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[Road of SKYSQUARE-042-] In Search of Massive Components Weighing Over One Ton! ~Iron~

  • 3 days ago
  • 6 min read
[Road of SKYSQUARE-042-] In Search of Massive Components Weighing Over One Ton! ~Iron~

Hello,

This is Nakajima from AZSTOKE Co., Ltd.


It is the purpose of this project.

Secure heavy steel members as components


This time, we decided to bring in “heavy steel beams” that cannot be moved by human strength alone—only heavy machinery like excavators can handle them.

Our purpose is singular.

To capture the overwhelmingly massive “sound” emitted by this colossal iron mass.


As a true foley field, we seek the “roar of iron” that shakes the air and earth—a sound impossible to reproduce with pre-made sound effects.

How to accept and position loads pushing the very limits of capacity.

SKYSQUARE takes another step toward the “extreme frontier of sound.”


Click here for a list of previous SKYSQUARE Road articles

SKYSQUARE

■Table of Contents



1. The “Ideal Material” Found in the Scrap Yard


Recording using large-scale iron materials.

The first step began with finding the ideal “iron” for sound.

This time, we contacted a scrap dealer we've worked with before.

Upon learning large steel beams were available for purchase, we immediately headed to the site.


廃棄された鉄骨

お宝の山

A vast expanse of land piled high with discarded steel beams.

While these materials are destined to be reused or melted down, to my eyes they appear as nothing but colossal foley props, each producing a unique sound.

I examine the actual pieces, assessing their thickness, length, and the resonance they produce when struck.

What I seek this time is an overwhelming mass impossible to move by human strength alone.

How deep and resonant, how sharp and metallic will the sound be when struck by the power of an excavator?

From among the many discarded materials, I select the finest steel beams worthy of hosting new sounds within the SKYSQUARE field.


2. Physical withdrawal and inspection. “Material verification” using heavy machinery.


You can't judge the steel beams you've spotted in the scrap pile just by looking at them.

To get a full view of the massive overlapping components, we'll have the excavator on site operate to pull them out from the pile.


鉄骨を購入へ

First, the excavator's fork plunges deep into the towering pile of steel beams.

This time, we selected heavy-duty components with substantial thickness and sufficient length.

The sight of them being carefully “excavated” one by one, navigating around the surrounding scrap materials, is truly impressive.


鉄骨検品

The steel beams now lowered to the ground. We meticulously inspect each one for overall distortion, section thickness, and the progression of rust—details invisible when buried in the mountain.

During the large-scale filming at SKYSQUARE, the “mass” of the components directly impacts the quality.

Witnessing this overwhelming weight, liftable only by excavator, confirmed its formidable presence once placed on the field.

The inspection results indicate the condition is good.


3. Loading onto the truck. The “anticipatory sound effects” echoing across the site.


The inspected steel beams are finally loaded onto the transport trucks.

Here too, the power of heavy machinery is harnessed as the careful yet dynamic work continues.

The steel beams, lifted by the excavator, slowly approach the truck bed.

And the moment they touched down, a tremendous, ear-splitting impact sound—a deafening “CRASH!!”—echoed across the site.

The instant I heard that sound, I knew: “This is it.”

It wasn't just a metallic clang—it was a deep, resonant sound only possible when overwhelming masses collide.

If a single action like this could radiate such presence, imagine how incredible the footage would be when we film properly on the SKYSQUARE field.

My expectations swelled enormously.


積み込み作業

Loading complete. The truck's suspension sinks noticeably, telling the story of its weight. We calculate carefully to avoid overloading while securing it safely.


4. The Three Pillars Supporting Sound Variation


This time, we have added three types of heavy steel beams of varying sizes as new sound source materials for SKYSQUARE.

To capture a rich variety of metallic sounds, we deliberately selected pieces differing in shape and mass.


今回の３種類の鉄骨

For convenience, we refer to them as “small, medium, and large,” but their actual nature is formidable.

Even the smallest “small” size steel frame consists of thick, high-density steel that won't budge even when several adults try to move it.

It is truly an “acoustic component designed exclusively for heavy machinery” that is utterly impossible to lift by human strength alone.


  • Small Size : Compact yet dense, producing a sharp yet resonant impact sound.

  • Medium Size : Versatile length and weight. Displays diverse characteristics based on ground contact surface.

  • Large Size : A massive block that maximizes the excavator's power. Characterized by a deep, resonant bass reverberation that shakes the air.


With these three steel beams now in place, the scope for large-scale recordings at SKYSQUARE expands dramatically. The very fact that it cannot be lifted is the absolute prerequisite for creating authentic sound that cannot be replicated digitally.


5. Delivery to SKYSQUARE. Unloading using our own heavy machinery.


The truck, straining under its maximum load, finally slid into our field, SKYSQUARE.

From here on, it's up to us to welcome this “mass of sound” with our own hands, without outside help.


SKYSQUAREに到着

Three massive iron blocks sit atop the truck's flatbed upon arrival.

Seeing them up close once more, their sheer presence is overwhelming. Their power as “pure sound material” stands apart from previous equipment investments.


We managed to unload them with a shovel loader and haul them to the site!!

We're getting quite skilled at transporting and unloading now.

With all the components gathered, we'll push forward with the work.


SKYSQUARE Articles List


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