SFX – Richard Broom Photography

June 2, 2022June 2, 2022

The Other Sodding Tractor

Please see my previous post and then join me as I try to record the tranquil sounds of the River Deveron, near to Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It clearly isn’t my day for field recording! Today is a public holiday and I would expect any self-respecting farmers to take a day off. Not in Banff. So please enjoy the tranquil sounds of the River Deveron passing you by and the delightful sound of a f**king tractor pull a rake around a nearby field. Using my directional parabolic mic (DM), I can hear the sounds of tractors and other industrial noises several kilometres away.

The sounds of the River Deveron + and an annoying f**king tractor! by Richard Broom

The Other Sodding Tractor

June 2, 2022June 2, 2022

The Sodding Tractor!!!

Join me as I try to record the sound of birds today. It is public holiday here today in Scotland. There is no wind. It would have been a perfect day to record bird sounds in the woods near to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duff_HouseDuff House in Banff, Aberdeenshire. Wonderful bird sounds but oh my, the noise of a f**king tractor on Banff Golf Course provided unwanted background noise to the recording of the birds who were really going for it in the woods today. Pah!

Duff House Sounds + sodding tractor! by Richard Broom

The Sodding Tractor!!! – Richard Broom Photography

May 25, 2022May 25, 2022

The Pilot’s Briefing

Join us on a British Airways flight and listen to the pilot briefing the passengers about the up and coming flight to Chania, Crete. I’m sure someone will tell me that the image I have chosen is not that of an Airbus A380!

The Pilot's Briefing by Richard Broom

The Pilot’s Briefing – Richard Broom Photography

May 25, 2022May 25, 2022

The Cave and the Libyan Sea

Join me in a cave close to the Libyan Sea in Crete. The cave was a natural echo chamber. Listen to the waves breaking and the echo as the sound of the waves bounced around inside the cave. You will also hear me tramping about in the cave. There was no sand but plenty of gravel underfoot.

The Cave and the Sea by Richard Broom

The Cave and the Libyan Sea – Richard Broom Photography

May 24, 2022May 24, 2022

The Sounds of a Taverna in Hora Sfakion, Crete

Join me in a Taverna right next to the sea in Hora Sfakion, Crete. Listen to people enjoying a fine meal and you will also hear the sounds of the waves washing up on the nearby beach. What a wonderful place to enjoy Greek food.

The sounds of a Taverna, Hora Sfakion, Crete by Richard Broom

The Taverna in Hora Sfakion, Crete

The Sounds of a Taverna in Hora Sfakion, Crete – Richard Broom Photography

May 6, 2022May 6, 2022

The Sound of Cretan Bees

Join me at the Vritomartis Naturist Resort close to Hora Sfakion, Crete as I listen to the very busy bees and other insects buzzing around large plants close to our beautiful room which overlooks the Libyan Sea. You might also hear the occasional bird!

The Cretan Bees by Richard Broom

The Sound of Cretan Bees

April 29, 2022April 29, 2022

The Sound of Cretan Sheep

Join me here in wonderful Crete as we listen to a large herd of sheep passing close to the chalet where we are staying at the Vritomartis Naturist Resort in Crete. The sound of sheep bells (the sheep have bells around their necks for some reason) really is one of the wonderful sounds you will hear on this most delightful Greek Island. I can also highly recommend the Vritomartis Naturist Resort. A wonderful hotel in all respects.

Sheep And Bells Crete Mixdown 2 by Richard Broom

The Sound of Cretan Sheep – Richard Broom Photography

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022

The Fun of the Fair

Join me a the fairground and hear the sounds of old fashioned fairground organ banging out it’s jolly tune.

The Fun of the Fair by Richard Broom

The Fun of the Fair

April 9, 2022April 9, 2022

The Cornish Pastie Shop

Join me at the Cornish Pastie shop at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham in the UK. The Cornish pasties were edible but not the best I have ever tasted. The NEC is generally very busy (as you’ll hear) and the food outlets do charge top dollar for their mass-produced products.

The Cornish Pastie Shop, NEC, Birmingham by Richard Broom

The Cornish Pastie Shop

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022

British Airways Blues (‘Your call is important to us’)

Join me as I listened for a total of over 3 hours to of ‘music on hold’ and ‘your call is important to us’ messages whilst I waited for British Airways to answer the telephone today. After a total of three hours of no reply, I gave in. British Airways, and before it BOAC and BEA, is or was something we British used to be proud of. I did get hold of one unhelpful chap from BA who dismissively gave me another number to call because I had ‘the wrong kind of Business Class ticket’ (yes, Business Class!) and the number he gave me promptly disconnected me and so I went to the back of the queue again.

Sadly… we live in changed times. Is the UK going down the tubes and taking British Airways with it? It’s certainly beginning to look like it.

British Airways – such a disappointment (and I speak as an IAG shareholder!!!!).

British Airways Blues by Richard Broom

British Airways Blues

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022

The Suck, Squeeze, Bang and Blow…

Join me for my rather warped idea of what it would sound like if you were sitting in the middle of an internal combustion engine. Best with headphones on….

All done on my Machine Mikro.

The Engine Soundscape by Richard Broom

The Suck, Squeeze, Bang and Blow

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022

The Sound of Swooping Swallows…

Join me as I try to imagine the sound swooping swallows would make as they fly around the sky over our heads. I always think that swallows are avian jet fighters and yet so graceful. I could watch them for hours…

All sounds created on my Machine Mikro (what a clever little box it is!)

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-sound-of-swooping-swallows?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Sound of Swooping Swallows

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022

The Electronic Seascape Soundscape!

Join me as I have a bit of fun with my Mashine Mikro and create an electronic seascape soundscape complete with buoys and lighthouses…but only synthesised sound of course. If only I knew what I was doing (I think it is called making it up as you go along?!).

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-electronic-seascape?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Electronic Seascape Soundscape!

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022

The Golden Age of BBC Radio – Come in Tokyo

Join me and listen into some clips from the golden age of BBC Radio Comedy from the 1950s. I remember listening to the radio (no TV in those days during the day) to BBC Radio Comedy programmes on a Sunday afternoon. Names like Tony Hancock, Keneth Williams, Keneth Horne and many more spring to mind.

Radio always had the best scenery…

I created the background music (if you can call it that) on my Native Instruments Maschine. I have no musical knowledge or training it (and it shows). I just plug noises into the spreadsheet arrangement (image below) which is the Maschine 2 software, push the button and see what pops out. It seems to work and, of course, it is royalty free!

You can listen to my musical efforts on their own by clicking here.

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/come-in-tokyo?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Golden Age of BBC Radio – Come in Tokyo

March 27, 2022March 27, 2022

The Crazy Sound of Surf

This is what happens when you put the sound of surf crashing onto rocks (see my previous post) through Adobe Audition filters (flanger, phases and echo). Quite a noise! Best with headphone on.

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-surf-gone-crazy?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Crazy Sound of Surf

March 26, 2022March 26, 2022

The Cacophony of Birds

Join me at a bird colony on a rock which sticks out of the sea just West of Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. If you listen, you will hear the sea washing around the column of rock and the birds, who cling to and nest of the sheer rock face (see image) and make an almighty noise. You can hear the natural echo as the bird sounds bounce off the cliff faces which surround the rock column. You will hear seagulls, gannets, razorbills, cormorants and many other birds – all squawking away. You’ll hear ‘peak squawking’ at about 2 minutes.

Recorded using my parabolic mic and a Zoom H6 (my Zoom F6 still missing in transit!)

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-portsoy-scotland-bird-nesting-site?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Cacophony of Birds

March 25, 2022March 25, 2022

The Stream Meets the Sea

Join me on the beach at Portsoy, Scotland where the stream that flows down from the hills crossed the beach and flows into the sea.

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/where-the-stream-meets-the-sea?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Stream Meets the Sea

March 25, 2022March 25, 2022

The Sound of Portsoy Beach

Join me and listen to the waves crashing onto Portsoy beach. Portsoy is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and was the setting for a Peaky Blinders episode last year. Portsoy has some wonderful walks in and around this most delightful town. The harbour is also well worth a visit. By the way, I used my panoramic microphone (1 dish, two mics) to record the sound.

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/portsoy-beach-the-sound-of-the-waves-crashing-onto-the-beach?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Sound of Portsoy Beach

March 16, 2022March 16, 2022

The Crow and the Tractor

Join me as as I tried to record the sounds of a crow but then a tractor came along and ploughed the nearby field. The field was close to the woods at Duff House, Banff, Aberdeenshire. You can hear the tractor driver lift the plough, rotate it and lower it again before turning round in order to plough in the opposite direction.

The Crow And The Tractor by Richard Broom

The Crow and the Tractor

March 16, 2022March 16, 2022

The Pilot Speaks…

Join me on a transatlantic KLM flight heading towards Europe. Listen to what the pilot has to say.

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-pilot-speaks?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Pilot Speaks…

March 15, 2022March 15, 2022

The Train Station Piano Player

Join me whilst I listen to a talented young man playing the piano in Amsterdam Central Station’s lobby.

The Piano Player (Central Station Amsterdam) by Richard Broom

The Train Station Piano Player

March 15, 2022March 15, 2022

The Pre-Flight Safety Briefing

Join me on a KLM flight and listen to the safety briefing many of us, I suspect, don’t listen to.

The Aircraft Safety Briefing by Richard Broom

The Pre-Flight Safety Briefing

March 14, 2022March 14, 2022

The Pesky Aircraft Overflight…

Join me as I try to record bird sounds in the wood only to have a light aircraft fly overhead…

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/aircraft-overflight?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Pesky Aircraft Overflight…

March 12, 2022March 12, 2022

The Coffee Shop…

Join me in Starbucks and listen out for the wifi password (but you have to guess which of many Starbucks outlet it is!!!)

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/starbucks?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Coffee Shop…

March 12, 2022March 12, 2022

The Helicopter Experience

Join me as we all take off in a modern helicopter (best with headphones on).

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-helicopter-start?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Helicopter Experience

March 8, 2022March 8, 2022

The Train to Brussels

Join me on the train travelling smoothly and comfortably between Amsterdam and Brussels

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-train-to-brussels?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Train to Brussels

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

The Departure Lounge

Join me in the departure lounge of an airport (we’ve all been there!)

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-departure-lounge?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Departure Lounge

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

The Annoyingly Talkative Woman on the Train

Join me on a train where, unfortunately, I found myself sitting next to an annoyingly talkative woman who spent over an hour talking unrelentingly into her mobile telephone, and my ear. Later in her conversation (I have spared you), the woman went on to give some highly personal details about people she worked with (names, departments, the lot). I can only assume she didn’t realise other people on the train could hear her every word (loud and clear!). All I was trying to do was record train sound effects…instead, I had to put up with an appallingly unpleasant blabbermouth! This unappealing woman was the audio equivalent of a photo-bomb. I have two words for her – live mic!

The Woman Who Talks And Talks And Talks And Talks… by Richard Broom

The Annoyingly Talkative Woman on the Train

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

The Sound of a Wedding

Join me an enjoy the sounds of a wedding in an old Norman Church.

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-sound-of-a-wedding?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Sound of a Wedding

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

The Cafe in Harrods, London

Join me for a cup of tea in the cafe in Harrods department store in London.

Harrods Cafe by Richard Broom

The Cafe in Harrods, London

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

The Train Snack Bar Announcement

Join me on one of our British trains. Over the years I’ve learned that the food on our British trains generally is massively overpriced and doesn’t taste so good (French trains so much better in all respects). Please note that it is the train loudspeaker system that is delivering quite badly distorted sound (along with the badly distorted sandwiches!). Brexit = terrible food!

The Train Snack Bar Announcement by Richard Broom

The Train Snack Bar Announcement

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

The Sound of the Railway Station

Join me at a British train station as the train makes ready to depart, and then departs.

https://soundcloud.com/rrr700/the-train-station?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Train Station

The Railway Station – Richard Broom Photography

March 6, 2022March 6, 2022

The Walk in the Woods…

Join me and enjoy the sounds from our dog walk in the woods near to Duff House in Banff, Aberdeenshire, this morning. You’ll hear the sounds of woodland birds, including a fine woodpecker, streams and all the other sounds (including, if you listen very carefully, golf ball hits from the nearby Dufff House Royal Golf Club.)

All sounds recorded on my parabolic (directional) microphone using a ZoomH6 recorder (My Zoom F6 still hasn’t arrived!). The sound was mixed (using adaptive noise reduction) using Adobe Audition.

A walk in the woods by Richard Broom

The Walk in the Woods…