Thunderstorm 8-12-2015
Here is my recording of a thunderstorm in Seattle on August 12th, 2015. This is probably the best recording of thunder I’ve ever made. What makes this one particularly good is a distinct beginning, middle, and end. It starts slow with ambiance, then several close lightning strikes with sharply loud thunder, followed by heavy rain. The rain tapers, thunder becomes more distant, and the storm ends with more ambient noises. Some of the sounds were from inside my house, such as dishes being washed and other kitchen clatter.
The recording was made using my Sony PCM-D50 recorder placed on a microphone stand, facing out from the sliding glass door in my living room. The built-in condenser microphones were adjusted to 120 degrees, wide stereo. I put a thin layer of tissue paper over the front of the recorder to minimize wind noise.
There is clipping and dynamic range compression effects on some of the loudest audio. If I had allowed for the maximum amount of dynamic range with no clipping, the lowest level of audio would have been almost too quiet. Of course this is my own opinion. Feel free to disagree!
Thunderstorm in Seattle 8-12-2015 waveform – peak level -.29db
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