Lightning strikes the house next door, and echoes off the houses and hills of the neighbourhood. Sennheiser MD421 pointed at open window during thunderstorm, Ampex MX10 tube mixer, Ampex 960 tube reel-to-reel. Dual mono recording, good fidelity. Tape hiss is masked by white noise from rain. If you listen closely, the leading edge of the clap is preceded by a faint click (visible in audio editing software), which is likely the instant the bolt makes contact and sends electricity through everything in the vicinity (tubes are forgiving). The shockwave from the superheated air (which only travels at the speed of sound) arrives as the main clap a split second afterwards. Startled recordist can also be heard in the fadeout.
Type
Wave (.wav)
Duration
0:15.928
File size
2.7 MB
Sample rate
44100.0 Hz
Bit depth
16 bit
Channels
Stereo
Comments
17 years, 11 months ago
WOW! Although I expected the strike as I listened to your recording, I still flinched. It only lacks the brilliant flash and pungent aroma of ozone to connote the proximity of your position to the strike. Its technical accomplishment is also superb.
18 years ago
i'm speechless !!! great !!!
18 years, 4 months ago
10 out of 10! That is an awesome recording and an awesome story.
18 years, 5 months ago
It hit their friggen house!? Holy crap!
18 years, 5 months ago
Did it strike a tree or the next neighbors house?
