Trek Overview and Method
Starting from North Point Park I walked towards the Northpoint Pumping Station and Historic Water Tower. For the maps that follow, the Water Tower is used as a point of reference. The Tower is visible from all 5 locations, and has been there since 1874. The pumping station has changed, but still occupies the same space. I used combination of spectrum analysis with high- and low-pass filters in Audacity 1.3b to cut interference. Pass filters were the only filters used.
With a good camping compass, and these maps, you should be able to put yourself in my place using the tower. If you don't have a compass, but a sextant, I used Google Earth to pinpoint my locations after my walk, and the Latitude and Longitude is on each map for the microphone locations.
#1- Wind in the Trees
It's a sunny day, in the park today. I begin my trek by heading east towards the North Point Water Tower.
I laid the microphones out as far apart as they go (about 4 feet) in the grass.
Click the picture to listen.
#2- Flower on the Sled Hill
I head for a purple patch of flowers on the side of the hill. As I get closer to the flowers I can see how active they really are.
I placed the microphones in the sticky leaves of this purple flower.
Click the picture to listen.
#3-Rocks in the Surf
There is a sound that some beaches make when they are composed of tiny stones that I didn't think I would hear in Wisconsin. From this location, the waves are about two feet at the highest. Nearly surfing waves. Just not quite enough room between the best peaks and breakwaters.
I placed the microphones about 4 inches or so from the edge of the damp highwater mark.
Click the picture to listen.
#4- Sand Beach
Unlike the previous post, a sand beach has little sound at all in and of itself. There are many people standing at the water's edge here.
I step just into where the last of the waves will reach my boots, arms out and hold the microphone heads about 2 inches above the water's surface.
Click the picture to listen:
#5- McKinley Pier
There are many people here on the McKinley Pier; they are catching huge fish, chatting, holding hands. The waves from Lake Michigan are gentle in the deep water here.
The pier is clad in a sawtooth of 1/2-inch steel plate. Each plate covers the outside of one "tooth" of the pier and interlocks with the next. The joints are visible from the top of the pier. The microphones were lowered down each side of one "tooth."
Click the picture to listen.
