#21

I know. It was in email they sent me. I searched their website for more details like you did. In any event, I’m told it should arrive in the next 1-3 weeks. I’ll take a photo of it when it arrives.

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#22

Found this in an email that Soma sent me which indicates the new features.

2ETside
2ETside.jpg700×447 97.4 KB
1ETant
1ETant.jpg700×447 82.6 KB

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#23

I received the v2 last week. I’d say the additional features are less suited to “field recording” and more for intentional recording of objects.

I will admit that I am slightly envious of the simplicity of the v1 since I am never too sure what setting to leave it on, but I’m sure with time I’ll become more comfortable with it.

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#24

Ah this clears things up, I just received mine and noticed the second antenna and additional knob - wasn’t sure if it was a fluke. Hoping it works as well as the ones I’ve seen in videos; so far only tested in my apartment and while it does pick up cool sounds, seems I have to be pretty close to find them. About to try a walk about town next!

#25

Let me how your walk about town was for picking up sounds. My Ether radio has just cleared customs in JFK. Eager to put it to that specific use myself.

#26

So far it’s been fantastic for close range scanning of electrical devices. Found the area around my bed pulsing a rhythmic kick drum pattern, making me consider furniture rearrangement! Hooked it up to my car audio for my morning commute and it mimicked the gear/engine noise, also cool sounds when engaging/disengaging remote locks, and power windows.
For my short walk in a residential neighborhood I got almost no sound. One telephone pole gave off lots of sound but another one with a big power apparatus on top gave off nothing.
I’m hoping to pick up more “mysterious ambience” at a distance on longer walks. In Hainbach’s YouTube video he picks up sound from a distant blimp! Not sure if mine works like that.
Outdoors if I hold the two antennae it just picks up clear AM radio, sounds like two stations at once.

This v.2 has a second attenuator for High Frequency Amplification apparently - I don’t get a lot of variation from it, except near the top of its range it just cuts out completely, I think maybe it’s turning farther than it’s supposed to.

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#27

Wow. Some very creative applications of the unit, especially within the car. I saw the Hainbach video, too, and I was hoping to be able to capture that exact sort of “mysterious ambience” you refer to. Also was hoping that v2 had all of the capabilities of the original version, plus these new features, but it sounds as if it’s somewhat of a different animal.

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#28

as for the picking up sound from the blimp in the video, I believe he would’ve picked that up without pointing it at the blip as well - the sound is weather forecast from polish radio and I found that my Ether sometimes picks up radio stations as well, usually in wide open spaces.

I am a bit surprised to find out there’s a version 2 already, I received mine not even a full month ago. I like that I can just turn it on and walk around without worrying too much about dialing in anything other than volume, but sometimes the high frequencies I get are not that pleasant, so HF dial could be useful.

as for the distance on which it picks up sound, I guess it depends on exact device emitting radiation or something (wavelength?)? maybe @EPTC could weigh in about his experiences, especially relating to the recording from Austin. Sometimes I get interesting stuff and I can’t determine the source at all (which would suggest it’s not nearby), sometimes I have to get really close to something to hear it (like lamps for example). Sometimes I don’t get anything at all.

My findings for now: trams are less fun than I thought they will be - I mostly get the sound of the engine. walking around the city it varies, mostly residential area where I live is not very interesting, neither is stairway and basement parking lot in my building, although I picked up some interesting stuff in nearby above ground parking lot and near police station (although I don’t think it was related to police station, to be honest). So far shopping mall was quite crazy and shortwalk around multiplex cinema was absolutely stunning, I have no idea what emitted the sounds I heard, but that was the best ambient/drone gig I’ve been to in like 2 years :wink: railway station was great too, though a bit less varied

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#29

These are all great location ideas, thanks. I haven’t had a chance yet to take a proper hunt with it yet, but looking forward to it.
I’m actually getting some pretty amazing sounds just from my phone/iPad; sometimes it picks up finger presses and sliding gestures, text scrolling by. The places where I spend the most time - bed, work desk, tv/couch - all have the most EMF radiation, must be why I’m mutating :alien:

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#30

Have an Ether on the way. I already have a couple LOM Elektrosluchs, and a Priezor-so it’ll be interesting to compare all of them. I’ll have an interactive EMF/modular/video installation at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn museum (DC) this weekend using the LOM detectors as audio and cv sources. Was hoping to have my Ether for the show, but I have my hands full doing a three channel installations—so probably for the best.

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#31

Great suggestions and also I understand that mileage varies–sometimes for reasons that can be readily explained, sometimes inexplicable. I’ll reserve judgment until I give my v2 a spin and now I’ve got a lot of good applications for it. Thanks.

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#32

Additional note - discovered yesterday that the Ether is not compatible with TRRS headphones (with the added ring for a mic) - discovered that yesterday on a hike when my old iPhone earbuds failed to deliver Ether’s sounds. Unfortunately looks like I’ll have to get even more exercise with a proper set of headphones! :sob:

#33

Ah - not surprising! I think it’s a great offer that it works with TRS. I was initially expecting a line out (mono signal) - you can maybe desolder that part of the cabling but I don’t know how TRRS works with that third ring.

untested and more expensive than it should be but this might do the trick: https://www.amazon.com/Rode-SC3-3-5mm-TRRS-Adaptor/dp/B00L6C8PNU

But I like big bulky headphones for field recording! Before I was certain it’d be a stereo output I was considering some Califone style clamshells (great mono signal headphones)

image

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#34

Took a proper hunt with the Ether tonight at a local outdoor mall - didn’t start recording until the end but caught a lot of great stuff walking by different storefronts.
Noticing that outdoors, my Ether doesn’t pick up much unless I hold down on one of the two antennae; then it behaves as I’d expect from the videos I’ve seen… without holding the antennae it seems much less sensitive; it’s as if I’m connecting a circuit or acting as a required antenna. More explorations en route!
Here’s a lucky find on tonight’s walk.

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#35

I recently received the v.2 as well, trying to figure it out. It doesn’t seem to pick up much outdoors unless I hold the antennae. Also the HF knob doesn’t seem to do much, except for one spot near the top of its range where it sort of pops and then goes to silence. Is that how yours is working? I’m still getting some great stuff at close range near lights and electrical gear but wondering if it should be picking up more at a range. I’ve been walking around a pretty busy city with lots of passing cars, aircraft overhead and lots of broadcasting towers around; sort of expected more!

#36

It’s a shame to hear these mixed results from the v2. I have just purchased an Ether from Soma but I have no idea which one I will receive. I’ll report my findings too once it has arrived and I’ve tested it out a bit.

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#37

Having to touch an antenna sounds normal. It creates a large antenna using your body, that can pick up a lot more than a tiny little built in antenna.

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#38

I don’t mean to come across as negative towards the device though; just trying to understand it better! Just took a trip to Downtown LA on the metro and picked up some great sounds, mostly from large, well lit photo light boxes and the train engines. Really good finds when I could get relatively close to things.
It’s possible that the streets being so wide here is causing a lack of “frequent targets” outdoors. Storefronts seem to have yielded the best results; shopping malls have worked well for me (like in the Soma video).
Really curious to hear others’ experiences with the Ether, I feel like I’m just scratching the surface.

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#39

My v2 of the Ether Radio arrived yesterday. It seems to work pretty much as in Hainbach’s video. I really think we’re dealing with the same animal, except with an extra antenna, which does sharpen its sensitivity. I don’t believe Hainbach is actually recording the blimp overhead. Instead, if you listen closely, it’s just a snippet of AM radio he’s picking up. He’s selected some fairly good urban environments for recording, but even in the train terminal, when he walks away from electromagnetic sources, there are dead spots.
I’ve yet to venture into the world with my device. I live in a more rural setting. Even so, I’m no longer worried about v2 being a lesser product.

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#40

Congratulations, have fun with it! I think the Ether is going to have a lot of variability between environments, recording methods and even headphones. It’s making me want to learn about radios and DIY electronics.
Yesterday I noticed that holding the antennae improves reception with headphones connected, but when I’ve got the Ether hooked up for recording (line in to Behringer UCA202, AppleCCK into iPhone), touching the antennae causes a loud chirp. So I might try getting a Zoom or even recording to portable cassette next.
As for workflow I’ve been using Koala sampler on the iPhone to catch the best sounds when I find them. I’ve had a lot of dead-time between sounds so continuous recording hasn’t worked for me yet.
The thing that bothers me the most though is that the HF knob doesn’t seem to do anything - does it have any affect on your V.2?

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