Hi Bruce -
If the woman in western Massachusetts lives in an area that boasts of
vintage (pre 1960) wiring, this may help: some years ago I experienced a
persistent "mystery buzz" for several weeks in a small hamlet with a
half-dozen homes and a grocery store. It was a kind of crackling hum
centered around 60Hz. We suspected the store, of course, with its
refrigerators, freezers, and window signage. We couldn't locate the source
because it was apparently being transmitted along power lines and emanating
from just about anything (especially radios and TV sets) that was powered
up. It seemed to be omnipresent. It was intermittent at first, but when it
became full-time we got organized and turned off the power at each building
in turn. Process of elimination identified the offending household. A
resourceful electrician then traced it to an ancient step-down transformer
hooked up to the doorbell. The insulation had deliquesced. The transformer
had mutated into a kind of electromechanical oscillator and was dying a
long, slow, plaintive death.
- Don
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Bruce
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:09 PM
To:
Subject: [Nature Recordists] Unusual request for recording in MA
I had an unusual request from a woman in western Massachusetts to
record an irritating sound emanating from what she claims to be an
interaction between power lines and or DSL lines around their rural
home. I know this has nothing to do about nature sounds, but she
needs someone with low noise equipment, like what us nature
recordists often own, to be able to make a referenced recording that
she can use to get the noise abated. She tried using a Zoom H4, but
those recorders are known for having noise spikes from inside the
recorder. I think she has been analyzing the spikes from the recorder
and not the noise source. She had someone over there with an Edirol
R4 with Sony microphones, but I don't think those are going to work.
The noise is loud enough to be heard, but not as loud as a
conversation. The noise apparently is not isolated to her home, but
also around the community. Everyone who visits their home hears the
sounds. It is loud enough to keep them up at night and appears to be
disturbing animals in the area as well. So, if there is anyone around
the western Massachusetts area with very low noise microphones and
very low noise recorders that would be interested in taking a visit
over there to make the referenced recording, please let me know and I
will relay your information. She might be willing to pay a recording
fee. It is a bit far out of my way.
Yeah, I said it was an unusual request.
Thanks,
Bruce Rutkoski
Owner
www.natureguystudio.com
Ravenna, Ohio
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