Published January 19, 2012 in the Chicago Reader’s “Show us your [____]” section, by Kevin Warwick.

Photo by Andrea Bauer

Here is a download link to a 6-minute, 19-second excerpt from my binaural recording of this year’s unofficial 4th of July fireworks displays happening all around my home on the west side of Chicago (64 MB WAV file): https://download.yousendit.com/RXNoeFVRcG9Fc0xIRGc9PQ

I recorded this on my old Sony TCD-D7 DAT “Walkman” with my new in-ear binaural mics from Sound Professionals. Last year I recorded the fireworks with an AT-822 placed in a stationary position on the front porch. This year my partner and I went for a walk
around the block, past the Conservatory, into to Garfield Park and back.

The excerpt I selected to upload for you is fairly rich with activity. Aside from the near and distant sounds of fireworks all around, you’ll hear:

• cars passing
• several overly excited little children with toy horns
• interesting echoes of the fireworks bursts that bounce off the
  railroad viaduct to create unusual “chirping” sounds

As we walk underneath the viaduct you can hear the acoustics change from
open air to a steel and stone passage way and out while the children
play ahead of us, cars pass at our side, and the freight train rumbles
overhead.

This link has limited number of downloads, available on YouSendIt.com until July 20 (unless I move it to another site).