Last year my Microphone Blog had 36,219 views from 22,219 visitors! Many thanks to you all and see you again in 2026!

After decades of working with bands and shows on New Year's Eve and getting home at stupid o'clock in the morning, this year I shall be slumped on the settee in front of the telly. At some point around 9pm I will go crazy and make some cocoa, after which it will be time for bed! Happy New Year!🙂

One of the doctoral researchers I work with is doing research on film sound and its connection to emotional responses. She's doing a short online survey/questionnaire. Takes about 10 minutes. If you are able to help that would be great 😌 york.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

ELECTRIC EARS! 1917 This illustration from the British weekly newspaper The Graphic was printed in 1917, at the height of the First World War. It details a proposed application of binaural listening. A pair of ‘electric ears’ are positioned one on either side of the hull, at front of the vessel,…

Almost 100% of children in 73 neighbourhoods in England are living in income-deprived families. Govts push real wage/benefit cuts, two-child benefit cap; oppose universal basic income; don't curb profiteering. No govt targets to cut poverty. 1% has more wealth than 70% of the population combined.

Another amazing artwork from Luke Jerram. Coming to a cathedral near you!

53 years after getting my original CERT ED teaching qualification this new piece of paper arrived in the post yesterday! After wasting decades in the entertainment industry maybe now is the time to get a proper job and a haircut ? 🤔

My blog stats for Martin Mitchell's Microphones are going a bit crazy today! I think someone has set it for homework! 🙂👍

“Peter Mandelson lost his job for being friends with a paedophile. Donald Trump, who was friends with the same paedophile, was given a state banquet hosted by a King whose brother lost his job because he was friends with the same paedophile.“

Written by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital, London after the Tommy Robinson march on 13/9.

The Discreet Archive Earthphone 2025 Every so often I buy a microphone purely out of curiosity. The Discreet Archive Earthphone is one such purchase I acquired recently. It’s an unusual sound gathering device which invites the user to go exploring! Based on a geophone design the Earthphone has a…

Jamie Raskin, "They only want to protect free speech that they agree with" JR then demolishes Farage, ending with "You might want to think twice before you let Nigel Farage Make Britain Great Again"

On the day @thenewworldmag.bsky.social has been banned from his conference this weekend ….

Just appeared on my blog stats! No one more surprised than me! Wow!

The Moon sculpture by Luke Jerram with immersive surround music by Dan Jones was amazing in Bristol Docks last night.

BBC Operational Research on Microphone and Studio Techniques in Stereophony 1961 For those of you who like a good read, and enjoy delving into the history of audio, here below is a fascinating BBC MONOGRAPH from 1961 exploring the engineering challenges leading up to the first stereo broadcasts…

Back in the old days vinyl was really appreciated! Can't do that with one of those new fangled CDs! 😂

BBC news headlines right now. It's utterly depressing.

A Father's Day post for my Dad. 🙂. martinmitchellsmicrophones.wordpress.com/2024/01/19/m...

An aspect of climate change that is rarely reported on: the impact of armed conflict on climate change as well as the impact climate change itself has on the rise in armed conflict www.theguardian.com/environment/...

We are about to add more information to our map, showing the donations that MPs are receiving from people and companies linked to the private healthcare sector. And... we are going to make a lot of noise about what individual politicians are doing. Please could you share this, and follow us? 🚨💙

Here is a piece of microphonic treasure from the 1970's martinmitchellsmicrophones.wordpress.com/2025/05/19/c...

Do you think that Wes Streeting should be taking donations from people or companies linked to the private healthcare sector? ... We don't, but he has been, and he's not alone! Take a look at what's happening here...🚨 privatisation.everydoctor.org.uk Pls share so others can take a look too! 💙

My blog is 13 years old! Here is my first post back in April 2012 martinmitchellsmicrophones.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/s...

The algorithm on YouTube for identifying classical music recordings is crap! Recently, it warned me that my 17 year old brother playing a Mozart sonata, recorded by me in 1966 on a Philips tape recorder was in fact an internationally famous concert pianist on a recording owned by Sony !

Please repost if you oppose the UK doing a trade deal with Trump.

Everyone’s watching Reform UK, but the real story is Ed Davey, the most popular party leader in England. The Liberal Democrats are on the rise, it's just that the pollsters forgot to mention it | Stephen McNair @eastangliabylines.co.uk @stephenmcnair.bsky.social

Why’s no one talking about the fact that Wes Streeting’s new deal with private companies gives them special treatment over NHS-run services? Can’t use enough siren emojis 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 Tonight’s newsletter explains. Sign up here: jujuliagrace.substack.com

Victoria Derbyshire: under the govts new rules a disabled person needing supervision to use the toilet isn't enough to qualify for PIP but disabled people who need assistance will, so what's the difference between supervision & assistance? Darren Jones: “I won't comment on hypotheticals”

The question we would all like an answer to

Fun day out today recording at St George's in Bristol. 🙂

And here in Cheltenham it is SNOWING!!!!!!!!

🚨FACTS AND TRUTH MATTER If you still agree with this principle please watch & share this FACT CHECK widely youtu.be/HpmDquOkSCY?...

Such fun recording this quartet of very talented ladies! youtu.be/QBAJdsJN1G0?...

Just watching an old BBC programme about Tutankhamen's Egypt with music by the wonderful pioneer of electronic sounds Delia Derbyshire! So atmospheric!

YES!

George Monbiot sums up the BBC perfectly.

74 Today and still trying to decide what to do when I grow up? 🤔

This year is shite so far. The clutch has just gone on the car and Trump's inauguration falls on my birthday! ☹️

Absolutely this from Ed Davey 👏

Last year my microphone blog had 42.2K views from 25.4K visitors! No one more surprised than me! New post on its way. Martin Mitchell's Microphones martinmitchellsmicrophones.wordpress.com

This morning I see that there is a Yellow Snow Warning in place for Bristol! Suddenly I am put in mind of the Frank Zappa song about yellow snow. 'Watch out where the huskies go and don't you eat that yellow snow'! So be careful if you are going to Bristol!

Apart from one advert in Tape Recording Magazine in 1965, I can find no pictures or information about this FI-CORD 801 anywhere on the internet! Is it really that rare? It looks good and sounds good and is very well made. Anyone ever seen one of these before? 🤔