I cannot now remember when it was that I first noticed that something had changed about the sound of live broadcasts from the House of Commons. They seem to have installed new microphones in the Chamber – perhaps as part of the arrangements for publishing Hansard much more quickly on line. So far I have not had any success in finding the details of the changes via Google.
The unfortunate effect – at least via my low-tech old fashioned radios - is that these introduce a distinct hollowness & echo to the broadcast sound. Ed Milliband, especially, suffers from this effect, which makes him lose authority.
At first I thought it might have something to do with where the mics are sited, rather than something to do with the quality of his voice.
But - & it really does pain me to have to say this – it may have to do with register, pitch or timbre. Because it is hard on women too.
During Monday's session on High Speed Rail both Maria Eagle & Cheryl Gillan just sounded querulous & shrill – not how they sound at all outside the Chamber, & much of this was due to the echo & greater clarity in the higher registers.
Links
High Speed Rail: House of Commons 28 January 2013
[PDF]The sound of democracy
HOUSE OF COMMONS PROCEEDINGS (SOUND BROADCASTING EXPERIMENT) 11 December 1967
[PDF] WHAT MAKES A FEMALE VOICE ATTRACTIVE?
Voters prefer candidates with a deeper voice, says study
BBC Radio 4: Vox project
