Metal goodness

After a last minute call today, I threw my sound kit in the car and headed to Mt Roskil as a friend I have been hassling for ages finally cranked up his arc welder for some work he had planned...
I managed to capture a lot of the welding, from long intense runs to short bursts of crackle and hiss.
Imagining quite a rich, intense sound, I was stoked to hear how crisp and gloriously harsh it actually was in real life....
Back to the studio to clean it up and mangle it beyond recognition!!

Happy 50th Birthday

Happy 50th birthday to Doctor Who today!! And whilst its an impressive feet for any television show to make it 50 years, a tip of the hat is always in order to Brian Hodgson, Dick Mills and the rest of the Radiophonic Workshop, who created some of the most amazing sounds with very little gear and alot of imagination.  The sounds of Doctor Who and alot of other work done at that time can be found in the documentary 'The Alchemists of Sounds' - an absolute must see.  For now, check the below!!

New mic's for Field Sampling....

Hibernation sickness complete...

House purchasing, studio arranging, gigging, real world jobs, quietening of Foley work in Auckland and a very expensive root canal.... Hell it's been a busy 4 months!!

Very quiet sound wise though and with quietness comes time to build up the sound library...

And with the requirement of a real world job to secure the mortgage, my ears have been introduced to a whole new environment of sounds that would'nt have been available prior....

Food processing plants, immense factories, old buildings and warehouses, and the pipe laden corridors that lead to the old boiler rooms and workshops that linger in the heart their basements. 

Most of which are accessible in the dead of night when the workers have long departed....  

Perfect recording environments...

The decent begins into the heart of it all, armed only with a portable recorder.

And amazing discoveries like these are what makes it all worthwhile.... small devices housed in a stand alone room, that seem regulate detergent output in a wash down bay in the main building.
They appear to have a plastic body and a metal internal spindle that loudly clicks and whirs as it turns at various, unpredictable speeds, even slowing to a creepy creaking sound. They start un-expectantly, emitting a burst of various creaks, increasing groans and whirs before suddenly stopping dead.
And when there are 12 units on the wall, all coming to life at different speeds, pitches and times, it makes for a very creepy, un-nerving sound bed.

And this was only the first night.
So many more areas to explore....

Field Punishment No: 1

A.Barber and myself descended upon the Foley Room in Ellerslie this week, prepped for 5 days for World War 1 Feet Foley!
Mud, gravel, grass, fields, snow, concrete (dry & wet), wooden shacks, hospital floors, wooden walking planks, building debris and steel ship decks were some of the surfaces we had to cover.
It was an epic and very creative week, and such a rewarding experience.
Many thanks to A.Barber for her awesome recording skills, encouragement and long hours during an already busy week. Can't wait to hear the final mix!!

Rugs pulled back for maximum surface space

Grass, dirt, mudpit, snow and rickety wooden floor boards

Maximum coverage!

A sheet of Steel dropped off by Bruce for ship deck feet

Rubble!!

Mud feet in the pit

Mud scrapes, slides and scrambling 

Preparing for World War 1

Prepping up for 5 days of World War 1 Feet Foley starting tomorrow - mud. building debris and the epic struggle of war!!! Bring it on!!!

Sayonara PP....

Mr J.Bruce departs our shores this afternoon, in search of Foley, fortune and Otto von Shirach in the concrete jungles of Los Angeles. Take care out there mate, have lots of fun and can't wait to hear about your adventures in sound!!! Pass cEvin my regards too eh:)