Binaural Diaries Field Recording

On Boxing Day, I set out to capture the serene atmosphere of Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean. The morning was cold and misty, and I placed my Sony PCM-M10 recorder on a fence in the backyard to make an unattended, long-form field recording. The soundscape was soothing: various birdsong filled the air, their melodies sharp against the stillness, occasionally interrupted by the hum of a passing car. Six and a half minutes in, church bells chimed, marking the peaceful passage of time. It was a balm to experience such tranquillity in the countryside, a stone's throw from the River Wye. Recordings made using Sony PCM-M10 build-in mics. https://www.binauraldiaries.co.uk/blog/lydbrook-birdsong-boxing-day-26122024-1129

On a crisp autumn day, I visited the historic Bristol Cathedral with my family to experience Gaia exhibition, Luke Jerram’s suspended rotating Earth model. The air was alive with the gentle murmurs of visitors, their voices blending into a soothing hum as they moved through the space, captivated by the installation. The Gaia sculpture was stunning representation of our planet, suspended in mid-air, and after a while a choir began rehearsing for an upcoming performance. Their voices filled the air.

On a crisp autumn day, I visited the historic Bristol Cathedral with my family to experience Gaia exhibition, Luke Jerram’s suspended rotating Earth model. The air was alive with the gentle murmurs of visitors, their voices blending into a soothing hum as they moved through the space, captivated by the installation. The Gaia sculpture was stunning representation of our planet, suspended in mid-air, and after a while a choir began rehearsing for an upcoming performance. Their voices filled the air. Recordings made using Sony PCM-M10 build-in mics.

A field recording made during a train journey from Bruges to Brussels on 4 October 2019 – 17:11. https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/train-from-bruges-to-brussels/ The first leg of our journey home from Bruges. It was a popular route, with many fellow passengers spread across the two levels of the train. The three recordings I’ve cross-faded together capture the contrast between lively chat and the low-register rumbling of the train’s movement. Recorded using Sony PCM-M10 & Luhd PM-01 microphones

A last-minute unplanned recording of fireworks being let off in our neighbourhood using the Sony PCM-M10 built-in mics. I'd never heard such a cacophony of fireworks let off at such quick succession for so long. It's slightly muffled as a result of recording indoors with the window only slightly open. https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/nye-2020-fireworks/ Gear: Sony PCM-M10 built-in mics Photo by Fireworks Photo by Erwan Hesry

Early Morning Birdsong - 3rd May 2020 05:30 https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/early-morning-birdsong/ Early morning field recording of birdsong Bristol. Inspired by International Dawn Chorus Day: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/dawn-chorus-day Gear: Sony PCM-M10 Clippy Stereo EM172 microphones Photo by Wojciech Święch on Unsplash

Clap For Our Carers - 2nd April 2020 19:58. Field recording of our neighbourhood taking part in #clapforourcarers. This was the second such event of the covid-19 UK lockdown. https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/clap-for-our-carers/ https://clapforourcarers.co.uk/ Gear: Sony PCM-M10 Clippy Stereo EM172 microphones Photo by Guillermo Latorre on Unsplash

https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/alistair-park-woodcarving/ Having talked about doing it for quite some time, I recently visited Alistair Park at his studio at Bower Ashton in Bristol to make field recordings of some of the sounds that his tools make in use. Alistair has been working with wood for over 20 years, and it was a great pleasure to see him practising his craft and to hear the sounds made by various wood carving techniques that he chose to demonstrate. It's clear that such craftsmanship relies on an intimate understanding of the associated tools and materials. It goes without saying that the appearance and feel of the wood are key when crafting the raw material into the end result, but I was interested to learn that also the smell of the wood and the sounds made when working it all feed into the creative process. In this recording Alistair demonstrated the use of a very old drawknife on a piece of larch. You can learn more about Alistair’s work at his website http://www.carvings-with-stories.co.uk, his blog https://carvingswithstories.blogspot.co.uk and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bristolwoodcarver/.

https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/alistair-park-woodcarving/ Having talked about doing it for quite some time, I recently visited Alistair Park at his studio at Bower Ashton in Bristol to make field recordings of some of the sounds that his tools make in use. Alistair has been working with wood for over 20 years, and it was a great pleasure to see him practising his craft and to hear the sounds made by various wood carving techniques that he chose to demonstrate. It's clear that such craftsmanship relies on an intimate understanding of the associated tools and materials. It goes without saying that the appearance and feel of the wood are key when crafting the raw material into the end result, but I was interested to learn that also the smell of the wood and the sounds made when working it all feed into the creative process. In this recording Alistair uses a gouge to carve a relief portrait of David Bowie into a star-shaped piece of oak. You can learn more about Alistair’s work at his website http://www.carvings-with-stories.co.uk, his blog https://carvingswithstories.blogspot.co.uk and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bristolwoodcarver/.

https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/alistair-park-woodcarving/ Having talked about doing it for quite some time, I recently visited Alistair Park at his studio at Bower Ashton in Bristol to make field recordings of some of the sounds that his tools make in use. Alistair has been working with wood for over 20 years, and it was a great pleasure to see him practising his craft and to hear the sounds made by various wood carving techniques that he chose to demonstrate. It's clear that such craftsmanship relies on an intimate understanding of the associated tools and materials. It goes without saying that the appearance and feel of the wood are key when crafting the raw material into the end result, but I was interested to learn that also the smell of the wood and the sounds made when working it all feed into the creative process. In this recording Alistair demonstrated the use of a side axe. You can learn more about Alistair’s work at his website http://www.carvings-with-stories.co.uk, his blog https://carvingswithstories.blogspot.co.uk and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bristolwoodcarver/.

https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/alistair-park-woodcarving/ Having talked about doing it for quite some time, I recently visited Alistair Park at his studio at Bower Ashton in Bristol to make field recordings of some of the sounds that his tools make in use. Alistair has been working with wood for over 20 years, and it was a great pleasure to see him practising his craft and to hear the sounds made by various wood carving techniques that he chose to demonstrate. It's clear that such craftsmanship relies on an intimate understanding of the associated tools and materials. It goes without saying that the appearance and feel of the wood are key when crafting the raw material into the end result, but I was interested to learn that also the smell of the wood and the sounds made when working it all feed into the creative process. In this recording Alistair split an log of larch using a froe and mallet. Listen out for the 'pop' the log makes as the fibre of the wood splits into two. You can learn more about Alistair’s work at his website http://www.carvings-with-stories.co.uk, his blog https://carvingswithstories.blogspot.co.uk and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bristolwoodcarver/.

https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/alistair-park-woodcarving/ Having talked about doing it for quite some time, I recently visited Alistair Park at his studio at Bower Ashton in Bristol to make field recordings of some of the sounds that his tools make in use. Alistair has been working with wood for over 20 years, and it was a great pleasure to see him practising his craft and to hear the sounds made by various wood carving techniques that he chose to demonstrate. It's clear that such craftsmanship relies on an intimate understanding of the associated tools and materials. It goes without saying that the appearance and feel of the wood are key when crafting the raw material into the end result, but I was interested to learn that also the smell of the wood and the sounds made when working it all feed into the creative process. In this recording Alistair gave an introduction to who he is and where we were recording, and carved seasoned lime wood using a gouge. You can learn more about Alistair’s work at his website http://www.carvings-with-stories.co.uk, his blog https://carvingswithstories.blogspot.co.uk and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bristolwoodcarver/.

Field recording beneath the M4 Severn Bridge on the Severn Beach side. https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/under-the-m4-severn-bridge Gear: Sony PCM-M10 built-in mics

Sandbanks Ferry 13th August 2018. Field recording of the Sandbanks Ferry, sailing from Shell Bay to Sandbanks in Dorset. https://binauraldiaries.co.uk/sandbanks-ferry/ Gear: Sony PCM-M10 built-in mics

Light summer rain in Exeter 18/08/2008.

Sitting in the tent, and listening to the rain while camping at the Big Chill festival 2005.

Recording made of the 'Clock Room' at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, March 2006 Timekeeping Exhibition – Clock Room at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. The room contained a variety of different timepieces from grandfather clocks and pocket-watches to more antiquated mechanisms. Not all of the clocks were producing an audible sound, but I moved slowly around the room to take in different combinations of ticking sounds. You’ll occasionally hear other people passing through the room as well as some of my lumbering footsteps.

In 2002 Land Securities unveiled it’s controversial plans for the redevelopment of Exeter city centre’s Princesshay Shopping precinct. Four years on, the demolition and archaeological excavation of this area has been completed, and construction is underway. The public have been given the opportunity to oversee part of this construction work by providing a purpose-built viewing platform. The re-development has caused a stir among Exeter resident for whom the change will mark another step in the homogenisation of Devon’s capital, while for others points towards positive economic growth, an increase in the variety of facilities, and enhancement of the city’s reputation.

The Real McCoy Cafe, Exeter, on a quiet day. 1st May 2006.

Recorded at Paignton Zoo on 16 April 2006