iSerenity

November 20, 2008 11:58 AM

Like a little serenity? "Ambient sound environments at your desktop for relaxation, privacy and solitude". Soothe yourself with the sound of purring or some birdsong , rainforest, storm, sounds of the beach to go with your tea and contemplation. You might pretend you're taking a train trip, on a plane, visiting NYC. Or for fun you could mix them up, pencil writing and windchimes. Each soundscape has a visual to accompany it as well.
posted by nickyskye (37 comments total)

Will it cause hallucinations?
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:02 PM on November 20, 2008

You can add it to the ping pong balls, for the Ganzfeld thing or to the RjDj for ambient warping. So maybe it can. :) I think the purring induces an oxytocin rush, it does in me.
posted by nickyskye at 12:08 PM on November 20, 2008

That is a very quiet NYC.

Of course I don't remember what nature sounds like, so those might be accurate.
posted by sondrialiac at 12:15 PM on November 20, 2008

Pencils, typewriters, white noise. All those were pretty anxiety inducing.

They forgot fingernails on chalkboard.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:16 PM on November 20, 2008

Astro Zombie: Will it cause hallucinations?

Dude, try the clock + dryer + vacuum + whales + library. Just go slow, man. You don't wanna end up huddled in the corner contemplating why your hands can feel the wall yet pass through it...
posted by not_on_display at 12:20 PM on November 20, 2008

You don't wanna end up huddled in the corner contemplating why your hands can feel the wall yet pass through it...

You obviously don't know me very well.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:22 PM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

You don't wanna end up huddled in the corner contemplating why your hands can feel the wall yet pass through it...

Wait--you don't?? These are constraints of which I had been unaware.
posted by ancientgower at 12:24 PM on November 20, 2008

nickyskye: "I think the purring induces an oxytocin rush, it does in me."

Perhaps you're being healed.
posted by mandal at 12:31 PM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

not_on_display: You don't wanna end up huddled in the corner contemplating why your hands can feel the wall yet pass through it...

Astro Zombie: You obviously don't know me very well.

ancientgower: Wait--you don't?? These are constraints of which I had been unaware.

Not with this stuff, man. This is the hardcore shit the military was experimenting with; it'll drive you six ways to Kenosha. That's why I say: start with the clock. Get into it, tick tick. Then add the dryer and the vacuum. When you've gotten used to that whole new world (the wooden floors turn into carpeting, windows become theaters...), then put the whale on at low volume. That's what I'm saying. Oh, save the library for when you're coming down; it will bring you back up to the plateau. And this is obviously NSFW. Have a wonderful flight!
posted by not_on_display at 12:34 PM on November 20, 2008 [3 favorites]

This is like the Relaxation and Meditation series from LaserLight Digital.
posted by netbros at 12:35 PM on November 20, 2008

I just killed a goat with my mind. That's not my idea of serenity.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:40 PM on November 20, 2008

I love stuff like this and frequently use it while reading/writing. Try Ambiance for the iPod touch and iPhone as well.
posted by proj at 12:44 PM on November 20, 2008

Actually, birdsong, windchimes and the storm makes for a nice summer afternoon feeling.

Then I ditched the birds and the thuinder, and put rain and windchimes (it's rainy and windy here today) and my kid walked in, looked at the rain falling outside and said "it's loud today."
posted by salishsea at 12:47 PM on November 20, 2008

I just killed a goat with my mind. That's not my idea of serenity.

Nope, but it's an excellent start for goat curry

Dammit, now I feel hungry...must find nearest Caribbean restaurant...
posted by mandal at 12:48 PM on November 20, 2008

I prefer my Serenity to have a little more Jayne.

I'll be in my bunk.
posted by quin at 12:50 PM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Natural Worlds is a free universal app (OS X only) with a similar purpose, including downloadable user-created "worlds."
posted by [user was fined for this post] at 1:06 PM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

The "New York" link must be typical of NYC at 5am on a Sunday morning...
posted by clevershark at 1:22 PM on November 20, 2008

Thanks, nickyskye—this is exactly what I needed today.
posted by languagehat at 1:31 PM on November 20, 2008

Other sources for (non-looping) atmospheric ambient recordings previously on metafilter.
posted by anthill at 1:40 PM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Serenity now!


SERENITY NOW!
posted by omegar at 1:57 PM on November 20, 2008

Simply noise...
posted by jim in austin at 1:58 PM on November 20, 2008

iSerenity Now!!
posted by not_on_display at 1:59 PM on November 20, 2008

Astro Zombie: I just killed a kitten with my mind. Well, actually God killed it, and my mind wasn't the part of my body that was involved.
posted by cjorgensen at 2:29 PM on November 20, 2008

I don't want to be unnecessarily boastful or anything but I just raised a kitten from the dead. All with the power of soothing ambient noises... and my radioactive zombie serum.
posted by quin at 3:01 PM on November 20, 2008

mandal, I thought that was just an interesting creation of Crake, with a possible hint of weird truth to it. (Strange and recommended book, btw).

Last year I purchased a sound soother a present for a family member who was fond of ocean sounds. When we listened to the 20 options, there were a few we questioned: thunder storm, steam train and aviary. A dark and stormy night is more of an opening to a mystery than an invitation to a good night's sleep, the steam train was punctuated by the steam whistle, and aviaries are full of screechy birds, apparently.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:18 PM on November 20, 2008

From the title I was hoping something related to being out in the Black. Of course, everyone knows it is quiet out there. Oh well.
posted by meinvt at 3:40 PM on November 20, 2008

This is lovely! Thanks, nickyskye.
posted by fish tick at 3:47 PM on November 20, 2008

I've got the "storm" in one tab and the "beach" in another. It's nature vs. nature! I wanna see who wins.
posted by hojoki at 3:57 PM on November 20, 2008

that kitty is sort of glaring at me..... but I like the library noise it's sort of like that whoosh noise you get in all sorts of government buildings. X-filesy.
posted by jessamyn at 4:00 PM on November 20, 2008

I don't want to be unnecessarily boastful or anything but I just raised a kitten from the dead. All with the power of soothing ambient noises... and my radioactive zombie serum.

See, I've been trying to raise kittens from the dead for a while now. You know, just trying to figure out the secret, for humanity! So that one day, everybody can have a kitten and not worry about it ever dying, you know? But all that my neighbors can focus on is my killing kittens and then sending ass-loads of voltage through them. I mean come on! Do you think the light-bulb worked on the first try? Haven't you ever heard of research?!

And to answer your questions, I do my experiments on the front porch in order to invite peer-criticism. And maybe if you explained to your kids what was actually happening they'd stop screaming and learn something for once! Oh, you're right. Maybe it's better for them just to watch another Dora the Explorer. Whatever.

Sheesh. Neighbors right?
posted by Navelgazer at 5:25 PM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

iSerenity Now!!

Are you supposed to shout it like that?
posted by Zambrano at 6:59 PM on November 20, 2008

See, told y'all this shit was good!
posted by not_on_display at 9:16 PM on November 20, 2008

mmm...compression artifacts...soooo relaxing....
posted by gorgor_balabala at 10:32 PM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Like a little serenity? "Ambient sound environments at your desktop for relaxation, privacy and solitude". Soothe yourself with the sound of purring or some birdsong , rainforest, storm, sounds of the beach to go with your tea and contemplation.

All I get is this dancing octopus. Miranda...
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 12:34 PM on November 21, 2008

Damn you, quin.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 12:35 PM on November 21, 2008

A while ago there was that jungle cam that showed a watering hole in Africa, that had a nice serene quality to it. The video feed makes it more real...

I like the "Wild Wind' one, thanks Nickyskye!
posted by storybored at 5:27 PM on November 21, 2008

There's also Boodler for anyone wanting to modify or create their own soundscapes. Also it doesn't loop samples as badly as iSerenity does (their terrible white noise "environment" is a one-second loop), and it isn't browser based.
posted by Tzarius at 3:54 PM on November 23, 2008