Tony Baylis wrote:
>Of course there are some wildlife sound recordists who
>also enjoy their motorcycles, well at least 1. My
>Ducati's howl may be noise to a lot of people but it
>is music to my ears. I just hope it warns kangaroo's
>etc to keep off the road till I have passed. I too
>have been frustrated by unwanted noise on countless
>occasions, but come on lets be honest, wildlife sound
>recording is definitely a minority pastime. Most
>people look at you blank when you remark on background
>noise in an area they think is really quiet. Some
>control perhaps for off road vehicles, endless new
>tracks etc. But if you are going to record near a
>tarmac road you are going to get traffic noise. At
>least the bikes are usually traveling much faster and
>therefor are gone quicker than say that 40 ton truck.
>I lived close to Heathrow airport for many years and
>was constantly amazed that people would expect you to
>sign petitions about aircraft noise! As if there was
>no correlation between proximity to airport and
>aircraft noise. Sorry I like aircraft and flying as
>well as motorcycling. We mostly live in urban areas
>for the convenience, work etc. They cant seem to
>build the houses fast enough, and around here the
>gardens back onto the freeway, but they do have a 12
>ft high fence to deflect the sound! We cant have our
>cake and eat it.
>Tony Baylis
>
Hi Tony--
I enjoy the complex textures and rolling/pulsing harmonies as well!
Occasional uses are a lower priority. There are many things we use
all the time that are needlessly loud and sound recordists are in a
good position to point them out. Some quick examples. The new design
jet engines are much less obnoxious as they seem to produce much less
energy below 100 Hz. I haven't heard one in months. Did the feds stop
requiring them? Air conditioners can be made to be much quieter and
every unit off the lines could be so equipped at very little extra
cost. Tires and pavement can be designed to be much quieter and its
feasible to check tire alignment while testing for emissions. How
about those old, transformer design mercury vapor lights? That buzz
is horribly penetrating and nerve wracking and its everywhere, even
deep in the woods. Electric companies leave blaring, inefficient
distribution transformers on line for many years after they should be
replaced. How about those silly leaf blowers? carpet cleaning trucks,
roof-mounted compressors -- just SOME baffling could cut these
chuggers and whiners 70% or more. There are building ventilation
designs that cut room rumble by 80% so we can hear the people at the
other end of the table. Fact is, pleasurable soundscapes are a very
low cultural priority at present. We can rationalize doing nothing to
help check this this silly trend or we can use our sensibilities and
our voices and encourage more sensible manufacturing. I bet Rich
could help you design an extra tail pipe for your Ducati that you can
put on or take off depending on how many birds in the flock you want
to signal. Being able to hear other living things 100+ yards away has
been an important part of our experience as animals for a long, long
time. Its not cake or special interest. Places are more interesting
and communicative when sounders are equalized. Communities create
building and sign ordinances that do exactly that, visually.
Tomorrow, sound; hopefully sooner than later. Rob D.
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