Acoustic Ecology and Soundscapes

November 14, 2005 10:52 AM

Ever just stopped and listened? Acoustic Ecology encourages us to be aware of the sound environment around us, and to take responsibility for it.

The World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, as well as publishing a beautiful journal called Soundscape, is a starting point for finding many sound resources. Listen to soundscapes from Denmark and California, and field recordings from Vietnam and Vancouver. Take an audiovisual tour of NYC or Portland, Oregon. Experience cicadas, birds, frogs and other animals. Take a soundwalk through the park. Create your own international sound journey. You can even hear sounds from underwater or from the Northern Lights in the sky. And when you're done, learn how to make your own recordings.
posted by chrismear (15 comments total)

If people would stop honking their damn car horns over every trivial frustration, it would be greatly appreciated as an improvement to the acoustic ecology.
posted by slatternus at 11:09 AM on November 14, 2005

Odd coincidence. I maintain a community called soundscapes over on LiveJournal. Here are a few of my favorite soundscape-friendly things:

Japanese Train Tones
Resonance FM
Sleepbot Environmental Broadcast
StarStreams
Soundscape FM
Sounds of New York
A Walk Across California
Sounds Wild! Alaska
posted by insomnia_lj at 11:46 AM on November 14, 2005

The link to The Netherlands, gives Danish soundscapes. I think the link should be to Denmark.
posted by kudzu at 11:47 AM on November 14, 2005

kudzu, you're absolutely right. A momentary lapse of brain.
posted by chrismear at 11:54 AM on November 14, 2005

Nice links, insomnia_lj, thanks. Particularly the Japanese train tones -- brought back vivid memories of chuckling at them during a stay in Tokyo.
posted by chrismear at 12:02 PM on November 14, 2005

Back in the '70s, there was a series of recordings available called "Environments." They featured high-quality natural soundscapes like some of these. My favorite was a forest during a summer shower. Quite amazing under headphones.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:05 PM on November 14, 2005

Woo, a third sound post! Now I can say it:
SOUND FILTER.
Ha ha ha, I'm such a card.
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:09 PM on November 14, 2005

Though seriously, that was a sound post! Very interestin'.
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:10 PM on November 14, 2005

Many of the sound projects byMax Neuhaus explore the relationship between people and environmental sounds.
posted by anathema at 12:18 PM on November 14, 2005

I make my own sounds in my environment. Often quite accidentally.
posted by maxsparber at 2:31 PM on November 14, 2005

I hope you take repsonsibility for them.
posted by chrismear at 2:37 PM on November 14, 2005

SilenceFilter
posted by homunculus at 4:42 PM on November 14, 2005

Cool! Just an fyi on a personal rant, ECOLOGY IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALISM! OK /rant. Please, remember this rant whenever someone starts throwing the word "ecology" around wily nily.

This link, however, really gets into acoustic ecology, which is awesome! Anyone have a good sound file of lobsters that sound like violins?
posted by redbeard at 8:27 PM on November 14, 2005

Wow. Thanks.
posted by safetyfork at 8:36 AM on November 15, 2005

Curse you chrismear! I just this minute finished writing up a post on Sound Transit. It's a fascinating site.

Great minds and all that. (Mine wasn't as good, though. That's a self link, obviously.)
posted by jack_mo at 7:47 AM on November 16, 2005