While hiking past Bridal Veil on the way up to Lake Serene with my daughter, we noticed a rock outcropping near the falls that was sheltered from the torrent, yet was dripping and overgrown with moss. It was soft and meditative, yet slightly on-edge with the sound of the falls in the background.

We start a little outside the alcove, moving closer in around 2 minutes.

Recording errata:

Sound Devices 702

mid: MKH8020

side: MKH30

A Day of Humanity in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, or An Ode For AR-15, Power Lines, Nature, and a Plane

Backstory: A sunny morning in the Wild Sky Wilderness of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. My morning ambience recording ended by the encroachment of distant chainsaws, I'd packed up to leave when I stumbled upon power lines tearing through the forest. I stopped to look, only to discover that the power lines make a powerful sizzling sound. I found a nice spot beneath one set of lines and pressed record. Moments later the gunfire begins. As I discovered later, it was three AR-15 owners who'd found a quiet spot. The echoes of the gunfire painted a image of the mountains in my ears. They also reminded me of silence we've lost in our precious few wildernesses. A few more moments went by and plane soared somewhere in the distance, out of sight. Somewhere in the distance a train thrummed it's way through the mountains. Through it all nature persevered, both competing with humanity and continuing on despite it.

Technical notes: All the work I've done here is lop the ends off the recording. The power lines were not causing any interference. THAT'S THE ACTUAL ACOUSTIC SOUND THEY GENERATE.

recording miscellany:

Sound Devices 702

mid/ pressure: MKH8020

side/ gradient: MKH30

pad-free, filter free. Recorded in the raw (tm).

Back-and-forth all afternoon.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30

Back-and-forth all afternoon.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30

They really can sneak up on you, going from dull booming to ear-bleed in just a couple seconds.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30

They really can sneak up on you, going from dull booming to ear-bleed in just a couple seconds.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30

I was situated along the shore of Lake Washington, so I had to make the tough choice of "light crowd chatter" or "gentle wave lapping" in the background.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30

The Blue Angels practice strafing runs over Lake Washington for two days. During that time the air is filled with screaming jets, continuous booming rumble, and dissipating smoke-oil tracks.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30

I was situated along the shore of Lake Washington, so I had to make the tough choice of "light crowd chatter" or "gentle wave lapping" in the background.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30

I was situated along the shore of Lake Washington, so I had to make the tough choice of "light crowd chatter" or "gentle wave lapping" in the background.

recorder: SD702

mid-side configuration

mid: MKH8060

side: MKH30