Comments on: iSerenity

iSerenity

nickyskye — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:58:00 -0800

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.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:02:50 -0800

Will it cause hallucinations?

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:08:49 -0800

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.

By: sondrialiac

sondrialiac — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:15:40 -0800

That is a very quiet NYC. Of course I don't remember what nature sounds like, so those might be accurate.

By: cjorgensen

cjorgensen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:16:14 -0800

Pencils, typewriters, white noise. All those were pretty anxiety inducing. They forgot fingernails on chalkboard.

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:20:57 -0800

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...

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:22:24 -0800

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.

By: ancientgower

ancientgower — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:24:49 -0800

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.

By: mandal

mandal — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:31:38 -0800

nickyskye: "I think the purring induces an oxytocin rush, it does in me." Perhaps you're being healed.

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:34:31 -0800

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!

By: netbros

netbros — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:35:43 -0800

This is like the Relaxation and Meditation series from LaserLight Digital.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:40:43 -0800

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

By: proj

proj — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:44:50 -0800

I love stuff like this and frequently use it while reading/writing. Try Ambiance for the iPod touch and iPhone as well.

By: salishsea

salishsea — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:47:00 -0800

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."

By: mandal

mandal — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:48:50 -0800

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...

By: quin

quin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:50:07 -0800

I prefer my Serenity to have a little more Jayne. I'll be in my bunk.

By: [user was fined for this post]

[user was fined for this post] — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:06:30 -0800

Natural Worlds is a free universal app (OS X only) with a similar purpose, including downloadable user-created "worlds."

By: clevershark

clevershark — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:22:19 -0800

The "New York" link must be typical of NYC at 5am on a Sunday morning...

By: languagehat

languagehat — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:31:12 -0800

Thanks, nickyskye—this is exactly what I needed today.

By: anthill

anthill — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:40:08 -0800

Other sources for (non-looping) atmospheric ambient recordings previously on metafilter.

By: omegar

omegar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:57:53 -0800

Serenity now! SERENITY NOW!

By: jim in austin

jim in austin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:58:25 -0800

Simply noise...

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:59:11 -0800

iSerenity Now!!

By: cjorgensen

cjorgensen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:29:01 -0800

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.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:01:22 -0800

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.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:18:52 -0800

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.

By: meinvt

meinvt — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:40:25 -0800

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.

By: fish tick

fish tick — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:47:47 -0800

This is lovely! Thanks, nickyskye.

By: hojoki

hojoki — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:57:52 -0800

I've got the "storm" in one tab and the "beach" in another. It's nature vs. nature! I wanna see who wins.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:00:44 -0800

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.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:25:16 -0800

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?

By: Zambrano

Zambrano — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:59:40 -0800

iSerenity Now!! Are you supposed to shout it like that?

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:16:40 -0800

See, told y'all this shit was good!

By: gorgor_balabala

gorgor_balabala — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:32:16 -0800

mmm...compression artifacts...soooo relaxing....

By: Durn Bronzefist

Durn Bronzefist — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:34:51 -0800

By: Durn Bronzefist

Durn Bronzefist — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:35:24 -0800

Damn you, quin.

By: storybored

storybored — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:27:40 -0800

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!

By: Tzarius

Tzarius — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:54:39 -0800

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.