I've composed a page that shows you how to build my amazing High-accuracy Binaural Pressure Zone Microphone, the HBPZM. It's a fun project that should take less than an hour, and I promise you, will amaze you with its ability to capture audio which when heard through headphones, is indistinguishable from reality.
A clip made with this mic is forthcoming. I promise. No, really - I just need to replace the mic batteries and record something.
- Well, shucks. I have made a few recordings with the old mics, and found that over the years, these two mics have become extremely noisy. So much so, that I don't want to inflict them on you. However, I have used two Behringer Measurement mics in place of the tie clip mics, and I think it works fine. See what you think. (p.s. The main focus on this clip is not supposed to be my keyboard playing!)
interruption_(binaural).mp3 (1:44, 2507k, mp3, stereo, 192k encoding)
Andrew
Posted by Andrew under notices, general comments
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I have no new noises to post this time. I want to write about what will likely become my new church home. I recently moved to the Columbus, Ohio area. One of the first things I wanted to do when I got here was to find a chuch that had not only an excellent music department, but an important pipe organ, too. My previous post should make it clear that I delight in pipe organs. I want to be as close to them as possible for as long as possible.
The very first church I went to was recommended by a few good friends at my last church home. It is the First Congregational Church, UCC, in downtown Columbus. I visited this wonderful place Sunday. They have two pipe organs, A Beckerath up in the rear loft, and a 1931 Kimball (opus 30324) up front behind a screen. The Kimball was recently completely renovated. Both are large organs, 3 and 4 manuals respectively.
I arrived a little late. I thought they started at 10:30. I must have confused them with another church I wanted to visit. Went I walked in the rear entrance, I heard a soft, distant rumbling noise, a noise that is unmistakable to a serious pipe organ enthusiast. No, it wasn't music. I followed the sound down a hallway. Louder. Down a flight of stairs. Louder. Down another short flight into the sub-basement. Very loud. Around a corner and through an open door into a small pitch dark room. Roaring loud! Flick the light switch and there it is: the massive Spencer blower for the Kimball organ. What a way to meet a pipe organ, first by its blower. It was immaculately clean. This organ has been renovated recently.
The Beckerath has a feature I haven't seen before. Each draw knob is sequentially numbered. Perhaps there is a combination action that is programmed with stop numbers.
There were at least 300 people there. Scott Hayes from Muller organs, also music director at First Baptist Church in Springfield, played organ. (Tim Smith the Minister of Music and Artistic Director was on vacation). Scott's prelude was "Alleluyas" by S. Preston.
We were treated to a few truly fascinating pieces played by a saxophone quartet led by Kelley Gilbert. Handel's "Sarabanda" and for the postlude (where everyone is sitting and listening instead of getting up and leaving) a refreshingly fun piece called "Gaguenardise" by J. Francaix. They were flawless in every respect. One doesn't hear near enough saxophone quartets.
I am delighted to learn that OSU records and re-broadcasts recitals and performances there on the WOSU stations. Their Lessons and Carols service is broadcast live.
If I'm fortunate, I'll have a small, somehow noise-related audio clip to post regarding this amazing church soon.
