From recording the sound of Antarctic wind and saving a Gibson True Vintage guitar,
to making movie magic in Hollywood and capturing the sound of termites at dawn in
Africa – these were just some of the 700 plus stories received by DPA Microphones
in response to its recent “Tell Us Your Story’ competition.

The company asked customers to share stories about how they use microphones
and offered a range of prizes, including a first prize of €2,500 (US$2,800) in DPA
microphones and accessories.

“We were overwhelmed by the response and very surprised by the creativity of so
many of our users,’ says Anne Berggrein, DPA’s VP of Marketing.

In the end, it was Australian sound artist Philip Samartzis whose story most
captivated the judges and won him first prize. The recipient of two Australian
Antarctic Division Arts Fellowships (2009 and 2015), Samartzis used his Fellowships
to document the effects of extreme climate and weather events in Eastern
Antarctica, and Macquarie Island. His most recent trip was to Casey Station, the
biggest of three Australian Antarctic research stations in Eastern Antarctica.
Inspired by the photography of Herbert Ponting and Frank Hurley, Samartzis wanted
to use sound recording techniques to convey the ferocity and atmospheric effects of
the Antarctic conditions, especially the low gravity katabatic wind that gains force
as it travels down elevated slopes.

Samartzis used a variety of DPA microphones, including four d:dicate™ 4006
Omnidirectional Microphones, two d:screet™ 4060 Omnidirectional Miniature
Microphones and a d:dicate™ 4017 Shotgun Microphone. He also used a now
discontinued 8011 Omnidirectional Underwater Hydrophone Microphone, which DPA
developed for him in 1999 for a project entitled Unheard Spaces that documented
the city of Venice from an underwater perspective.

The d:dicate™ 4006s were placed in Rycote Cyclone windshields, which protected
them from the elements. Samartzis says that at one point the windshields were
frozen blocks of ice but the mics kept on recording. The main problem he had was
with his field recorders, which seized up from time to time due to the build-up of
ice.

For his prize, Samartzis has chosen a pair of DPA d:dicate™ ST4011 cardioid
microphones so that he can explore new stereo and surround recording
configurations and techniques. He plans to use them on a public art project he is
working on in Tokyo, documenting the sound ecology of a traditional shopping
district.

“I am really thrilled to have won the competition,’ he says. “I entered with the
intention of sharing my experience of working with DPA microphones in extreme
conditions, which I thought would be of interest to other users. I didn’t give it much
thought beyond that so it was a real surprise when I was informed that I had won. I
am very grateful.’

Seven other entrants also received prizes for their entries and their stories are
equally fascinating. To read all eight, including Philip Samartzis’ Sound of the Wind,
please visit www.dpamicrophones.com.