The Sound of Progress

"These fellows blow their horns just to see the people jump, I believe."

Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison, 1902

At the turn of last century, the automobile was poised to overtake the horse as the preferred mode of personal transportation. But there were detractors to the coming sea change. Much as we see driverless cars as a potential danger today, "horseless carriage" opponents saw the drivers themselves as dangerous. Many laws were passed to protect pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages that seem silly now, but these edicts were taken very seriously back then. For instance, a person was required to walk in front of a self-powered carriage waving a red flag; a motorist had to fire off a signal firework every mile; or a driver had to ring a bell or gong when approaching people or other vehicles.

In 1900, the race was on to find the best engine plant for these new-fangled contraptions. Most were noisy and smelly, particularly the steam-powered auto. The ubiquitous gasoline combustable engine wasn't quite developed or refined yet. From 1895 through 1905 the electric-powered vehicle (EV) was the best-selling automobile, partly because it was quiet, easy to operate with its shiftless transmission, and it didn't belch out smoke. But the noisy, smelly, and ultimately cheaper gasoline and diesel engines would win the race. EVs were expensive, technologically difficult, and recharging and range was limited because electric power grids were sparse and in their infancy.

That's a shame, because our world would be a much quieter place had EVs won out as the dominant transportation method. Imagine walking down Main Street USA and not hearing revving engines or loud buses and trucks. Imagine a NASCAR race where the pit crew wouldn't have to wear hearing protection. But would we be safer? Our ears would be, but maybe not our bodies.

In a recent study submitted to the British Parliament by the charity Guide Dogs, it was found that EVs and hybrids were 40% more likely to be involved in an accident that harmed a pedestrian. Blind and limited-sight people can be in real danger around EVs, not to mention all the distracted pedestrians staring down at their phones. I understand this problem because I once skirted serious injury from an electric vehicle. Downtown San Francisco has all-electric restored antique trolley coaches that ride on rubber tires and are very quiet. As I casually stepped off the curb, I just used my ears to "look" both ways. I stopped myself in the nick of time and within inches of a passing trolley coach.

The alarms, bells, gongs, and fireworks have been sounded regarding quiet cars. Starting this year in the European Union (and next year in the U.S.), EV and hybrid vehicles must make artificial noise under certain conditions. When traveling under 12 mph (18.6 mph in the U.S.) or backing up, these vehicles must produce a sound similar to a combustion engine, but no louder. The sound must also indicate speeding up or slowing down, comparable to what a combustion engine would do.

How are the manufacturers responding? Jaguar's first all-electric car, the I-Pace, has a very "Tron" like sound when it accelerates. Nissan's Canto "sings" as it drives. Mercedes-AMG is working with the rock band Linkin Park to find a sound for their luxury cars. And not to be outdone, Porsche offers a $500 option in their EV sports car Taycan called "Electric Sport Sound," which "enhances the vehicle’s own sound and makes it sound even more emotional — both outside and inside the vehicle."

The laws mandating that EVs sound like smog-belching, gas-guzzling cars has me wondering what EVs would be compelled to sound like if they had won the auto race a century ago. Would we be hearing a clopping and snorting Clydesdale? A stagecoach driver whistling and whooping? Time will tell if any of these new solutions work, otherwise we might have to go back to waving a red flag. In the meantime, I'll need to decide which sound my future driverless all-electric car will have. Right now it's a toss up between the Jetson's flying car sound and a horse-drawn carriage.

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Dynamix Productions, Inc. is an audio production facility in the heart of thoroughbred horse country, Lexington, Kentucky. Some of the many audio services we provide are: sound-for-picture, corporate communications, advertising, narrations, audiobooks, podcasts, live broadcast, ISDN, location and remote recording, restoration, and tape/LP to digital transfers. 

Since our opening 16 years ago in 2003, we have won or been a part of nearly 100 awards; including more than 75 ADDY’s (American Advertising Federation), 8 Telly's, 2 Silver Microphones, 1 PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), 1 Eclipse Award, and 1 Emmy nomination.

Why do professionals from desktop producers to Fortune 50 companies choose Dynamix for the highest level of production? We Listen.

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Sound Bits

Sound and audio tech news from around the web

• Squirrels eavesdrop on bird chatter to tell when a threat has passed. These nosy rodents may not speak bird-ese, per se, but they can still use avian chatter as a safety cue. Read the article from PBS's Nova program. 
• 5 Affordable Turntables Than Even Audiophiles Would Want. When discussing turntables, audiophiles tend to bristle if you utter the expression “entry-level.” But the reality is that the brands offering turntable packages understand that the vast majority of first-time buyers see $500 as their ceiling. Gear Patrol takes you for a spin around the turntable scene.
• The SoundShirt lets deaf people feel music on their skin.  
• The SoundShirt features 30 micro-actuators embedded in the fabric of the garment. These sensors translate the sound in real-time, into a tactile language that is unique to each piece of music being performed.  DesignBoom has the story.
• What is sound-aged whiskey and why is it the best thing to happen to your cocktail?. 20 years of aging in 30 minutes. We swear. Have a cocktail and read what InsideHook has to say about this new process.
• Out of LSD? Just 15 minutes of sensory deprivation triggers hallucinations. Just 15 minutes of near-total sensory deprivation can bring on hallucinations in many otherwise sane individuals. Trip out on this article on Wired.

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Listen to Eastern Standard on WEKU-FMDynamix Productions, and WEKU-FM, Eastern Kentucky University’s public radio station in Richmond, KY, partnered in 2018 to move primary production of the popular long-running radio program EASTERN STANDARD to the studios of Dynamix. The first program produced at Dynamix aired on July 19, 2018. By bringing the production to Lexington, producers have easier access to Central Kentucky business, healthcare, and education leaders, as well as local artists, entertainers, and other newsmakers. The move underlines WEKU’s commitment to providing the area’s most concise and in-depth coverage of news, issues, and ideas that directly affect Central Kentuckians. The EASTERN STANDARD radio program is made possible from the generous support of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky and the Appalachian Impact Fund.

Hosted by network news veteran Tom Martin, EASTERN STANDARD is a public affairs program that covers a broad range of topics of interest to Kentuckians. Resources for topics include WEKU’s reporting partner, the Ohio Valley ReSource, a partnership with seven public media outlets across three states; the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting; and National Public Radio. EASTERN STANDARD can be heard Thursdays at 11:00 AM / 7:00 PM and Sundays at 6:00 PM on 88.9 WEKU-FM.

Recent topics and guests on the program include:

• A career path compass. Food insecurity in KY. Broadway Buddies. Campfire tips
• Brainfood: The origins of the modern research university. Listening to Kentuckians’ concerns about college. Results of a statewide survey on education in Kentucky.
• LexPhil Conductor Search. KY women writers gather. UK mural documentary. A Railbird debriefing
• Lexington battles "whack-a-mole" addictions. Meet KY's new State School Security Marshal. A local commitment to global goals

Did you miss the live show? Listen online.

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Notable Recent Productions

• "Tales of American History" Podcast with film director Ron Maxwell ("Gettysburg, Gods and Generals"). LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS (Witnessing History Education Foundation, Lexington, KY)
• Author Crystal Wilkinson was interview for Emergence Magazine's podcast (Emergence Magazine, Inverness, CA)
• Soundtracks for The Summit at Fritz Farm ads on Spotify (Team Cornett, Lexington, KY)
• Keeneland Fall Meet radio and television campaign (Team Cornett, Lexington, KY)
• TV spots for Claiborne Farm and Fasig-Tipton (Studio 34 Productions, Lexington, KY)
• Block Talk" podcast for Ridley Block (Alltech, Nicholasville, KY)
• Recording and production of UK Football Coach Mark Stoops for UK HealthCare (Team Cornett, Lexington, KY)
• Keeneland Fall Meet Hiring radio campaign (Team Cornett, Lexington, KY)