no idea radio ep.09
transcribe
Little Rabbit Sandwich, Dahong, Shen Ao
Content:
1 Interview after the practice
2 Transcribing Mechanical Sound: Reflections After Striking the Wooden Fish
Interview after the practice
During the first recording (Jan 6, 15:00), the station manager stopped the practice, claiming that "professional equipment" requires permission from the subway administrator. But left no definition of the "professional equipment" was given, and the "internal regulations" cited were refused to be shown as they are "not for public disclosure."
Zhang Zi Zhong Lu Station Exit E
Jan 6 2026, 15:30
15:30 - Zhang Zizhonglu Station 张自忠路
[ID Check in Progress]
A: I’ve already checked the regulations; technically, it’s allowed. But in practice, there’s a gap between the rules and the reality.
B: Rules are just rules. In practice, you're still conducting personal activities within someone else’s jurisdiction.
A: But isn't it normal to do this in a public area?
B: It is. But the moment you ask for permission, you're shifting the responsibility onto the manager. If he says yes, your actions become "officially authorized."
A: So, nobody wants to take the responsibility.
B: Exactly. Especially in a big city with busy traffic. No one is going to give you the green light. As for the regulations, they’re probably meant for TV programme — they don't really apply to individuals like us.
A: So that "official path" is basically a dead end; it’s just a canned response.
B: Right. The rules exist, but they still won't let you do it.
A: I guess artistic practice is just something that falls outside the box.
B: We’re being too well-behaved. Someone more radical wouldn't have even bothered asking.
A: It’s just that I didn't think it was a big deal, and I did my research on the rules.
B: If you were doing this abroad, would you have checked in advance?
A: Fair point. I’ll try a different approach next time.
17:00 - Dongsi Station 东四
A: That went really smoothly this time!
B: Not bad. Though I’m getting a bit chilled from the AC.
A: No interruptions, and the sound of the turnstiles was crisp and clear.
B: Good positioning.
A: I should’ve listened to you and recorded the "entering" sounds; they’re much more frequent.
B: It’s 5:00 PM, and a lot of people in this area are finishing work. This spot is more of a business district, so there are more people entering the station to head home.
A: The evening rush hour is just starting.
B: Exactly. Turns out a good chunk of people in Beijing actually get off at five. I'm jealous. Plus, there are probably a lot of public sector workers around here, though I’m not sure if they take the subway.
A: Some of them must. It’ll probably be even more crowded by 7:00PM.
B: I usually exit from this gate around 7:00 or 8:00 PM. Not many people exit here then; most commuters live further out, like near Qingnian Road on Line 6...
A: Line 5 is relatively short.
B: And it’s curvy. It doesn't really cut through any major corporate hubs—it’s mostly just a transfer station.
Dong Si Station Exit B
Jan 6 2026, 21:10
19:25 - Beixinqiao Station 北新桥
B: I just thought of a term: "集散地 Distribution Center" — a distribution center for 社畜（She Chu - corporate drones）!
A: Like Tiantongyuan, or 北京像素小区 Beijing Pixel...
B: I’ve never actually met anyone who lives in 天通苑 Tiantongyuan. Most people I know live in 青年路 Qingnian Road, 团结湖 Tuanjiehu, or 通州 Tongzhou—probably because 朝阳区 Chaoyang District has more entertainment spots. Some others live in 鼓楼 Gulou, near where i live.
A: What’s the demographic like in 鼓楼 Gulou?
B: People who choose 鼓楼 Gulou are usually into the arts and culture scene—gigs, bars, that kind of thing. You rarely see "社畜 corporate drones" living there, except for restaurant staff. There are some staff dormitories nearby since restaurants offer room for them.
A: There seemed to be a lot of 老外 Laowai（foreigners）back at Hepingli Beijie?
B: Probably tourists. The number of expats actually living in 鼓楼 Gulou is shrinking. Those in the creative industry still stay around here, but it’s more like the remains of a fading youth culture.
A: Where does everyone go? 798 Art District?
B: Not really. I rarely go there, maybe just for an exhibition.
A: Since we’re recording at 将台 Jiangtai Station tomorrow, do you think it’ll be like a classic rush hour scene?
B: Absolutely, especially in the morning. In the evening, people might work late and then take a cab. For example, when I worked there, I’d stay until the "free cab ride" time started before heading home. A huge percentage of companies there operate like that.
A: Are there places where the rush hour flow is reversed? Maybe South Beijing?
B: A lot of commuters live down south because the rent is cheaper. Tourist hubs might be closer to what you’re looking for, like 南锣鼓巷 Nanluoguxiang or 雍和宫 Yonghegong. Those places are packed regardless of the time.
Dong Si Station Exit B
Jan 6 2026, 17:00
21:10 - Dongsi Station 东四
A: There actually aren't that many people at this station; it feels more like it's specifically designed for transfers.
B: It’s not a residential area, a workplace hub, or a shopping district. I’d guess the traffic drops off a cliff after 8:00 PM.
09:00 - Jiangtai Station 将台
A: It seems the morning rush hour is just winding down. It’s incredibly crowded, and the sound of the turnstiles is deafening. To my surprise, the noise of people entering and exiting comes in distinct waves rather than a continuous high-density hum. This "fluctuation" is likely tied to the frequency of arriving trains; it's quite an interesting rhythm. I didn't feel as nervous during the recording this time—because it was so packed, I simply blended into the crowd. It might be difficult to translate this into an instrumental performance later on.
11:00 - Beixinqiao Station 北新桥
B: There probably aren't many corporate offices at this station, but it draws a lot of tourists. It gets swamped during the holidays. 北新桥 Beixinqiao also serves the Airport Express, so you see a lot of people dragging luggage.
A: Originally, I wanted to pick just one station and record there continuously, but I realized that was impossible. I’d just end up being questioned and kicked out.
B: Exactly. Because you'd keep popping up every two hours.
A: They’d definitely come over to ask questions after i visit 3 times in a row.
B: If you changed clothes, you’d probably look even more suspicious when they finally recognized you. What if we showed up at different exits?
A: That wouldn't work either. The station master watches the CCTV monitors.
Bei Xin Qiao Station Exit A
Jan 6 2026, 19:25
Transcribing Mechanical Sound: Reflections After Striking the Wooden Fish
Ao Shen
23 February 2026
While striking the wooden fish, I attempted to transcribe recordings (of the underground station’s entry and exit gate sounds) by controlling the intensity of each strike, thereby rendering the perceived distance of the sound sources. Although similar practices—acoustic instruments simulating mechanical sound—have appeared directly or indirectly in much postmodern composition, this experiment did not employ notation as an intermediary. Instead, the act of striking was triggered directly through listening.
During the process of transcription, I did not disturbed by the noise or nervous of the original environment. On the contrary, I experienced a state of near-meditative concentration. By focusing on simple mechanical sounds, my mind remained within a field of low informational density—similar to the mental relaxation achieved in swimming by concentrating on breathing and bodily movement. At the same time, the unpredictability of the sounds, together with the immediacy of their transcription, actively intensified this state of focus.
When listening to relatively sparse gate sounds, my attention converged on “points”; responses were direct, and the tactile sensation of striking felt loose. When the sounds became denser, attention shifted toward a “surface” — the speed of processing exceeded conscious thought, and the strikes became more instinctive, forming a kind of bodily reflex. In confronting rapidly incoming information, I chose to close my eyes, as if re-entering the original environment, which allowed me to descend into a deeper state of awareness.
Check out the radio show on BAIHUI.live!
https://baihui.live/shows/no-idea-w-al-schaffer-26-04-06/en/