UFX057 BUNKER WATERPHONE
USD $29.00
Waterphone recorded in reverbant WWII Underground Bunker at Godley Head. 923MB as 36 x 24bit 192kHz WAV files • 735MB download.
Single user license with full UCS metadata & photos.
For multiple users please request a quote for a Site License HERE
BUNKER RECORDING
On a recent road trip (November 2025) I stayed for two nights at Godley Head, which is a park & campground at the heads of Lyttle Harbour, near Christchurch. The same location was originally a WWII defence area with gun emplacements and after exploring the area I found a large underground bunker which was originally used to store ammunition… I brought my MEGABASS waterphone on the road trip with me as I suspect there was potential for recording it in interesting locations and after I clapped my hands just once in that bunker, I was immediately off back to the car to get all my recording gear. The verb was beautiful but I was also interested to see how it felt playing into the verb
I set up my mics in a 5.0 array, with the MKH8020s at the very rear of the bunker and the MKH8040/8050/8040 as an LCR, using a Manfrotto 154B Triple Microphone Holder Bar and started improvising, performing short phrases and listening to the acoustics…
Real speed preview, all mics mixed:
Half speed preview, all mics mixed:
After about half an hour of recording I could hear someone approaching & a voice called out “is there a big mouse down there?” – I laughed & two young women who had hiked the coastal trail from Taylors Mistake Beach came into the bunker & I gave them a demo & explained what I was doing… They left and I carried on recording and spent about four hours down there, being interrupted every half hour or so by inquisitive tourists & visitors…
I don’t yet have a plan for all the recordings – I wasn’t aiming to record a library while there, its more collecting materials for the sound design for BLACK SHEEP TWO… But when I got home & loaded up the recordings I was really thrilled with how they sound, especially at half speed! So I wanted to share a few of the recordings just so you can have a high quality listen… And as with all HISSandaROAR libraries you are welcome to use them however you like.
