Space shuttle take off audio <--- looking for

[Stephen Hall]

Hi, I´m looking for a high quality, well recorded take of of the space shuttle from really close. Any ideas where to look?

I've been on-site at the cape for many launches, from the Saturn V era on to the Shuttle era.

The interesting thing about being there is that recorded/TV broadcast sound is completely misleading. If you listen to a typical broadcast news video of a Shuttle launch (assuming the announcer will shut up), you'll hear a series of "pop pop pop" sounds as the shuttle climbs.

In person, these are not "pops" -- they are chest-thumping booms, caused by shock waves from the supersonic exhaust gas from the engines. Mic elements, even miles away, are overwhelmed by this. Just imagine someone hitting your chest lightly with a pillow while hearing a muffled boom every 1/2 second or so. That's what a shuttle launch is like from across the river where the spectators watch.

I think you'd need one a theater-sized sound system to reproduce that experience.

Just my $ .02 worth.

Stephen H

 

[Alex H.]

That's some great insight, Stephen!

This goes back to the benefit of building the sound in post. That's something that can be created in the subs (for that chest-rattling thud) using all sorts of different recorded sounds. Just take the different elements: roar of the burning boosters, the snaps and pops of cables, probably some metal creaking (realistic or not, it's a good sound to consider), and once it's in the air the pops and booms.

 

[davefisk]

For some reason, I keep thinking "just blown in a mic with no windscreen on it". You could at least use that as one of the layers for your sound effect. In the post world, some of us often joke about making all the sound effects for a tv/movie/game with just our mouths. Well, sometimes I kinda do that, but then I take the recording and work with it to make it sound cooler than just me acting like a 5 year old.

 

[Gregg Juke]

>>>>For some reason, I keep thinking "just blown in a mic with no windscreen on it". You could at least use that as one of the layers for your sound effect.<<<<

Cool idea!

GJ

 

[Greg Smith]

For some reason, I keep thinking "just blown in a mic with no windscreen on it".

My idea was "grind the end of the mic in a bowl of corn flakes." Maybe both mixed together ...

- Greg