Fractions of a second before the main boom, witnesses often hear a sharp clicking or hissing sound (the "vitaphone" effect). This is the sound of upward streamers—electrical channels reaching up from the ground to meet the downward leader.
. Most consumer and even professional microphones will "clip" or distort immediately, turning the majestic crack into a flat, digital "pop."
The massive electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from the strike can induce current directly into the microphone cables, causing a hum or even frying the recording device's internal circuits. 4. The "Deep" Psychological Impact