SD015 CHAINS

Researching this library I gained a rapid education on the physics of metal chains from a local shipping provedore & soon realised that the sound of any particular chain is completely dependent on its tensile strength. Low tensile dull sounding steel chains I had already collected up were just a small part of what I needed to record. The difference in sound is immediately apparent – high tensile chains are very loud and ring like bells. And as the name suggests are very strong and very heavy!

So I proceeded to rent chains in various sizes, ages/states of decay and tensile strengths, along with many different connecting elements including a one ton hoist and various shackles. While I also recorded plenty of small chains, some of the larger chains were so heavy I could barely lift them, so my gym work out became wrangling large chains in front of the mics!

This library includes a combination of exterior location recording and studio performances with a full range of chains including drops and pickups on wood, metal, concrete & carpet plus scrapes and moves on each of those surfaces. Also included are rattles and moves with each chain hanging freely – singular shakes and wrenches as well as some rhythmic performances. Exterior recording included accessing chains attached to trawl doors from fishing boats and other metal shackles, connectors, debris and a forklift for the heaviest chain!

All recorded with MKH8040 extended frequency range mcirophones and delivered at 192khz, simply because there is a lot going on with harmonics in the upper frequencies!