Check out this video montage of the first decade at Skywalker Sound (formerly Sprocket Systems).

With one can of propane you can shoot this bad boy up to 17,000 times.  Set it with the automated timer and sit back and enjoy the 120dB blast at your leaser.  Ahhhh…life’s little pleasures. Source: http://scarecannon.com/zon_mark_4.htm

Nothing beats a great recording.  One where you can just pop, make a few minor tweaks and keep rolling.  Michael Raphael recently recorded the door to his home and the result was something you’d expect to hear in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Here the recording here:  http://sepulchra.com/blog/?p=931