Sandpoint Idaho has a small town fireworks show every year and the last time I recorded it was 2004. There is a massive freeway bypass under construction just north of City Beach where the show is presented. With all the traffic headaches and large crowds I usually just sit on my deck at home and watch from 5 miles away. Since the freeway will be completed next year the noise from the traffic will make getting good recordings impossible so I decided to brave humanity and record.

Since one of my MKH-8040 microphones is being repaired I just used one and along with the CSS-5 I thought I could get some good sound effects. I arranged to get out on the sandbar where the fireworks were being launched and set up a small rig with 2 recorders running three channels at 192K.

I recorded the fireworks at 192k with a MKH8040 and a Sanken CSS-5 in full windshields and windjammers. The microphones were 6 meters away from the finale launch tubes. The MKH8040 was pointed at the tubes and the CSS-5 was aimed up about 45 degrees. If you look close at the end of the video you can see the mics on the left side of the screen near the tubes. A big chunk of ash landed right under the 8040. Only 2 small burns in the Rycote Windjammer. There was a lot of trial and error recording so close to the launch and I was winging it.