Cathedrals Express 16/4 6201 to Chester

Yes, and no. It's great until about 1:15 and then it starts to distort quite badly - at least, on my speakers. The problem becomes less noticeable as the loco gets close, which suggests to me that the camera's audio level control isn't responding to the loud-quiet-loud variations rapidly enough - or maybe it's the compression software? I heard the same on your video of 5043, Ralph. There's lots of distortion at Miles Platting in the middle part of the climb, and at Copy Pit there's rather a lot of wind noise, especially when the train's in the middle distance. Do you use a separate mic? If so what sort? Does it have a wind gag? These are minor quibbles though and don't really detract from a record of a fine day.

 

That is a great sound and it just keeps you watching Ralph in anticipation .Nice one

 

I'm never that critical of the quality of clip when viewed on YouTube as I doubt it's ever as good as the original. It would be similar to judging my original high sample rate/uncompressed sound tracks by listening to a 64kbps version via the internet. On a general note though, there are many clips on YouTube spoiled by a lack of a decent wind gag.

 

I watched on my Macbook and it started to distort at about 1.06 until 2.40 with the worst section around 1.40 - 2.00. The sound of the engine is fantastic - what was the gradient it was working up?

 

I had a every enjoyable trip behind Lizzie yesterday . Load 13 coaches. We had a Diesel attached on the outward run as far as Rugby.The path we had was a great improvement on the run behind the Duchess last October. Plenty of fast running.We were given the Fast Line from north of Wolverton to Wembley on the return( Due to engineering works?). We were checked a couple of times outside London, had a slow run from Wembley into Euston and arrived about 10 - 15 minutes late.

Thanks to Steam Dreams, West Coast, and support crews.

I posted a number of updates to railtours live including the one for Ralph.

I will post some photo's tomorrow.

 

You're probably right, Ralph. That Senn. mic is pretty good and the Reinhart fuzzy should cut out the worst of the wind noise, though they're not perfect and need to be sheltered from gusty winds. The places that the distortion is occuring suggest it's the camera's audio circuits rather than the mic. The compression will tend to exaggerate the distortion a bit, and the greater the compression, the harsher it will sound. As I said, it's only a small blemish on a nice bit of film.

Anyway, let's not wander too far from the subject - maybe we should start a "sound for video" thread in the photography section?

Thanks for the updates, Paul. I managed to see Lizzie at Althorpe on the down journey and Madeley on the up. I got her and 5043 at the same place in the evening so, when I get a bit of time, I might do a split-screen comparison, just for fun. It won't be this side of The Cathedrals Explorer, though!

 

A selection of my photo's from the trip are now on my Zenfolio site.

 

Picture of 6201 at Chester:

http://upmain.zenfolio.com/p565588551/h1f9964aa#h1d474c58