Month: August 2016

Morse Code

| Forgotten Fields

Morse Code

For the “Airship” demo track, I learned a little about Morse code. I must confess, I didn’t even know what the code for SOS was, prior to this. I like the beeping sounds of Morse code transmission (the “dits and dahs”), I find them soothing. They’re created by a beat frequency oscillator. I tried to imitate the sound by modifying a synth. You can hear the “transmission” towards the end of “Airship“:

·−·· −−− −−− −·−     ··− ·−−·

I’m in two minds about keeping it in the final mix, but for now, I enjoy the addition.

9 August 1884

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French Airship, 'La France'

Today in history

Today, 132 years ago, French army airship La France made a historic trip. It was the first airship to successfully return to its starting point. It flew for 23 minutes, covering a distance of 8 km. Hurrah!

Maiden Flight of German Airship (1908)

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I love this footage. It records an event almost identical to what I imagine in my music for “Airship”.

British Pathé describes the footage thus:

Airship is pulled to middle of field. The passenger basket / gondola beneath the ship fills up and the airship takes off. Among those in the gondola may be airship pioneer Dr Hugo Eckener. Dirigible in flight and coming into land when the crew and passengers disembark and are greeted by waiting crowds. Members of the crew chat to waiting dignitaries before they go to waiting cars.

© British Pathé