The Quiet Mark Podcast

Episode 26: THE ART OF FIELD RECORDING - Bernie Krause - Wild Sanctuary and Melissa Pons - Melissapons.com

Earlier this year, in February's Episode 16 of The Quiet Mark Podcast, we discussed the inaugural Sound of the Year Awards with Chair-Judge, Matthew Herbert - BBC New Radiophonic Workshop & fellow Judge, Cheryl Tipp - Curator of Wildlife & Environmental Sounds - British Museum.

One of the categories, Best Field Sound Recordist, was being judged by legendary Soundscape Ecologist, Bernie Krause, and one of the works nominated in that category was the incredible Wolf Soundscapes, by Melissa Pons. 

So, it is with immense pleasure that, in this Episode 26, exploring The Art of Field Recording, we are joined by Bernie and Melissa, to find out more about why they record sounds of nature, what it has taught them, and what we might learn from listening to their works.  

Bernie Krause, often referred to as the Godfather of Field Recording, is a seven-time author with north of 50 years experience. He posited the ‘acoustic niche hypothesis’ that all organisms establish a frequency and bandwidth to ‘vocalise’ themselves in their habitat. That explains why those animalistic elements in the rainforest never seem to clash, but all have their own established space. He’s recorded 5,000 hours and a huge 15,0000 species. First working as a studio musician, Bernie even introduced the MOOG synthesizer to film soundtracks and popular artists like Peter Gabriel, Van Morrison, Brian Eno and David Byrne (to name but a few…)

Melissa Pons is a fellow field recordist whose work is, in her own words ‘slow’. She acclimatises to the cultural context of the situation and environment in which she finds herself. She came from a background of commercial sound design, but has chosen to focus on ‘more meaningful’ projects—allowing a portion of her profits to be ploughed back into the people and places she’s introduced to—via her recordings. These have included recording in tropical forests in Brazil, and also living with and recording packs of wolves.

Episode 25 - FREEDOM DAY SPECIAL - Acoustics in large public spaces - Richard King - Sandy Brown and Martin Rawlins - BASWA acoustic

This Freedom Day, as people are able to gather once again in large spaces, such as cinemas, galleries, theatres and offices, our host, Simon Gosling asks, ‘Will these cacophonous spaces feel boomy and uncomfortably loud as we emerge from our locked down lives’?

 

We explore the challenges of designing acoustics for public spaces, with our expert guests, Richard King - Sandy Brown and Martin Rawlins - BASWA acoustic. 

 

Sandy Brown is the largest independent acoustic consultancy in the UK. Since 1969, we have been at the forefront of building acoustics and are recognised experts in the acoustic design of studios, auditoria and performance spaces. Projects include MediaCity UK, BAFTA - 195 Piccadilly, Leeds Playhouse and Apple Store Marina Bay Sands. 

For BASWA, the Swiss pioneers of modern seamless acoustic ceilings, good acoustics are essential to wellbeing - just like natural light. BASWA Phon is the most advanced and most specified acoustic plaster system worldwide, and is one of the many verified acoustic products listed in our AcousticsAcademy.com directory of solutions for architects, acoustic consultancies and the building sector. BASWA projects include, The Sala Beckett theater, Barcelona, The V&A Museum Members Bar, London, The Louvre, Paris and Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg. 

Episode 24: TUNING THE SOUND OF TECHNOLOGY - Matthew Bennett - Composer + Sound Artist | Principal at Acoustic Ecology Design Partners | Former Director of Sound + Sensory Design at Microsoft

We now design sound on an unprecedented global scale. Our big technology platforms are also massive sound delivery platforms and few people are more qualified to discuss the subject of computer and notification sound design than our guest on this episode, Matthew Bennett.

With over 12 years of experience as Director of Sound + Sensory Design at Microsoft, Matthew created and shaped the sound of Microsoft’s major global products and platforms (Windows, Office, Outlook, Skype, Teams, Cortana, Hololens, Xbox, Surface, and Azure). He created the Microsoft Sound + Sensory Design Program to lead the development of the next-generation sound design language for the Microsoft ecosystem.

These sounds create a new kind of audio ecosystem, the global soundscape of technology. As an example, consider that the Windows 10 platform exists on more than one billion devices. If each device plays six system sounds per day (a conservative average), that works out to more than eight billion seconds—the equivalent of 253 years—of new sound being put into the world each day. And this number doesn’t include older versions of Windows, the other big platforms, or the millions of additional apps, devices, and products that produce sound.  
Environmental sound affects every aspect of our lives—those humble little platform sounds are putting a lot of emotional energy into the world. What was the last device sound you heard and how did it make you feel? If your response is like that of many people, we need to shift the way we think about the global soundscape of technology. 

To imagine what a more beautiful and functional global soundscape of technology could be like, think about the sound of the rainforest, an immersive sonic environment dense with useful information. It is also beautiful, harmonious, and calm. More than just a soundscape, this is a healthy, sustainable acoustic ecology. We should settle for nothing less in the sounds of technology that shape our products,  our environments, and our daily lives".

The above thoughts are from a paper, written by Matthew, titled - 'Tuning the Sound of Technology - Cutting through the noise to design better digital experiences. If you feel bombarded by your device notifications and wish for a better, less intrusive, less alarming way, then tune-in to this episode to discover more.

Episode 23: FROM SYNTHS TO SOUNDSCAPES - Adventures in Acoustic Ecology with Martyn Ware

In 1978, in Sheffield, Martyn Ware formed The Human League. That December, David Bowie appeared in the audience of an early gig and later declared to NME that he "had seen the future of pop music".

Sheffield is the City of Steel. With its throbbing steelworks in the distance, and grinding metalworking soundscape of the city centre, made by the little mester finishing shops, Simon Gosling asks Martyn, is it any wonder that those early Human League records had such an industrial sound?

Asked why he chose a synth, instead of more traditional rock band instruments, bass, drums or guitar, Martyn says, “ I always loved anything that felt futuristic… I wanted to be the Roxy Music Eno, basically”!

In 2000, Vince Clarke (Yazoo, Depeche Mode and Erasure) and Martyn Ware (The Human League, Heaven 17 and BEF) decided to continue their love of musical creativity, forming Illustrious Ltd. whose modus operandi was to use the spatialisation of sound to enrich the human experience.

In this episode, Martyn shares his adventures in acoustic ecology, with stories taking us from Sheffield to Brighton to Mexico City and Bowie at The V&A. If that’s not enough ‘Temptation’...!

Episode 22: THE ART OF ACOUSTIC DESIGN - Axel Enthoven - Yellow Window Design and Richard Ellerbeck - BuzziSpace

It's May 17th 2021 as this episode is published. Today, lockdown rules have eased in England, Scotland and Wales. Pubs and restaurants are able to serve customers indoors, and social distancing guidelines have been relaxed. Indoor entertainment such as museums, cinemas and children's play areas can open, as can theatres, concert halls, conference centres, and sports stadiums.

At long last, it seems that we are returning to some form of normality. But, what about Business Office Workers? A recent Deloitte survey found that 32% of workers plan to continue working from home, even post-pandemic.  The CIPD website states, "As businesses work towards reopening, employers must plan for a return to the workplace in ways that care for their people and safeguards their health and well-being".

People have become very comfy working from home. Many like the flexibility it can offer and don't miss the stress of the daily commute. Businesses may need to demonstrate to their workers that improvements and renovations have been made, which help increase their productivity and ease stress, to entice them back into the workspace.

In Ep. 2 of The Quiet Mark Podcast, Ethan Bourdeau - Sound Lead at The International WELL Building Institute, explained the importance of acoustics, as one of several concepts that are rated in WELL Building certification. In February last year, Quiet Mark launched its Acoustics Academy, a free-to-use online directory of verified acoustic products for the built environment.  Our most recent addition to the Acoustics Academy is BuzziSpace, a company that promotes happy and healthy workspaces around the world, creating beautiful acoustic furniture and lighting solutions that accommodate the changing workplace.

So, with 'Return to Work' in the headlines, and BuzziSpace being our newest Acoustics Academy members, it seems timely to focus this episode on the role of acoustics in the workspace and the art of acoustic product design. Joining our host, Simon Gosling, to discuss these themes, we're delighted to be joined by 2 leading experts in the field; multi award-winning design guru Axel Enthoven - Founder of Yellow Window Design and Rhodes University B.A. Psychology, Philosophy, Richard Ellerbeck - Global Acoustic Consultant at BuzziSpace.  

Episode 21: COOKING WITH SOUND - Ping Coombes - BBC MasterChef Winner and Henk Huisseune - Novy

What role does sound play in your cooking?

This is one of the many questions our CMO & Quiet Mark Podcast host, Simon Gosling asks BBC MasterChef Winner and Judge, Ping Coombes, who is accompanied by fellow guest, Henk Huisseune, Innovation Director with Novy.

In sharing her experience with sound in her cooking, Ping takes us from purchase to plate. From the bustling street food markets of Ipoh, the culinary capital of Malaysia, where she grew up, through her incredible MasterChef experience, to her busy home kitchen, which is in operation almost 24/7, with recipe planning, online cooking classes, and a home delivery service, not to mention a family feed, Ping explores how sound shapes her cooking.

Thankfully, amidst that chaos, Ping's Quiet Mark certified Novy cooker hood is so quiet, it doesn't distract her from the many things she has to organise . And the person responsible for the Innovation Team at Novy, who make cooker hoods so quiet, Ping claims she doesn't even notice it's on, is Henk Huisseune.

Simon asks Henk if it's possible,  to create an extractor fan that can be both quiet, yet powerful and to share his fascinating journey from academia, through working with Start-Ups, to his role today as Innovation Director with Novy.

Belgian extraction and induction manufacturer Novy has been awarded Quiet Mark Certification for 58 extractors, found on our website, here: https://www.quietmark.com/brands/novy

Craftsmanship and innovation are Novy's absolute drivers: from the start, the highest requirements were set in the fields of design, ease of use, sustainability and silence. 

Revolutionary peripheral extraction combined with optimised soundproofing ensures very efficient, yet super-quiet extraction. Novy is a leading European brand in kitchen ventilation and it has constructed a range of products offering solutions for every type of kitchen.

Episode 20: THE SOUND OF THE STARS - Paul Gregory & Nick Dunn - The International Dark-Sky Association

Episode 20, ‘The Sound of the Stars’, marks the 1st anniversary of The Quiet Mark Podcast. Yay!! And just as our 1st episode, with Acoustics Director, Richard Grove, and Colin Ball, Lighting Director at BDP (Building Design Partnership), looked at the relationship between Light & Sound in architectural design, this latest one explores the parallels between Light and Noise pollution.  

Our guests on this episode are Paul Gregory - Global Specification & Training Director at Dyson and Nick Dunn, Executive Director of ImaginationLancaster & Professor of Urban Design at Lancaster University, both members of The International Dark-Sky Association.

April 5th to 12th sees The International Dark-Sky Association's 2021 International Dark Sky Week. Every year, the International Dark-Sky Association hosts International Dark Sky Week (IDSW) to raise awareness about light pollution’s many negative effects. 

Our world has become a 24/7 society. We use outdoor lighting, such as street lights and shop windows, to be more active at night and to increase our safety and security. But what impact is this lighting having on our sleep and on nature? 

The stars and the sun have thousands of soundwaves bouncing around inside them at any given moment. Understanding these stellar harmonies represents a revolution in astronomy. By "listening" for stellar sound waves with telescopes, scientists can figure out what stars are made of, how old they are, how big they are and how they contribute to the evolution of our Milky Way galaxy as a whole. 

A wave of silence has spread across the planet as man-made noise fell by 50% during the first worldwide coronavirus lockdowns. Noise pollution was reduced by 50% and suddenly nature, especially birdsong, seemed noticeably louder than ever before. But can the same be said of light pollution? 

Our show host, Simon Gosling, asks Paul and Nick these and other questions about the wonder of stargazing and how a beautiful starry sky can change your life, for the better, forever.

Episode 19: DON'T BE ALARMED! - Dr. Elif Özcan (Vieira) - TU Delft & Critical Alarms Lab

Our guest on this episode is Dr. Elif Ozcan Vieira - Associate Professor in Sound-driven Design and Research at the TU Delft Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. She's currently working mainly in the fields of space operations, and healthcare - both of which she discusses with our host, Simon Gosling, on the show.

Top education and research are central to TU Delft, the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands. Their 8 faculties offer 16 bachelor's and more than 30 master's degree programs. Their more than 25,000 students and 6,000 employees share a fascination with science, design and technology. Their shared mission: impact for a better society. (Something that resonates very well with us here at Quiet Mark!)

Elif is the director of the Critical Alarms Lab (CAL), which is a new initiative of the TU Delft Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. CAL aims to shape the future of product-user interactions in complex environments through audible, visual, and haptic information design. The lab is a flexible consortium of individuals, institutes, and companies, and it offers multiple opportunities for student participation. 

In fact, it's that healthcare connection that brought us together because Elif was kindly introduced to us by a previous guest on our podcast, Yoko Sen, an ambient musician who's applying talents and skills to transforming the sounds of alarms in hospitals, to make them less stressful, more natural-sounding environments. This is something with which she collaborates with Elif and you'll hear Elif's own experiences of their pioneering partnership in this episode.

As an Associate Professor at the TU Delft Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Elif teaches and does research on `form and experience-driven and `sound-driven' design. Her academic career started at the TU Delft as well, with doing a Ph.D. study on product sounds (`Product sounds: Fundamentals and application'). With this study, she is the first to establish a comprehensive theory about product sounds based on empirical evidence.

Episode 18: THE SOUND OF SLEEP - John Lopos - The National Sleep Foundation

Our guest on Episode 18 is John Lopos, CEO of The National Sleep Foundation, released a week before their annual SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK, 14th to 20th March, 2021. This annual event celebrates sleep health and encourages the public to prioritize sleep to improve overall health and wellbeing.

With Stanford research showing an incredible 42 percent of the U.S. labor force now working from home full-time, a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, The Quiet Mark Podcast host, Simon Gosling, asks:

“What impact can The New Normal have on our sleep routines?”

Working from home in many ways reduces the need for such a rigid bedtime and wake up time, in large part because we no longer have a commute to contend with. As nice as this extra time is in the morning, the lack of separation between work and rest times can make it hard to wind down and fall asleep at night when we have been at home all day.

WFH is all very well, but it’s also vitally important to take time to be HFW (Home From Work)!

With nearly 30 years of diverse experience across multiple healthcare and non-profit organizations, John Lopos has longstanding ties to the sleep health community, including his relationship with the NSF for the past 17 years. Most recently, he served for 8 years as an NSF Director, having been active on several task forces and committees including Development, Public Awareness, Compensation, and Finance. He also has been part of the organization’s advocacy on Capitol Hill for the past several years.

National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research, and practice.

Episode 17: THE NOISE ABATEMENT SOCIETY - Lisa Lavia

"Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)"), or so says the title of the single from Elton John's classic 1973 album, 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', but, here at Quiet Mark, we possibly subscribe more to John Lennon's words in The Plastic Ono Band's 1969 anthemic chant, 'Give Peace a Chance'. 

But can sound, (or rather sound design and soundscapes), really have the power to stop people from fighting, and instead return peacefully to their homes, as the clubs empty on busy Saturday Night?  Well, that's just one of the many NAS Soundscape Programme's adventures in sound that Lisa Lavia, Managing Director of The Noise Abatement Society (NAS), shares in conversation with our host, Simon Gosling, in this episode of The Quiet Mark Podcast.    

'There are no bad sounds. There are only the wrong sounds in the wrong context', explains Lisa as she talks of her work establishing the NAS’ soundscape programme, which has positioned NAS firmly at the global forefront of international soundscape standardisation and applied soundscape practices in the UK through demonstration projects, applied research and policy development. 

The Noise Abatement Society campaigns and conducts research, education and outreach to policymakers, industry, academia, and citizens to solve noise pollution problems for the benefit of all. Listen to Lisa explain its origins, its family ties with Quiet Mark and the work it does to provide solutions to noise pollution, support the next generation of acousticians, encourage better sound design and improve acoustics in the built environment.