The Siren of Swansea

[Cloud Hunter]

OK, so it's not really music, but it's interesting nonetheless.
Here in Swansea, there is a mysterious siren-like drone that can be heard in the early mornings, and nobody knows yet what it is or where it's coming from. I made a recording when it appeared this morning.

https://soundcloud.com/the-great-sch...ren-of-swansea

[DeepWarmth]

That is freaky sounding. I figured at first highway noise from far off, but it does not change like it does here when it is really quiet. You can hear the highway when really quiet, but that is not it. Cool and freaky sound you captured.

[synkrotron]

I wonder if it's wind blowing a cable or something?

Can you tell the direction? I'd be so tempted to try and track this thing down LOL!

[aoVI]

Oh, that was me, sorry. I have been experimenting with creating natural reverb by projecting some drones into the upper atmosphere--guess I didn't think about reflections going that far.

[Cloud Hunter]

I would like to go and investigate it too. Didn't hear it happening this morning.
There have been other reports of sounds like this, but much scarier. EG:

A BBC documentary about weird phenomena last year tried to explain this as earth-bound sounds like construction machinery, which is somehow distorted by atmospheric conditions and carried a lot further than usual.

[synkrotron]

I'm sorry, but that would trip me out! That is so loud!

[GaryG]

I'm sorry, but that would trip me out! That is so loud!

Would drive you crazy after a while. Would make my next AO comp submission a breeze though; open window, record, slap on reverb. Sorted. :D

[synkrotron]

Would make my next AO comp submission a breeze though; open window, record, slap on reverb. Sorted. :D

So damn true LOL! I was thinking that it reminded me of that last OSD haha :D

[interface_type_seven]

Cool stuff! Never knew about this kind of phenomenon before. A real gold mine for field recording, that's for sure!

[S1gnsOfL1fe]

Maybe the whales really ARE communing with higher powers after all? This could be the ping back.

Either way, I love it.

[seismic1]

I used to live about 10km from a big desalination plant. Most of the time the noise wasn't noticeable. The first time I heard it, I thought a war had started.

[Duckett]

It does sound a lot like a large diesel engine or industrial gas turbine engine as heard from a distance.

[Cloud Hunter]

Update: the noise seems to have vanished without being positively identified. I began to think it may be a road sweeper after one passed by close one morning, and that maybe its lower frequencies could not be heard from afar.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...unted-10372332

[aoVI]

[Cloud Hunter]

Big update: the source of the siren has been identified. Came from a factory six miles away apparently.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-s...wales-38530426