Keys jangling alumn storm door oc sequence June 24 2025

A sound effect that I had no intention of posting. But, on a very hot, humid day in Illinois in late June of 2025,
I went outside at night to record the ambiance of a small town neighborhood. My longform recording contains plenty of insects chorusing the night, a few cars slowly making their way--as if the extreme heat and humidity was making the engines run slower-and the ever-present background AC hum.

Then as I was going inside with my gear I decided to keep my recording running as I jangled some keys and opened an aluminum storm door. Upon listening back, this sound really caught my attention. At the very beginning you hear the slight hum of the air conditioners everywhere, then at the same time I noticed the ever present higher-pitched all night buzzing of the various insects which often own the night.

I decided that, sure, I had to share and listen. As the years go by, I will enjoy kicking this sound again to remind me of the specific sound of metallic keys helping some human escape nature's high heat and humidity. The sharpness of the jangling metal keys seem to cut through the soup of the sticky night. That is what I really like about this sfx.

Recorded on June 23 2025 at 8:45PM. Temp: 86 degrees Farenheit. Humidity: 55 percent. A night to drench a person's shirt in sweat.

Equipment:
Sound Devices MixPre 3 II
Microphone: Deity sMic2S