Soundproofist: Recent Episodes
Soundproofist
Soundproofist is a podcast about unwanted or harmful noise and what you can do about it. We also cover acoustics and people who work with sound.
Ingrid Buday founded "No More Noise Toronto!" after enduring a consistent and measurable increase in noise since 2019. She collects data by using noise meters and mapping the results from a public survey she calls "Not 311," where anyone can submit noise and location data. In this episode of Soundproofist, she describes some of the community organizing and data-collection strategies that got the attention of municipal government. Dr. Arline Bronzaft in New York City also joined us for this conversation.
Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan has a long and diverse history. It could be described as an "East Side - West Side" story, because the neighborhood -- divided by Broadway -- is starkly different on each side. Lucina Chavez-Rosique began measuring and documenting the decibel levels across the neighborhood. She's collecting noise data and resident stories to measure the impact of noise on the community from a socioeconomic point of view. Her goal is to provide actionable recommendations to New York City leaders, based on a resident-created noise map. Listen here to learn about some of the unique noise issues in this community, the history of the neighborhood, and the challenges that lie ahead.
Topher White uses technology to detect illegal logging in rainforests. You might have seen stories about how he repurposed old cellphones and powered them with solar panels to listen remotely in the forests. While collecting this audio data, he uses AI tools to identify the specific sounds of chainsaws and trucks to send alerts to local officials.
His organization, Rainforest Connection, has been successful in reducing illegal logging in protected areas. Now he has a new project underway, called "Delta." This new tool is geared towards home users. They can deploy it in their backyards or on camping trips and other outdoor excursions. Delta can collect sounds and help users learn more about the local wildlife around them and even build stories about the animals over time.
In this podcast, we'll discuss the evolution of the Rainforest Connection, their first innovative tool (known as "The Guardian"), and the details of their newest tool, Delta. This new product will become available through a Kickstarter campaign starting on June 20, 2023.
Imagine hearing loud gunfire in your home or school all day long. A community in Cranston, Rhode Island has struggled with this issue for the past few years, and they're protesting against it. Their local police department practices at an outdoor shooting range across the street from a residential neighborhood and a high school. The target practice at that range has increased up to 12 hours per day. Longtime residents are pushing back and asking the department to relocate or to enclose the gun range.
In this episode, we hear from two residents, a psychiatrist, and a neuropsychologist, who discuss the impact on their Cranston neighborhood and the effects of gunfire noise on humans.
When New York City resident and urban planner Jimin Park found herself surrounded by urban noise, she decided to do something constructive about it. She created an app called "Right Avenues," which residents can use to file noise complaints to 311 and identify the type of noise and the location so that it can be tracked on a map and viewed by the public. Ultimately the app can be used to aggregate noise data for problem-solving, or choose a quieter place to live, or change policy. Learn more about the Right Avenues story in this episode.
In this second episode of the "Ask Arline" series, New York City psychologist and noise expert Dr. Arline Bronzaft answers some questions about urban environmental noise. We cover cars with exceptionally loud engines to people blasting loudspeakers late at night, and bars and clubs with outdoor noise that keeps people awake. Dr. Bronzaft shares some of the solutions that get used in New York, and which might be applicable to other cities as well.
New York City psychologist and noise expert Dr. Arline Bronzaft answers some questions about neighbor noise. In the first episode of this mini-series from Soundproofist, Dr. Bronzaft answers common concerns about how to deal with neighbors who stomp their feet overhead, noise from romping children while you're trying to work from home, how to delicately approach neighbors with loud bedroom activities when you're trying to sleep, what to do if criminal activity is happening in your building with lots of people coming and going, and neighbors with incessantly barking dogs. Listeners are encouraged to submit their own noise questions to Dr. Bronzaft for future episodes.
During the height of the COVID pandemic, human-generated ocean noise from freight shipping and recreational boating nearly stopped. Because some locales measure oceanic noise with hydrophones, open-source data offered lots of useful raw data. Artash Nath, a student researcher, analyzed some of this data to demonstrate how ocean noise impacts marine mammals and by what measure the noise was reduced when human activity stopped. He shares these findings on his website, Monitor My Ocean. We spoke with Artash about these insights in episode 26 of Soundproofist.
Residents of India's vibrant and populous cities experience loud noise that can damage their health. We spoke with Sumaira Abdulali, a leader in environmental and noise issues in the state of Maharashtra. For over 20 years, she's advocated for residents of Mumbai and other cities and helped to implement policy change. As a result, her work has improved the quality of life for millions of people. In this podcast episode, we talk with Sumaira about how she began her work, the challenges along the way, and the successes.
Imagine if 160 helicopters flew over your home every day. That's what many residents of New York City experience. And the noise is disrupting their sleep, parks and recreation, and even pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Soundproofist talked with representatives from Stop the Chop NY/NJ -- an organization that's working to legislate guidelines to manage a growing number of non-essential helicopter flights over the most densely populated metropolitan area in the U.S. Join us in an informative conversation with Stop the Chop's Melissa Elstein, Andy Rosenthal, and Adrian Benepe.
Noise disputes often get resolved successfully through the services of a professional noise mediator. But most people don't know what mediators do, nor how to find one. In episode 23 of Soundproofist, we talk with two engaging and dynamic mediators from Arc Mediation in Waterford, Ireland: Roisin O'Shea and Shane Dempsey. They share tips on how they work together to solve neighbor noise disputes, one step at at time.
Cities and communities have their own sound markers, as Dr. Kenya Williams points out. Dr. Williams is an urban planner, an acoustic ecologist, and an advisor to Quiet Parks International. He founded his company, "Hush Soundscape Planning & Design," in 2012.
In episode 22 of Soundproofist, Dr. Williams shares his journey from making mixtapes and producing music to becoming an urban planner and soundscape expert. He shares his ideas on how to approach noise mediation in diverse communities so that noise ordinances aren't weaponized by one group against another. And he gives examples on how to put "sound first" in project planning.
Jessie Oliver designs citizen science research projects so that participants feel engaged, make meaningful contributions, and have fun. In this interview, she describes some of the considerations for a citizen science project, and about a challenge she's working on in Australia: to collect data on the endangered Eastern bristlebird. If you're curious about getting involved in citizen science, or you want to know more the tools, organizations, and resources involved in these projects, don't miss this episode!
Everything old is new again -- and that includes noise issues and activism. From the ancient Romans through the industrial revolution, people have tried to solve the issues of urban and workplace noise. In this episode, we talk with Peruvian-based researcher Walter Alfredo Montano about some of the interesting historical artifacts and anecdotes he's uncovered about noise and its impact on human health.
How do professional soundscape artists capture their high-resolution field recordings? In this episode, Soundproofist talks with two audio professionals: Charles Previtire and Mélia Roger. We talk about their preferred microphones and recording gear and some memorable mistakes they've learned from along the way. Finally, we talk about how they share their work -- including sound libraries and film projects.
Tortured by leafblower noise? What can you do about it? Jamie Banks and David Sykes of Quiet Communities join us in this episode to describe how they help cities switch to quieter and cleaner lawn-maintenance equipment. They've been successful in creating training programs, sharing data, and persuading local governments to administer positive change. Learn more about their programs in this episode of Soundproofist.
A team of audio specialists at Goldsmiths, University of London joined Soundproofist to discuss their fascinating soundscape project. After digitizing some historic 1928 recordings of London street noises, they return to the exact same sites to record the street sounds again. They've made these newer recordings on the same day in September and at the same time of day as the original recordings, starting in 2008. What have they learned about the soundscape of London, then and now? Tune in to find out.
Soundproofist likes to learn about technologies and tools that help to resolve noise issues. In this episode, Thomas Rittenschober of Seven Bel describes their new acoustic camera for professional acoustic and engineering applications. This tool creates visual images of noise and identifies its sources. Seven Bel is based in Austria.
People with cognitive issues also have special needs for their sonic environment. Arezoo Talebzadeh is an architect who designs soundscapes for people with dementia or autism. In this episode of Soundproofist, she describes how personalized soundscapes can improve their quality of life.
You don't need a large budget to measure and map sound. Dr. Tae Hong Park, a professor at NYU, founded the Citygram soundmap project and launched a new airplane-noise tracker project called "Get Noisy." In this interview, he shares details of how he built affordable microphones that can be attached to a window. They send data to your computer through a web browser. His concept is "use what you already have." Learn more about his work with noise, soundscapes, and music in this conversation with Phill and Cary of Soundproofist.
Do you live in a noisy building? Nathan Sibon is an acoustician who works on solving noise problems in wood-framed buildings. He defines some of those common problems and practical ways of coping with them.
Dan Dugan is a sound designer and inventor of the automatic microphone mixer, a key component in professional audio tools. He also records soundscapes in natural environments through his work with the Nature Sounds Society. In this episode, Dan discusses how he got involved in theatrical sound and professional audio, and his more recent work doing field recordings. He also makes some observations about the change in our soundscapes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How does human-generated noise impact the marine life in our oceans? We interview Michael Stocker, the founder and director of Ocean Conservation Research in California. He shares the history of his organization, how they measure ocean noise, how sea animals communicate, and how his organization works proactively to protect whales from needless trauma.
Most people don't think about hospital noise until they become a patient in one. But jarring noises in medical facilities can disrupt sleep and impede recovery. Mai-Britt Beldam is a specialist in hospital acoustics for Ecophon in Sweden. In this episode, she discusses some common noise issues that impact patients and staff, suggestions for acoustical improvements, and how the results are measured.
Dr. Arline Bronzaft is a pioneering researcher, psychologist, noise activist, and consultant. Her tireless work since the 1970s changed noise policy in New York City and beyond. In this interview, we review her accomplishments and challenges during multiple administrations. Her grandson, Matt Santoro, joins in.
What are the biggest noise issues in the UK right now? Soundproofist talks with longtime activist John Stewart about efforts to mitigate traffic noise, airport noise, and more.
Jan L. Mayes is an audiologist who specializes in tinnitus and other hearing issues that involve noise tolerance. She authored the book, "Tinnitus Toolbox Hyperacusis Handbook," and shares information about various auditory issues and coping strategies in this podcast episode.
Not all earplugs are alike! If you enjoy live music, you can wear earplugs that filter the instruments but still allow you to enjoy the event. At the same time, they lower the decibel levels that can damage your hearing. Eargasm is a company that specializes in ear plugs for live music venues, and its founder, Ryan Parry, shares his insights with Soundproofist in this episode.
A soundwalk is an intentional listening experience that focuses on the soundscape of an environment. Brought to worldwide attention by environmentalists such as the late R. Murray Schafer, it's practiced today around the world. But how do you conduct a soundwalk? There's more than one way, and Dr. Antonella Radicchi, who authored "A Pocket Guide to Soundwalking," describes a basic soundwalk in this Soundproofist episode.
Most cities have parks and quiet spaces, but they're seldom documented for their quality. We talk with Dr. Antonella Radicchi about why she developed the Hush City app to capture their essence. Hush City includes decibel readings, audio recordings, documenting the types of ambient sound, and describing how it makes you feel. Before you upload the data for a quiet space, take a photo and the information will be posted to a map. This should help urban planners in protecting these spaces as well as inform residents and visitors about where to take a small retreat from urban life.
Like many restaurant patrons, Gregory Scott struggled to hear his companions when dining in New York City restaurants. He kept a list of venues that were "quieter." Then he decided to create an app where customers could submit noise ratings, put the restaurant geolocations on a map, and help others find venues where they could hold a conversation without shouting and straining. That app was called "SoundPrint," and we talk about it in this Soundproofist episode.
Dr . Erica Walker is a public health researcher and the founder of Noise and the City and the Community Noise Lab. She's been tracking the impact of noise on communities in Boston as well as in other cities. In this interview, she talks about how she was personally affected by noise and how it inspired her to help others. She stresses the importance of quantifying how noise makes people feel and how it increases their stress levels, not just tracking decibel readings.
Restaurants can get noisy, even when they're not very crowded. Their hard surfaces create reverb and amplify sound. Customers often have to shout over the sound of piped-in music, kitchen activities, and other customers. These noise levels could be reduced with sound panels and other noise treatments. We discuss some options with Mitch Zlotnik, founder of Audimute, one of the leading companies in the United States that makes custom noise-control products.