Hi all, because I couldn't find any youtube video showing testing of the sound of Shinkaya Go board when played, I decided to make one to let go players listen to what it would sound like. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlY1LFVsZz8

Please note I did not slam down the stones. Just normal placing.

Sound Test
[Keiji Miwa 2" Shinkaya Floor
Go Board + Size 36 10.2mm
Glass Stones (Korean)]

Moves 75
39th Japanese Meijin, title match #4
Black - Iyama Yuta 9p
White - Kono Rin 9p
B + R
Komi 6.5

Hi jtman, thank you. I haven't listened to your video yet,
so maybe you already explained (orally): what camera and mic(s)
did you use for the sound recording ? I'm curious, thanks.

Hi Ed, I just used a Sanyo digital video camera and place it very close to the board and record in a very quiet room. I put the stones up to move 75 to make it as long as possible for people to get a good idea of the sound made.

Hi jtman,

Thanks. Recently, I've had some experience with recording Go videos.

For example, your Sanyo camera's built-in mics are likely omni-directional.
The resulting audio may be a little echo-ey.
This is because omni-directional mics are designed and intended to pick up
the ambient sounds from all directions, so they also pick up all the echoes
from your walls and other hard surfaces in your space.
It depends on factors such as the shapes, materials, and angles of the surfaces.
Or carpeted floor versus wood floor.
Or the angle of the mic(s) relative to the Go board surface.

If you have access to, say, a RØde directional mic,
you may notice a huge reduction of the echo-ey feeling.

Thanks, Ed. I thought of using the type of mic that you suggested but decided it was too hard. I just want to record the sound to enable viewers to generally know what playing on it sound like. I agree that it is echo-ey. But it generally sound the way it was recorded but less echo-ey.

Hi jtman, technically it's very simple and easy
to set up, but the cost could be a factor: the RØde VideoMic Pro runs about
US$229, plus the cost of an adapter to mount it onto your Sanyo camera,
the cost of a tripod, and the cost of a 9 Volt battery.

Thanks, Ed for the mic ideas.

I also tested using size 34 9.5mm glass stones, size 22 6.3 mm slate and shell stones (Japanese) and size 36 slate and shell stones (Korean - from gogameguru). I found that the best sound is from size 36 slate and shell stones.

Yes. Size 38 and 36 make very similar sounds, so now
the preference becomes the feel of the thickness. I prefer 38.

Hi,
Have you seen this on Youtube?
A sound test of various go sets/materials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfG1NTkwUaI

Also, some sort of sound test, more in the bizarre, can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnma2hy-qVE
It is about tapping and scratching a go board and go stones.

I also prefer the size 38 by far. With a decent size floor Goban, you have a perfect set! To stay on topic, the sound of a real kaya goban is a warm rounded sound versus the sharper clack of most of the alternatives. You can also get a satisfying bassy sound for those moves you want to add an exclamation point.

Thanks, Sybob. I have seen them before.

Progenitor and Ed, I only have a few sample size 36 shell and slate stones. I wish I could afford to buy the full set of size 38 shell and slate stones. I have no doubt that they would sound fantastic. There are questions in other posts as to why people buy shell and slate stones. I think the nice sound that they make on shinkaya or kaya goban answers the questions.

Hi jt, the sound is one of the factors for sure.
There are others as well. I haven't experienced a very nice floor board yet,
regardless of its kaya level. I'm curious, too.

Actually, the sound factor is partly mood ( the player decides how much umph
for a particular move ), and partly the local shape ( if it's already "crowded",
it's not easy or even possible to make a smacking sound ).
Like so many things in Go and in life, it depends.

As EdLee already says, it depends.
I'd like to add: it depends, also on personal preferences.
The appreciation of sounds and noises (think: music) varies enormously.

I now have various go sets of various materials.

To my taste, my slate & shell stones size 34 on an thick old table katsura board makes the nicest sound. Nót the snappiest or loudest, au contraire. I like the delicate almost muted sound it makes.

My other stones and boards (glass, yunzi and thinner s&s, wooden boards birchwood, 1.25' shinkaya and 2.5' shinkaya) sound differenty, louder, perhaps even a bit harsh. That's okay, depending on mood, circumstances and snapping opportunities, but overall I like the old katsura board for sound reasons (and aesthetics) better.

That said, I hope people do not refrain from playing go on any go board available

Shell stones also add to the visual aesthetic with the various grain patterns and depth. Don't get me wrong I'm not an equipment snob, I still play on a magnetic board and a tiny set with stones the size of m&ms every once in awhile. It is fairly subjective, but regardless of your preference, it is nice to play with high quality equipment with the sound feel and look it brings with it.

On the other hand shell stones do have a drawback, they have a top and a bottom. I sometimes get distracted when I accidentally place one upsidedown. I know I'm having a bad Go day if it happens over and over again in a game haha.

Glass half empty or full.

To some people, that's a bonus.

Haha yeah black gets a bonus on those days.