Cicada Sound!

CICADA SOUND!

Warning: This is cicada sound, but with a LOT of commentary. It is my opinion that one cannot tell, on tape, the level of the cicada sound without the reference of some other sound, such as the human voice, to match it against. Also, I recorded all this for the sake of historical purposes, to remember in words as well as cicada sound, what this event was/is like.

CICADA SOUND FROM 2004

~~ (each day gets progressively louder) ~~

The first mp3 was recorded outside with my new little handheld Sony tape recorder with built-in mike. The second was recorded from indoors, at treetop level. Not very loud sounds yet at all. Click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadasmay192004.mp3 (1:39 min. / 1.52 MB)

cicadas\01 - cicadasmay212004.mp3 (3:36 min. / 3.30 MB)

This is one tape recording, but broken up into three sections, for ease of download. This was recorded outdoors, shortly after noon, Sunday, May 23, 2004. First file includes a cicada singing up close and personal! | Third file contains me being a wimp and saying, "Aaaa, get it off me!" :-P Click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1may232004.mp3 (2:43 min. / 2.49 MB)

cicadas\02 - cicadas2may232004.mp3 (2:21 min. / 2.15 MB)

cicadas\03 - cicadas3may232004.mp3 (3:21 min. / 3.08 MB)

Same day, slightly later (approx. 3:30pm), recorded at treetop level from indoors. Again: click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\04 - cicadas4may232004.mp3 (3:33 min. / 3.25 MB)

One tape recording, three files. Taped around 4:30pm, outdoors, on Monday, May 24, 2004. This is the day I suffered some temporary hearing loss and a
headache from being out in this sound! Click to play or right-click to download
(computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1may242004.mp3 (2:37 min. / 2.40 MB)

cicadas\02 - cicadas2may242004.mp3 (1:44 min. / 1.59 MB)

cicadas\03 - cicadas3may242004.mp3 (3:07 min. / 2.86 MB)

Recordings from Thursday, May 27, 2004. The first is recorded from indoors, treetop level, wherein I actually say I am not going out into that! The second file is an Interview with Bunnicula, about his experiences out walking amongst the fast-flying cicadas. The 3d and 4th files are recorded outside, wherein I do go outside into the madness! Click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1may272004.mp3 (3:04 min. / 2.82 MB)

cicadas\02 - bunnicula2may272004.mp3 (3:32 min. / 3.23 MB)

cicadas\03 - cicadas3may272004.mp3 (2:53 min. / 2.63 MB)

cicadas\04 - cicadas4may272004.mp3 (3:04 min. / 2.82 MB)

Saturday, May 29, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level (getting to
hurting-ears level now), and in which I recount how a cicada comes out of the
closet! ... after changing his clothes?! Click to play or right-click to download
(computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1may292004.mp3 (2:57 min. / 2.70 MB)

Monday, May 31, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: The
Singles Scene and Open Mike Night. Click to play or right-click to
download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1may312004.mp3 (2:17 min. / 2.09 MB)

cicadas\02 - cicadas2may312004.mp3 (1:12 min. / 1.10 MB)

cicadas\03 - cicadas3may312004.mp3 (1:55 min. / 1.75 MB)

cicadas\04 - cicadas4may312004.mp3 (1:39 min. / 1.52 MB)

Tuesday, June 1, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: Just loudness.
Click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1jun12004.mp3 (1:53 min. / 1.68 MB)

cicadas\02 - cicadas2jun12004.mp3 (2:48 min. / 2.57 MB)

Wednesday, June 2, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: By request,
very little talk, mostly all-cicada sound. Click to play or right-click to download
(computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadasjun22004.mp3 (2:31 min. / 2.31 MB)

Thursday, June 3, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: Quite loud. Also, I accidentally slightly injure a cicada. Click to play or right-click to
download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadasjun32004.mp3 (3:29 min. / 3.19 MB)

Friday, June 4, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: Still fairly loud.
Click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadasjun042004.mp3 (1:42 min. / 1.56 MB)

Saturday, June 5, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: Louder than yesterday, it seems. Click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1jun052004.mp3 (1:33 min. / 1.42 MB)

cicadas\02 - cicadas2jun052004.mp3 (1:58 min. / 1.80 MB)

Monday, June 7, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: Not quite as
loud, coming in waves, although that's not apparent on the tape. Click to
play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1jun072004.mp3 (1:36 min. / 1.46 MB)

cicadas\02 - cicadas2jun072004.mp3 (3:04 min. / 2.81 MB)

Tuesday, June 8, 2004: For the last couple days the cicadas have not started singing as early (it was usually around 12 noon). The crowd *sounds* like it has thinned, although the individual members seem like they are still singing with gusto. Late in the afternoon instead of the constant whirr and hum, it has taken
on the characteristic of the rise and fall as of ocean waves, although the sound
is still rattle-y and hissy.

Thursday, June 17, 2004, recorded from indoors at treetop level: There are
hardly any cicadas left. You can hear a couple singing antiphonally. This is
the last recording I will make of this event. Click to play or right-click to
download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadasjun172004.mp3 (2:04 min. / 1.90 MB)

Be sure to check out How Cicadas Work (and esp. how LOUD they are!)

CICADA SOUND FROM 1987

~~ (this is basically just LOUD) ~~

These are all from one cassette tape I made in late May 1987 from inside our apartment here in Cincinnati, Ohio. I broke it up into three .mp3 files to make download a little easier. This tape was originally supposed to be destined for a penpal, but instead I kept it for historical purposes! Click to play or right-click to download (computers may vary).

cicadas\01 - cicadas1987a.mp3 (2:54 min. / 2.66 MB)

cicadas\02 - cicadas1987b.mp3 (5:06 min. / 4.67 MB)

cicadas\03 - cicadas1987c.mp3 (6:59 min. / 6.39 MB)