Week 13
A48, Cardiff
March 30th, 4.25pm


I know that John Cage had some good things to say about the sound of road traffic, but I struggle to find the musicality in it while out walking. Indeed, when hearing it live it can be stressful, but there is something about a sound recording of it – yanked from its context – that is quite pleasing and settling. The following is a recording of traffic on the A48 in northern Cardiff, from a footbridge that leads to the University Hospital of Wales.

(5:54)


Setup: 2 DPA 4060 lavalier mics in stereo position to Sound Devices 702

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Week 12
St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff
March 23rd, 3.20pm


St Fagans National History Museum, part of the National Museum Wales, is an open-air museum consisting of historic Welsh buildings. The buildings originate from across Wales, and have been painstakingly re-built on land adjacent to St Fagans Castle to the west of Cardiff. The following is an edited compilation of a few recordings made in the restored Italian Garden surrounding the Castle.

(4:11)




Setup: 2 DPA 4060 lavalier mics in stereo position to Sound Devices 702

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Week 11
Bristol And Bath Railway path
March 16th, 2.30pm

Groups of rowers pass under a footbridge along the Bristol And Bath Railway path near Kelston Lock.

(3:09)


Setup: 2 DPA 4060 lavalier mics in stereo position to Sound Devices 702

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Week 10
Avon Valley Railway, Bitton
March 6th, 12.15-1.40pm


On Mothering Sunday, I decided to take a trip to Bitton not far outside of Bristol, to record the sound of heritage trains at Avon Valley Railway. A small group of railway enthusiasts were commemorating 50 years since the last passenger trains ran along the line. 1960s rock ‘n’ roll was piped out onto the platform, and a 1940s diesel and 1920s steam train carried passengers the 3 miles of track that the Railway owns.
I managed to get some recordings onboard both trains by hanging my microphones out of a sliding window. The first is onboard a BR Class 31/1 No. 31101 diesel train built in 1945:

(4:45)



Second, is from onboard a GWR 4575 Class No.5521/L.150 steam train (built 1927), which apparently pulled the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for a time in 2007.

(4:51)


Setup: 2 DPA 4060 lavalier mics in stereo position to Sound Devices 702