nigel richards
Charter Member
:salute: One of the key areas of our hobby that would definately benefit from greater enrichment is that of sound. With this year's season of airshows and aviation drawing near, it would be a pity to let another year pass without grabbing the opportunity of expanding our collections of useful sound recordings!
With the range of authentic restorations ever on the increase, the time couldn't be better. If you live in the USA you've literally got it made! Other parts of the world, including the UK also provide good opportunities so I thought I would just outline a few points:
1. Airshows gather large crowds and are by nature high in ambient noise so consider arriving at dawn; you'll be amazed at the activity, engine checks, arrivals etc. in relatively 'quiet conditions. I regularly used to do this years ago at Biggin Hill, Duxford, Yeovilton etc.
2. If going in company, try and discreetly make your intentions understood...'traps shut'!
If the kids are along for the ride another adult's presence can keep them off your case...no "daddy I want an ice-cream" just when the object of your visit is making its one and only flyby.
3. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD!!!
4. Forget windy conditions unless you have suitable recording equipment! (I don't).
5. If you have a choice, position yourself at right-angles to aircraft for ground recoding NOT in front or behind! (unless you prefer propwash sounds (I definately DONT!).
6. Beware of the dreaded 'commentator'!!! These lads, once warmed up (particularly, I've noticed in the UK) can pour out continuous drivel throughout the entire display. Total waste of time!
7. We come to my stressing the USA. The explanation is simple; aviation is generally far more 'relaxed', layed-back and less accompanied by red-tape in the States. And so a casual visit to an airport there is more likely to result in casual discussions with pilots and owners only too pleased to show you round their aircraft. It's more than likely you'll be invited up for a circuit or two if you play your cards right, so go easy on your breakfast! And before I receive irrate posts from fellow Brits, no insult is intended! Its just the way things are done over there! :salute:
8. Cell phone recordings...forget it!
For practical purposes, please bare with me through this Video. You wont be disappointed; the flying and quality of sound is excellent. It just happens to contain all of the pitfalls as well!
Douglas DC6 by kubanskiloewe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrnIpuUfRnA
Eng.1. Unlucky guy, aerobatic passes at ignition. Eng.2. 'ditto' Eng.3. 'ditto' "Aha," you say, but the dc-6 has got four PW R-2800's...nope! Eng.4. 'ditto' !!!
Engine warm-up mistake no. 1. dont stand there in front of the aircraft. "Hogwash" you say...nope! PROPWASH! I'll prove it further on.
Notice also 2'.26" into the video, there's a guy who knows everything there is to know about this ship. And so he should; he's aircrew! But you shouldn't be standing there next to him!
Taxi At last the bird lurches forward, makes a turn and... there it is, there it is; 3'08" videotime - the engine sound you've been dying to hear in full glory, momentarily! That's Shell, that was!
3'22" videotime; jet traffic and hush-a-bye baby...(its not his fault, poor little fella).
Take-off "At last!" ...Commentator 'gobs off' accompanied to music, briefly thank God. Then you hear those glorious P&W's. And just when we've nearly got the makings of a hotshot wav...3'53" videotime the guy standing next to us cant stand the silence any longer "what ya think of that eh?"
flyby 1. Not bad!
flyby 2. ...crowd happily chatting 'n chirpping...no...no...someone just taxi's past.
flyby 3. ...kids getting bored, more taxiing, someone banging...
flyby 4. ...'ditto'...
flyby 5. ...something resembling an airborne moped passes by...
flyby 6. ...coming past nice and slow, landing lights on...someone's bashing the chainlink fence!
flyby 7. ...here come the sounds I've been searching for ages; P&W's slow revs flyby, yep!
Nope!...Someone thinks Peruvian pipe music is most relevant at this point! Are you kidding? NOPE!
flyby 8. ...Music, Commentator, Kids, you name it. All wrapped into a Grande Finale!
Landing Lights on, Wheels down, flaps...even the poor cameraman gives up...and someones playing a banjo!!!???!!! ...time and place for everything I spose!
All this, but I still think we should be going for those sounds, so come on guys, perhaps we might even be able to pool rescources here at SOH! What say...?
With the range of authentic restorations ever on the increase, the time couldn't be better. If you live in the USA you've literally got it made! Other parts of the world, including the UK also provide good opportunities so I thought I would just outline a few points:
1. Airshows gather large crowds and are by nature high in ambient noise so consider arriving at dawn; you'll be amazed at the activity, engine checks, arrivals etc. in relatively 'quiet conditions. I regularly used to do this years ago at Biggin Hill, Duxford, Yeovilton etc.
2. If going in company, try and discreetly make your intentions understood...'traps shut'!
If the kids are along for the ride another adult's presence can keep them off your case...no "daddy I want an ice-cream" just when the object of your visit is making its one and only flyby.
3. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD!!!
4. Forget windy conditions unless you have suitable recording equipment! (I don't).
5. If you have a choice, position yourself at right-angles to aircraft for ground recoding NOT in front or behind! (unless you prefer propwash sounds (I definately DONT!).
6. Beware of the dreaded 'commentator'!!! These lads, once warmed up (particularly, I've noticed in the UK) can pour out continuous drivel throughout the entire display. Total waste of time!
7. We come to my stressing the USA. The explanation is simple; aviation is generally far more 'relaxed', layed-back and less accompanied by red-tape in the States. And so a casual visit to an airport there is more likely to result in casual discussions with pilots and owners only too pleased to show you round their aircraft. It's more than likely you'll be invited up for a circuit or two if you play your cards right, so go easy on your breakfast! And before I receive irrate posts from fellow Brits, no insult is intended! Its just the way things are done over there! :salute:
8. Cell phone recordings...forget it!
For practical purposes, please bare with me through this Video. You wont be disappointed; the flying and quality of sound is excellent. It just happens to contain all of the pitfalls as well!
Douglas DC6 by kubanskiloewe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrnIpuUfRnA
Eng.1. Unlucky guy, aerobatic passes at ignition. Eng.2. 'ditto' Eng.3. 'ditto' "Aha," you say, but the dc-6 has got four PW R-2800's...nope! Eng.4. 'ditto' !!!
Engine warm-up mistake no. 1. dont stand there in front of the aircraft. "Hogwash" you say...nope! PROPWASH! I'll prove it further on.
Notice also 2'.26" into the video, there's a guy who knows everything there is to know about this ship. And so he should; he's aircrew! But you shouldn't be standing there next to him!
Taxi At last the bird lurches forward, makes a turn and... there it is, there it is; 3'08" videotime - the engine sound you've been dying to hear in full glory, momentarily! That's Shell, that was!
3'22" videotime; jet traffic and hush-a-bye baby...(its not his fault, poor little fella).
Take-off "At last!" ...Commentator 'gobs off' accompanied to music, briefly thank God. Then you hear those glorious P&W's. And just when we've nearly got the makings of a hotshot wav...3'53" videotime the guy standing next to us cant stand the silence any longer "what ya think of that eh?"
flyby 1. Not bad!
flyby 2. ...crowd happily chatting 'n chirpping...no...no...someone just taxi's past.
flyby 3. ...kids getting bored, more taxiing, someone banging...
flyby 4. ...'ditto'...
flyby 5. ...something resembling an airborne moped passes by...
flyby 6. ...coming past nice and slow, landing lights on...someone's bashing the chainlink fence!
flyby 7. ...here come the sounds I've been searching for ages; P&W's slow revs flyby, yep!
Nope!...Someone thinks Peruvian pipe music is most relevant at this point! Are you kidding? NOPE!
flyby 8. ...Music, Commentator, Kids, you name it. All wrapped into a Grande Finale!
Landing Lights on, Wheels down, flaps...even the poor cameraman gives up...and someones playing a banjo!!!???!!! ...time and place for everything I spose!
All this, but I still think we should be going for those sounds, so come on guys, perhaps we might even be able to pool rescources here at SOH! What say...?
so i'll be going nuts with it, fortunately where info centre is there not too much crowd noise or commentary and you get to hear things properly, monday will be the main day when i can get onto the static park as they start leaving, hopefully catch something starting up then 
2009 i remember it was the C-130's doing their best to deafen everyone still on site 
Smoothie It worries me to see a friend suffer this way...cheer up now!
Oops!, Ouch!...Sorry Milton! (probably there goes my chance of the Grumman Tracker!)