The Danger Bear Trap Recordings

Down my road a few miles located right on the Pend Oreille river is a place called “The Fish Hatchery”. It is run by the State of Idaho Fish and Game Division. I’m fairly certain by what they call it they hatch fish eggs to place into the lakes and rivers around here. I go and record there often during the different seasons. I can get great wave sounds along with flowing water out of pipes, trenches and streams.

Last week as I was driving by I noticed this ugly green tube contraption built onto a trailer. Upon further inspection I found out it was a large bear trap, Or should I say “DANGER BEAR TRAP”. The other words painted on the side were “Keep Away”. Really, I can’t record it? So I checked to see if there was a bear inside and thankfully there was not. I did see the old containers for sardines and other things I have no idea what the were. It did not smell bad so I figured I could get close up and see if it made any interesting sounds.

This week I gathered all my stuff together and headed back to the Fish Hatchery. A man from the Fish and Game division happened to be there and I asked him if it would be OK to set up the mics and record. He said it was no problem and proceeded to show me how it worked. The trap doors are spring loaded so I just had to be careful not to get my hands caught in them.

I have always loved recording stuff made of metal. Especially doors on containers and unique moving metal objects that slam into another metal object. I used the MKH-416 at one end and the CSS-5 at the other in stereo close to the inside of the tube. I wanted to get the close up slam and latches while also getting the cool hollow sound from the CSS-5. I eventually moved the CSS-5 closer to the front and underneath the tube to get some other types of resonance. It worked well but I found out that this thing is Very LOUD. I had trouble keeping the mics from clipping but finally got a good setting on the two SD 702 recorders I brought. I plan on going back and re-recording this trap with my new matched set of Sennheiser 8040’s that I’m still waiting for (back ordered), they will be able to handle the high SPL much better.

PHOTO GALLERY

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Please keep in mind though that these sounds available for free still fall under the same license agreement that governs the libraries for purchase.

This work is made under license. By accepting this work, you agree to the following terms and conditions. Your use of this work is limited and restricted solely for the purpose of synchronizing recordings there from in timed relation with films, training or marketing presentations, radio and television presentations or commercials, and any other multimedia, audiovisual or computer generated displays, programs or presentations. Neither you nor anyone else may make any copies of any of the recordings on this work, except as may be designated to a single stand alone workstation for the purpose of specific audio and/or visual synchronization at your own facility. Transfer, copying or duplication of the work in whole or in part for any other purpose is expressly prohibited unless specifically authorized in writing by The Recordist. Transfer of one or more sounds to any format allowing network or remote access by two or more end users requires a Multi-User License. Contact The Recordist for details. In the event of a breach of these terms, action may be taken against you directly by the owner of the copyright.

User License Agreement