Shortwave Sounds | The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and buddy, One Deck Pete, who writes with a question.

I am not sure if I have sent you this before but this alternative version of a Joe Meek produced single has what I think are shortwave samples bookending it and also a couple of times during the tune.

[Note that Pete originally posted this video on his own blog.]

Have you any guesses what they could be? It was produced in 1966, Joe Meek was a bit of an electronics wizard and I was told subscribed to Practical Wireless and loved a sound effect. It sounds like some fast Morse, telemetry or RTTY but I could be wrong.

Perhaps it isn’t shortwave-based but it sounds like it to me!

How about it SWLing Post readers? What are those digital sounds at the beginning and end of this recording? (Bonus points if you can decode!)

I have a particular fondness for artists who use shortwave radio to inspire their work, so you can imagine how pleased I was to stumble upon Radius–an experimental radio broadcast platform based in Chicago, IL, USA. In their own words:

Radius features a new project semi-monthly with statements by artists who use radio as a primary element in their work. Radius provides artists with live and experimental formats in radio programming.

The goal is to support work that engages the tonal and public spaces of the electromagnetic spectrum.

All audio works are broadcasted locally on 88.9 fm with a secondary stream online.

Radius’ website contains audio by episode. Most of this work is toward the art spectrum of the sonic journey–me, I love it.

Want a taste? Check out some of this audio from Episode 08 by Osvaldo Cibils:
Episode 08: Osvaldo Cibils by Radius #4