George Vlad: Recent Episodes
George Vlad
Field recording | Conservation | Photography Want to license my recordings? Get in touch: https://mindful-audio.com/contact/
Enjoying the content I upload on here? Feel free to support me by: - becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/georgevlad - buying my sound effects libraries: http://mindful-audio.com/ - buying me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/georgevlad - buying my soundscape albums: https://wildaesthesia.bandcamp.com
This is a collection of howler monkey recordings captured in the wilderness, only with wild animals. Available soon at Mindful Audio.
Field recording of a small dormouse sniffing the microphones - tree ears setup. Best experienced with quality headphones.
African Desert: Sahara is a large collection of pristine soundscapes recorded in the remotest parts of the Sahara desert. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/african-desert-sahara/
Atacama Desert is a collection of stereo and quad soundscapes recorded in the barren but amazingly beautiful desert plateau of Western Chile. Get it at https://mindful-audio.com/atacama-desert
Listen to the call to prayer of the muezzin being broadcast from a mosque in the casbah of Algiers.
The golden eagle is a majestic bird of prey. It generally doesn't call much apart from contact calls between the pair at nesting sites. Recorded in Bucovina, Romania with Zoom F6 and Lom mikroUsi Pro microphones.
Early in the morning in the Amazon rainforest - the air is thick with humidity and wildlife sounds. The insect chorus is deafening, and birds are trying to do their part by calling incessantly everywhere. Long version at https://youtu.be/2KWrudRbgO8
The jungles of the Amazon are calm and still on a hot afternoon. There's a piercing insect chorus - frogs call occasionally - every now and then a bird chirps half-heartedly. Long version at https://youtu.be/l-v3GNgPR78
Wildlife tends to be shy and rather quiet in what's left of Madagascar's coastal rainforests. The soundscape is quiet and subtle. Long version at https://youtu.be/eRw0SGzZqRE
Listen to wildlife, nature and people in by the Manambolo river in remote western Madagascar. The soundscape here is beautiful and varied, with lovely reflections from the canyon walls. Long version at https://youtu.be/joQSXRlb5ik
African savanna ambience with birds singing and insects calling at various distances - a beautiful and calm soundscape full of exquisite little detail. Long version at https://youtu.be/5NyIPnT1Wpw
The sounds of calm ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach in Madagascar. Longer version at https://youtu.be/i7ds-DhM89I
In the montane rainforests of Madagascar, wildlife tends to be quiet. The soundscapes are sparse and their beauty lies in tiny detail. Long version at https://youtu.be/27KD-zP1_G8
Whale Song is a collection of underwater recordings of humpback whales singing and calling in the Indian Ocean. Get the library at https://mindful-audio.com/whale-song.
Rain in the Amazon rainforest sounds soothing, calming, meditative. Long version at https://youtu.be/2cwPNJTpl4s
As dusk falls in the Amazon rainforest, the sounds of the jungle change dramatically. Long version at https://youtu.be/Yfm_Vkv0C9o
A thunderstorm of epic proportions on the horizon in the Amazon rainforest. Long version at https://youtu.be/R8lLynze4Oo
The cute rock hyrax can be a frightening creature. If you're in the African savanna at night, there will be plenty of scary sounds, but one of the weirdest calls you might hear is the scream of the Hyrax: https://youtu.be/yN4cfuoyafw
Listen to the call of the African scops owl, recorded in the wild expanse that is the South Luangwa savanna woodland. Also available at https://youtu.be/NE8ImZ4T_S8
Of all the rainforests I've visited in Madagascar, Masoala seems to be home to the most complex and lush soundscapes. The best moment to experience this is clearly the dawn chorus, although dusk choruses can also be pretty lively. Long version at https://youtu.be/HVktNJpC6D8
Madagascar's dry forests are amazing biomes, full of weird flora and fauna. Huge baobabs tower over thorny scrub, dwarfing everything around them and creating a feeling of awe. Long version at https://youtu.be/Dnsz-1Jjmws
It's a slow start to the day at Andravoahangy market in Madagascar's capital. Sellers are unwrapping their wares and laying them out in little displays in their stalls. Recorded with Sony PCM D100.
The sounds of nature and wildlife around Mayan ruins in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Lon version at https://youtu.be/6J9p7AxxfL4
Listen to bats fly, their leathery wings flapping fast as they hunt mosquitoes and other insects. Occasionally there will be audible squeals and even a quick scuffle. Long version at https://youtu.be/taTKzFjcnpM
The soundscape of the village is lush, and its acoustics are very interesting as it sits on a few hills overlooking valleys with creeks at the bottom. Longer version at https://youtu.be/KoI9vKl2qLw
The soundscapes are incredibly lush and beautiful in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. The dry forests on the border with Guatemala are home to immense biodiversity. Longer version at: https://youtu.be/G9f-ZkW86BM
The sound of a rainforest waking up on a rainy day is incredibly evocative. Heavy raindrops fall on leaves and vegetation all around. Long version at https://youtu.be/fRDUdndLSdE
Soft rain and loud thunder in the Surrey Hills - captured with Zoom F3 and DPA 6060 microphones. Original recording was clipped but since it was recorded in 32 bit I was able to recover the lost dynamics and add compression in post.
Calm rain with thunder and birdsong in a forest in southern England. Long version at https://youtu.be/Mv7QM7MV8YU
An unidentified creature calls at dawn in the savanna. More soundscapes from the African savanna at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRlYmmK1sqpnPimVGFNUhmt1WtYhnsZc
Hippos and an obnoxiously loud cicada call at dusk in the savanna. Recorded with Sony PCM A10 and Lom mikroUsi microphones. Listen to more recordings from the African savanna at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdGyXE47HzQ&list=PLCRlYmmK1sqpnPimVGFNUhmt1WtYhnsZc
The sound of the African bush on a hot afternoon is pretty relaxed. Gone is the lush dawn chorus as most animals are avoiding the scorching midday sun. Long version at https://youtu.be/FdGyXE47HzQ
The eerie calls of an African scops owl in mopane woodland - South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Recorded with Zoom F6 and Lom mikroUsi Pro microphones. Listen to more recordings from the African savanna at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRlYmmK1sqpnPimVGFNUhmt1WtYhnsZc
As night falls in the African savanna, the sounds of the bush become louder and more ominous. Everything changes as soon as you light the campfire. Long version at https://youtu.be/sHMq4jkKht4
It's a calm morning by the river Kapamba in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. A few cicadas are winding down their night calls, making room for the daytime sounds of the savanna. Long version at: https://youtu.be/xnGuW1RLgBk
Calm morning in the English countryside. It's early spring so the dawn chorus is lush and varied, with plenty of birdsong filtering in through the mist. Long recording at https://youtu.be/xFBgMMLTWos
When you're walking in a lush jungle it's very easy to miss small things like termites, ants, snakes or a gorilla (that totally happened by the way). Long version at https://youtu.be/WQa2E4iAnWQ
The rainforest comes alive with sound at night. Listen to the sounds of the jungle for a few minutes and you'll notice a myriad subtle changes. Long version at https://youtu.be/5mRnCsRXwv8
Arabian Desert is a collection of stereo and quad soundscapes recorded on the Arabian Peninsula in the Empty Quarter, the largest expanse of sand dunes on Earth. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/arabian-desert/
The sound of soft rain in the rainforest at dawn is bliss. The soundscape is comforting, relaxing, reassuring. It's the perfect ambience for slowing down and immersing yourself into the jungle landscape. Long version at https://youtu.be/5Uk22dxfJJY
Deep in the Empty Quarter - the sound of the desert is subtle yet mesmerising. Long version at https://youtu.be/8vGWKrw6Rmg
In the rainforest, each creature has its own little place in the frequency spectrum or time domain. The apparent chaos is random only when looked at (or listened to, rather) for very short durations. More details at https://youtu.be/E7byvKAJHGU
The experience of being present and immersed in a rainforest can be a little overwhelming. The soundscape is busy at all times of day and night. The insect chorus is harsh and loud, unsettling at times. Longer version at https://youtu.be/dq4ApkgTHcY
The sound of a waterfall in a remote part of the rainforest is peaceful and soothing. There is a sweet spot where the balance between the detail of the water sounds and the wildlife calls is just right. Long version at https://youtu.be/PbgIks65fTE
What does a creek flowing in the rainforest sound like? There's a fine balance between capturing the detail of the flowing water and including a little rainforest ambience in your recording as well. Long version at https://youtu.be/49HZoaP_yLk
Costa Rica's rainforests are lively and active at night, even if it might not seem like it. A night walk in the jungle will reveal countless creatures going about their business - hunting or trying to avoid hunters, looking for food and sometimes searching for a mate. Longer version at https://youtu.be/hl7LaTWnDYA
On my Costa Rica expedition I was reacquainted with howler monkey calls after first having heard them in the Amazon a few years prior. Longer version at https://youtu.be/emtVr3Mbjcg
Rain is to be expected on a rainforest expedition and Costa Rica is no exception. Recording soundscapes in the rainforests and cloud forests of this beautifully green Central American country reminds me of previous jungle experiences and also teaches me a few new lessons. Longer version at https://youtu.be/03sgLm-pLSA
The Namib desert might be quiet at first listen but it's full of interesting soundscapes and micro-sounds, bugs and beetles swarming being one of these. Long version at https://youtu.be/r_VbXK6KfVg
As dusk falls in the African savanna, the sounds of frogs and insects take over the soundscape. Lions and other predators will soon start hunting and their prey has to be vigilant while trying to get some sleep. Long version at https://youtu.be/nW87hGK-UiE
A few recordings I captured with the Rycote HC22 microphone and Sound Devices Mixpre 3 II in Kenya. Not processed or edited in any way. 24/96 wav file available for download but not for commercial use. For context check out this video: https://youtu.be/vgCtBL1PYAc
I never set out to record the sound of an elephant farting in the African savanna, but here we are so let's be adults about it. Long version at https://youtu.be/q8JdMIp6H78
Listen to a lush and immersive dusck chorus captured in the East African savanna. Long version at https://youtu.be/pjsDqXcreDw
The Empress cicada starts calling as the sun sets, just as daytime birds are winding down their calls and nighttime creatures are waking up. You first hear distant ones, and it almost sounds like some industrial metal cutting process. Long version at https://youtu.be/6ZPDYlvj7MM
The symphony of wildlife in the rainforest is more minimalistic but piercing and almost electronic. It takes a while to get accustomed to being surrounded by these sounds, but once you do it's like they've always been there. Long version at https://youtu.be/TiMJASuJmFg
Some insects just don't care. I left out my Sennheiser rig to capture elephants feeding at a mango grove and this moth decided my blimp was the best place to hang out and make low frequency humming sounds.
Dawn and dusk in the Amazon rainforest are particularly lush when it comes to biophony, especially by a slow flowing river. The stark contrast between the beauty of birdsong and the shrill urgency of insect calls is never as evident. Long version at https://youtu.be/Rq6eMZyVFtk
What does rain sound like? It's a myriad individual raindrops hitting a variety of surfaces. They might also interact with one another, forming larger raindrops that sound heavier. Long version at https://youtu.be/88_TnYMo9MI
Thunderstorms sound absolutely fascinating in the rainforest as the microphones pick up the beautiful detail of water droplets hitting the vegetation. Longer version at https://youtu.be/MN_JT6hAyMs
Night falls in the Serengeti-Mara savanna. The deep calls of lions resonate through the plains while a hippo lazily moves in the water hole nearby. A thick insect chorus creates a constant background while distant Eagle and Scops owls can be heard occasionally. Long version at https://youtu.be/STVEYauGOU4
There are few sounds more calming and soothing than the sound of water, especially when filtered through a medium that subtly dampens the high frequencies. Recorded with Sound Devices Mixpre 6ii and Sennheiser MKH 8020. Long version at https://youtu.be/-yfO4qiTRrA
What does it sound like to be on a sailboat out on the open sea? There are certainly waves, wind and sails flapping. Longer version at https://youtu.be/2klB6wiMobk
Night falls in the cloud forest. Several species of frogs congregate in humid areas, from jungle lakes to the smallest puddle. Recorded in Bale Mountains NP, Ethiopia. Long version at https://youtu.be/8iYSre_njk8
It's a calm day at Maliau Basin in Sabah, Malaysia. The dawn chorus is a distant memory and birds seem to be calling for the sheer pleasure of it. Insects dominate the soundscape though with their loud and constant chorus. Longer version at https://youtu.be/a0ORDlC7DkM
I was incredibly fortunate to arrive in Scotland just as the weather turned from cold and miserable to calm and sunny. The dawn choruses lasted long into the morning and featured beautifully exuberant birdsong. Long version at https://youtu.be/PKRJwJiyvnM
Listen to gentle rain falling in a British forest. I recorded this soundscape using small microphones that I placed on trees under thick branches the middle of a British forest. Longer version at https://youtu.be/noY1LuBIZIw
A myriad birds call including Yellow-crowned gonoleks, Red-eyed doves, Hadada ibis, Senegal coucals, African fish eagles, bulbuls, wood hoopoes, fishing owls, starlings, thick-knees and a host of others. Long version at https://youtu.be/8wcIQKvZAkQ
The sounds of the jungle lull me to sleep, weaving into my dreams and making me feel like I belong here in this landscape. Longer version at https://youtu.be/2E3Idf4Q3UU
Listen to a powerful thunderstorm, stron winds and wildlife calling on the Roof of Africa. Longer version at https://youtu.be/e4yNzS5vYgM
Calm dawn chorus in British countryside. Recorded in Exmoor National Park with Sony PCM A10 and Clippy EM272 microphones. Longer version at https://youtu.be/9yfUY3CIkDk
I've taped my microphones to the sides of a tree, slightly closer to each other on one side of the trunk. They're about 20cm apart, roughly the distance between human ears. Longer version at https://youtu.be/qJxecG7nOKY
The soundscape in the Borneo rainforest is incredibly lush and varied. Most birds stop singing at night, but that's when insects and frogs take over. Longer version at https://youtu.be/HDrUq-eF_ZA
Listen to a gorgeous assortment of Bulbuls, doves, parrots, weavers, coucals etc accompanied by a constant insect chorus in this part of the Congo basin rainforest. Longer version at https://youtu.be/AZaTWtTMqrw
I recently discovered a pocket of quiet while hiking in my local patch in Surrey. It's a wooded valley nestled between two hills with a small brook at the bottom. Listen to a longer version at https://youtu.be/4wn0NcvqKUY
Ethnic music from Mara Rianta village in the Masai Mara. Recorded with Sony PCM D100. Read about my expedition to Kenya at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2020-sound-recording-expedition-kenya
A selection of wildlife and nature sounds from Ethiopia's cloud forest. Longer version at https://youtu.be/pvHU271fFzo
I'm deep in the Amazon rainforest, sleeping on an open platform with just a thin mosquito net between me and the jungle. The sounds of the rainforest weave into my dreams and eventually wake me up. Long version at https://youtu.be/GsZG1ggSQFw
What does it feel like to be immersed in a rainforest, far away from people and surrounded by nature? As daylight starts to fade, this experience is not necessarily a blissful or relaxing one, especially if this is your first time in the Congo basin. Long version at https://youtu.be/X-61RmPgBzA
What does a sandy desert sound like? Spend a little time letting your ears become accustomed to the sparse soundscape and you'll start hearing a lot of detail. Long version at https://youtu.be/cRkK0bIfrAc
One of my favourite soundscapes to listen to and record is that of rainforest hills. Get immersed into the complex layers of calls as the day progresses. Long version at https://youtu.be/pXi0lIfNkA0
African Desert is a collection of soundscapes recorded in the Namib desert. It covers a variety of locations, from sand dunes and canyons to desert pavement and rocky outcrops. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/african-desert/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Slow soundscapes from the Amazon rainforest. Longer version at https://youtu.be/66RWAfuKPq4
A beautiful and calm atmosphere recorded in Borneo's rainforest. Longer version at https://youtu.be/RUZcg6SOZ0A
Soft sand being blown over a hard crust of sand on a dune in the Namib desert. Read about my expedition to Namibia at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/namibia-sound-recording-2020
Elephants, hoofed mammals, big cats, hyenas, birds, they all come to the waterhole to drink. If you want to see, hear or study wildlife, waterholes are the place to be. Longer soundscape at https://youtu.be/LOKnQziT0ug
Rain falling on the branches of a dead mopane tree in the Namib desert. Recorded with Sony PCM D10 and a pair of Lom mikroUsi microphones taped to the dry branches. Read about my epedition to Namibia at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/namibia-sound-recording-2020
This is a recording I made at a large Weaver nest in Etosha NP, Namibia. Longer version and more details at https://youtu.be/K8qNPMqECI0
A rock hyrax calling from the edge of a gorge in the Masai Mara. More sounds at https://www.youtube.com/georgevlad
Loud cicadas calling on a calm afternoon in the Congo basin rainforest, accompanied by other insects flying and buzzing close to the mics. Buy recordings like this one for commercial use at https://mindful-audio.com/african-jungle/
Wild Rain is a collection of rain soundscapes recorded in 4 rainforests across 3 continents. The library features rain falling on vegetation and forest floor, from sparse drops to moderate and heavy rain. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/wild-rain/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
This Verreaux's eagle owl advertised his territory from the exact tree that I set up my overnight sound recording rig in. Long version at https://youtu.be/hwYJmGwQ6Mk
It's 5am in Mara North Conservancy, just outside Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This is one of the few places in the world and even in East Africa where you can hear lions, hyenas, zebras, buffalo and other wild animals and cattle bells, dogs barking etc from the surrounding villages. Long version at https://youtu.be/Bm_Gc4MXqfQ
It’s 6am in Tsavo NP at Kanderi swamp. A thin dawn chorus braves the dry season, soon joined by a male lion advertising his territory.
Calm autumn morning at a farm in Exmoor National Park in England. There is a sparse dawn chorus and soft wind in the vegetation. Sheep and cattle call occasionally, and farm vehicles can be heard every now and then. Long version at https://youtu.be/1IbKYmI_d7g
It's early morning at a dry riverbed in the Borneo rainforest. Gentle fog drip creates a subtle drawn-out rhythm while the calls of insects provide a monotonous backdrop. Long version at https://youtu.be/tfP38CFtGOk
n the Congo basin rainforest, you can feel a thunderstorm long before it makes contact. The jungle is hot, humid and oppressive until the storm unleashes. Long version at https://youtu.be/oq1ZR2eJzkA
This is a hydrophone recording of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in southern Iceland, with numerous bits of ice floating by and crashing into one another. Recorded with Aquarian H2a hydrophones in pseudo-stereo mode and Sound Devices Mixpre 6 ii recorder. Long version at https://youtu.be/7CYSUQ0o15M
The iconic sound of jungles in Western culture is the call of a bird called Lipaugus vociferans, or the Screaming piha. It's been used to portray lush rainforest environments in countless films, video games and other media for many decades. Longer version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/hnyIP1ax8m0
Beautiful birdsong early in the morning at a coniferous forest in the remote parts of Scotland. Recorded with Sound Devices 633 and Sennheiser DMS mics. Long version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/z1aBPA7b9Is
You can purchase some of my recordings from Scotland and Europe at: https://mindful-audio.com/woodland-atmosphere/
Listen to gentle rain falling in the rainforests of Borneo, only interrupted by soft frog calls, occasional bird chirps and a delicate insect chorus. Recorded in with Sony PCM A10 and Lom MikroUsi micropohones. Longer version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/W3nrqOPc5BE
Jungle mornings in Borneo are pretty lively, with plenty of birds singing and mammals calling. At Maliau Basin there are many troops of Gibbons whose calls resonate through the valleys. Longer version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/6DhT7SjelLE
Read about my expedition to Borneo at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/sound-recording-borneo
On the border between Gabon and R Congo, the thick jungle gives way to sparser savanna dotted with pockets of forest. The sound of these habitats is more open and lush than what you would hear in primary or secondary rainforest. Longer version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/QPivYjhPxMQ
Dawn chorus in an almost dry riverbed on the border between South Africa and Botswana. This is one of the most lush and diverse soundscapes I've experienced featuring a multitude of bird species. Long version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/ewt7CF0QuPY
You can buy some of these recordings for commercial use at https://mindful-audio.com/southern-african-ambience/
En route from Mekele to Erta Ale volcano we stopped at a roadside cafe. I managed to grab a few minutes of ambience while our coffee was being prepared. Wish I could have recorded the smell too. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Deep in the Amazon rainforest at night there's fog drip, soft wind and occasionally deadfall. The piercing chorus of insects is constant, multi-layered and continuously changing. Several birds call every now and then, their plaintive wails echoing around the thick undergrowth. One-hour version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/Ds5RtEB-xuE
It's a misty day at Strathcanaird deep in the Scottish Higlands. The low wind speed and lack of man-made noise made this a perfect stop-and-record location. The soundscape wasn't very diverse but rather subtle and soothing. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
The hottest place on Earth is surprisingly not that quiet. The only existing camp is pretty lively even when temperatures go above 50C/120F. The hot wind was blowing constantly while I was there making it difficult to record anything. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Ivindo Np, Gabon. Typical morning at a remote camp in the jungle with lush birdsong, swarms of bees and people going about their business. Recorded with Sony PCM D100 on the Congo rainforest expedition in 2018: https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2019/8/8/sound-recording-expedition-to-the-congo-rainforest
It's a sunny morning in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The sounds of daily mass from a nearby Orthodox church can be heard above distant traffic and birdsong. Read more about my trip to Ethiopia at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2018/10/24/field-recording-expedition-to-ethiopia
This is a composition I made using soundscapes and voices I recorded in various parts of the world. It features a reading of the poem Quiet Night Thought by Li Bai of the Tang dynasty.
It's a hot sunny day on the Equator by the river Mounianze. Chlidren play on the side of the road as their mothers wash clothes in the river. Read about my expedition to Gabon and the Congo rainforest at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2019/8/8/sound-recording-expedition-to-the-congo-rainforest
This is a composition made with soundscapes I recorded in the Amazon rainforest, Ethiopia and Romania.
It's a beautiful morning on the border between South Africa and Botswana as an unbelievably varied dawn chorus resonates in through dry riverbed. Recorded with Sennheiser DMS and Sound Devices 633. More recordings from Southern Africa at https://mindful-audio.com/southern-african-ambience/
Calm afternoon storm recorded at Tabin Wildlife Reserve in North Eastern Borneo. Recorded with Sony PCM A10 and Lom MikroUsi mics. Listen to more recordings I made in Borneo at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRlYmmK1sqrM_BB3xp6quofSq7fYdEPA
Erta Ale (Smoking Mountain) is one of only 8 volcanoes with lava lakes on Earth. In 2019 I traveled throuth the hottest place on Earth to get to the volcano and recorded this geological wonder for the Volcano sound effects library. More details at https://mindful-audio.com/volcano/
Recorded with Sony PCM A10, Lom MikroUsi mics and Bubblebee WindBubbles.
Calm ambience recorded at night in the Bornean rainforest at Maliau Basin. Technical details: Sony PCM A10 and Lom mikroUsi microphones. Listen to more recordings I made in Borneo at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRlYmmK1sqrM_BB3xp6quofSq7fYdEPA
Dawn chorus recorded in a gorgeous wild banana grove where a myriad birds were singing. Technical details: Sony PCM M10, Sound Devices Mixpre-D and DPA 4060 microphones. Longer version available at https://youtu.be/KrGEtMZ1WDY
Downloadable recording made with Sound Devices Mixpre 6 ii and Sennheiser MKH8040/MKH30 DMS rig. Decoded from DMS to Stereo. No other processing has been done. All rights reserved. Full review available at https://mindful-audio.com
Gibbons calling early in the morning in the Borneo rainforest. Downloadable recording made with Sound Devices Mixpre 6 ii and Sennheiser MKH8040/MKH30 DMS rig. Decoded from DMS to Stereo. All rights reserved. Full Mixpre review available at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/sound-devices-mixpre-ii-review
Humid late afternoon at Tawau Hills national park in Borneo. Hornbill and barbet calls punctuate the continuous insect chorus. Recorded with Sony PCM A10 and Lom MikroUsi mics. Listen to more recordings I made in Borneo at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRlYmmK1sqrM_BB3xp6quofSq7fYdEPA
1-hour version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/vKhwV1COFpo
It's 5am deep in the Borneo rainforest. Cicadas, crickets and katydids are winding down their night calls but birds haven't started to sing just yet. Gibbons climb to the top of trees and start calling to let other troops know they're around. Birds and daytime insects slowly wake up and start calling too.
Recorded in Borneo's rainforest with Sony PCM D10, Lom MikroUsi micropohones and BubbleBee Windbubbles. I left the drop rig out in the jungle for 24 hours so I could capture a full day-night cycle. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
1-hour long version on Youtube: https://youtu.be/NFVI7ioUe-4
It's afternoon in Maliau Basin, deep in the rainforests of Borneo. A late Barbet sings its heart out while daytime insect calls are waning. Empress cicadas prepare for their dusk calls and can be heard towards the end of the recording. A soft mist descends on the valley as deep darkness envelops everything.
Recorded in the Borneo rainforest with Sony PCM D10, Lom MikroUsi micropohones and BubbleBee Windbubbles. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Calm dawn chorus with insects and Gibbons in the jungles of Borneo. Soft fog drip and occasional frog and bird calls add detail to the soundscape. Listen to more recordings I made in Borneo at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRlYmmK1sqrM_BB3xp6quofSq7fYdEPA
A myriad cicadas start calling as soon as the afternoon light begins to fade in Tawau Hills NP, Borneo. Recorded with Zoom F6 and Lom MikroUsi Pro mics. Listen to more recordings I made in Borneo at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRlYmmK1sqrM_BB3xp6quofSq7fYdEPA
The fluting calls of White-crowned shamas fill the valley as the sun sets over the jungles of Maliau NP, Borneo. Recorded with Sony PCM D10, Lom MikroUsi mics and BubbleBee Windbubbles. 1-hour version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/0RyOT0yRSH4
Read about my expedition to Borneo at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/sound-recording-borneo
The Holiday Freebies library is back, with 16 pristine soundscapes recorded in remote parts of the world. Get it at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/free-sounds-2019
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Deep in the Amazon rainforest, the beautiful calls of an Oropendola bounce from the treeline as an afternoon storm passes. Recorded with Sony PCM M10 and Clippy EM172 mics. More sounds form the Amazon at https://mindful-audio.com/amazon-jungle/
Amazon Jungle is a collection of unique ambiences recorded in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. The library was recorded during the rainy season when birds are vocal and humidity is at its highest. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/amazon-jungle/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Bamboo rats calling on a calm night deep in the Amazon rainforest. Recorded with unattended drop rig: Sony PCM D100, Clippy mics and WindBubbles. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
A lone hyena howling in Harenna forest on a very dark night. Recorded with unattended drop rig (Sony PCM D10 and Lom MikroUsi mics). Follow my field recording adventures in Ethiopia at https://youtu.be/PPSDChYuU2c
Canoeing at dawn on a calm tributary in the Amazon rainforest. Longer version available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JmJyOx4YAk
Calm and humid morning in the Amazon rainforest. Distant birdsong, thick insect chorus and occasional frog calls punctuated by the unmistakable call of Motmots. Longer version available at https://youtu.be/U9eY_qViYGI
More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
In June 2019 I was commissioned by Semi Silent to travel to the Danube Delta in Romania so I could do extensive field recording and then compose a piece using the soundscapes gathered on the trip. This is the resulting composition, using mainly recordings I got in the Delta.
Elements used include distant rural atomspheres, hydrophone recordings of underwater life, hundreds of mosquitoes in a small bathroom, nighttime wetland ambiences, horses living in abandoned houses, speech kindly offered by the participants, small "mistakes" like bumping the mic cable or tapping on surfaces next to the mics and even Accordion!
The Delta is an incredibly wild and beautiful place that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring and listening to. I have a feeling I'll soon be back there.
More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Gaet'ale Pond is the saltiest body of water on Earth. It is situated in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression, arguably the hottest and driest place on the planet. Bubbles of odorless but toxic gas are continuously emitted from the lake surface, but also from holes in the ground next to it. The area is littered with bird and insect corpses.
Recorded with Sony PCM D100.
This is a piece of music I composed using recordings I made in Senegal in 2017 and South Africa in 2016.
MAFX019 Volcano is a collection of unique sounds recorded in Ethiopia’s Afar region at Erta Ale volcano. Erta Ale is one of only a handful of volcanoes with lava lakes in the world, situated in the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most inhospitable places in the world. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/volcano/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Early at dawn, deep in the Harenna Forest. Colobus monkeys wake up and utter their terrifying territorial calls with a lush insect chorus background punctuated by frogs.
More recordings will soon be added to African Cloud Forest, a library of sound effects recorded in the Harenna Forest over two years. Check it out at https://mindful-audio.com/african-cloud-forest/
Typical afternoon ambience at a ravine in the Amazon rainforest. Thick insect chorus and noisy parrot calls are punctuated by the unmistakable call of one of the Oropendolas. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Summer night on a small island in the Danube Delta. Countless frogs call from various distances and a few insects stridulate in a bush nearby. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Summer night in the Danube Delta. Someone left a bathroom window open and a few (million) mosquitoes swarmed in. Recorded using a Sony PCM A10 and a pair of Lom MikroUsi mics. There were no fans in the bathroom.
More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Midnight in the Danube Delta. The moon hasn't risen yet but the jackals start howling, adding to the eerie mix of frog and insect calls. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Toucans and macaws making a racket at dawn in the Amazon rainforest. A Thrush-like Wren also makes an appearance.
More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Transylvanian dawn chorus with woodpecker drumming. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Transylvanian morning soundscape. Get more sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Transylvanian dawn chorus with male Tawny Owl calling. Get more sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Just a regular spring dawn chorus. Recorded on the 2019 Mindful Audio field recording expedition to Transylvania. Get more sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Larvae eating a log from the inside in the Amazon rainforest. Recorded with Sony PCM M10 and a pair of Clippy EM172 mics. More sounds from the Amazon rainforest at https://mindful-audio.com/amazon-jungle/
Two excerpts from a 24-hour long recording of a beehive in the Amazon rainforest. The first half is normal activity in the afternoon, and the second one is pre-dusk when there seem to be a lot of individuals returning to the hive. More sounds and stories soon at https://mindful-audio.com
Recorded with Sony PCM D100 and Lom MikroUsi microphones taped to a cross made of twigs and positioned right at the hive entrance.
It's 4am in the Amazon rainforest and the Rufous Motmots start calling. Soon thereafter the local Howler Monkey gang follows suit, accompanied by frogs and other birds. Not necessarily the most harmonious of dawn chourses but certainly something to remember. More sounds and stories available soon at https://mindful-audio.com.
Lazy afternoon by a slow flowing stream in the Amazon basin. More sounds and stories available soon at https://mindful-audio.com.
Calm afternoon in an area of dense canopy but sparse undergrowth in the Amazon Basin. Insect and frog chorus punctuated by the iconic calls of Screaming Pihas. I could have stayed there and listened for ages. More Amazon recordings available soon at https://mindful-audio.com
African Jungle is a huge collection of unique ambiences recorded in Central Africa's Congo Basin rainforests. It features lush jungle soundscapes, loud insect choruses, elephants and other mammals calling and much more. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/african-jungle/.
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Nightfall in dense rainforest, far away from camp. Hear more in the Congo Jungle albums: https://wildaesthesia.bandcamp.com/album/congo-jungle-i
At night in the Congo basin rainforest, miles away from camp. Loud insect chorus gives way to thunder and rain as the storm approaches. More sounds at https://mindful-audio.com.
Morning at a patch of rainforest in the Congo Plateaux savanna. Lush birdsong, fog drip and Blue-headed Coucal song. Available soon as part of the African Jungle sfx library at https://mindful-audio.com.
African Cloud Forest is a collection of immersive ambiences recorded in Ethiopia's montane rainforests. The library features lush dawn choruses, loud insect and frog calls, subtle nightscapes and plenty of humid forest ambience. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/african-cloud-forest/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Calm afternoon deep in the Harenna Forest, Southern Ethiopia. The glassy calls of a Sharpe's Starling contrast with the raspy trumpeting of a Silvery-cheeked Hornbill. Available soon on https://mindful-audio.com
Couple of Tawny Owls calling, Surrey, England. Recorded with Sony D100 out the bedroom window.
Sound effects libraries available at https://mindful-audio.com.
Snow falling softly on a winter night in the Carpathian Mountains, Northern Romania. Recorded with Sound Devices 633 and Sennheiser DMS. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Forest elephant getting a bit too close to my rig, somewhere in Central Gabon. Get more sounds at https://mindful-audio.com.
Nordic Nature is a collection of evocative and immersive ambiences recorded by George Vlad and Pete Smith over a three-year period across the wilderness of Sweden and Norway. Buy the library at https://mindful-audio.com/#/nordic-nature/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
The 2018 Mindful Audio freebies library is live! Get it fast before I run out of bandwidth: https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2018/12/18/mindful-audio-holiday-freebies-2018
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Hornbills, turacos and parrots making a racket at a clearing in the forest. Lovely echoes from the treeline.
Elephants are quite vocal when they gather at the mango grove to feed at night. This time they were joined by a newborn who seemed quite lost but fortunately was helped along by its mother and sisters.
Get more sounds at https://mindful-audio.com
Dusk falls in Mohoba forest as a distant thunderstorm rumbles. The insect chorus is deafening. Turacos, hornbills, parrots and other birds prepare for the night.
Recorded in the Congo Basin Rainforest with a pair of DPA 4061 HDs going into a Sound Devices Mixpre D and a Sony PCM M10. Get more sounds at https://mindful-audio.com
Thunderstorm approaching at Langoue Bai. Thunder and elephant calls bouncing off the edges of the clearing add up to an awe-inspiring and colossal soundscape.
To be listened to on quality playback systems at high volume. Sound effects library available at https://mindful-audio.com/african-jungle/
It's midnight in the remote village of Mohoba, central Gabon. I'm sleeping in a tent on the porch of a local's house, with the D100 on a chair nearby. This is what wakes me up around midnight.
Western Tree Hyrax.
Human Africa is a collection of authentic ambiences recorded in rural and urban locations across various countries in Africa. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/human-africa/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Deep in the Harenna Forest there are small ponds and puddles created by the constant humidity of the cloud forest. Frogs congregate in these areas and call at all times of day and night, along with insects and birds. This is a recording I made on a muggy, lazy afternoon. It was overcast and quite hot so the birds were mostly quiet, but the frogs didn't seem to mind. I love how the water and vegetation reflect their loud calls. Recorded on Sony PCM D100. Get more sounds at https://mindful-audio.com.
Thick-billed ravens flying around and calling at a carcass. Recorded with Sennheiser DMS. More sounds from Ethiopia at https://mindful-audio.com/african-cloud-forest/
Short excerpt from a recording I made by leaving my Sony D100 at a big hole in the ground in Central Norway. Water dripping off the walls creates a cave-like moist ambience. Read about my adventures in Norway: https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2018/8/27/field-recording-in-norway
Short excerpt from an overnight recording at a Goshawk nest in Central Sweden. The chicks can be heard fighting and begging for food, their calls echoing around the forest. Get more sounds at http://mindful-audio.com
Comrade Tractor is a 5-channel recording of a Universal 650M tractor, designed in Soviet era Romania and virtually unchanged since the 1960s. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/#/comrade-tractor/
Powered by a 4.8 liter Diesel engine, this beast hadn't been started since 2004. I got to drive it for an hour and all I can say is it doesn't go too fast but it growls like a tank.
By downloading the file you agree to Mindful Audio's commercial library terms: mindful-audio.com/eula
African Wild West is a collection of ambiences recorded in 2017 in Senegal. It covers a variety of environments, from tropical forest to dry savanna and from desert oasis to mangrove forest. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/african-wild-west/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Niokolo Koba national park, Eastern Senegal. Night falls as baboons roosting in a big tree sense a predator in the distance and sound the alarm.
More sounds from West Africa at https://mindful-audio.com/african-wild-west/
The call of a juvenile White-Backed Vulture begging its parents for food. First the recording is played back at normal speed, then at half speed and finally at 1/4 speed. Recorded in Limpopo, South Africa. Read about the expedition at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2017/9/4/field-recording-trip-to-south-africa-2016
Morning ambience on the edge of the Limpopo river in Northern South Africa. Hoopoes, Barbets, Doves and many other species create a beautifully polyrhythmic performance. More recordings from South Africa at https://mindful-audio.com/southern-african-ambience/
Woodland Atmosphere gets its first of many updates. 5 more GB of recordings from forests in Sweden, Romania and Scotland. New species include Thrush Nightingale, Redwing, Willow Tit, Tawny Owl, Song Thrush and many more. Get the full library at https://mindful-audio.com/woodland-atmosphere/.
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
MAFX006 Dacia 1310 vehicle sfx library available at https://mindful-audio.com/dacia-1310-library/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Southern African Ambience is a collection of rich and immersive savanna ambiences, recorded by George Vlad and Daan Hendriks in the north of South Africa, just on the border with Botswana. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/southern-african-ambience/
Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula
Recording of a ride on an oldtime passenger train at Southend-on-Sea Pier. Recorded with Sony PCM D100.
Recording of fire burning in the fireplace. Lots of low end and crackling. Recorded close-up with a Sony PCM D100. Listen to more sound recordings: https://www.youtube.com/georgevlad
Contact mic recording of a wire fence on a windy day. JrF contact mics into Sound Devices 633. If you want more of this stuff make sure you check the Metal Atmosphere library: https://mindful-audio.com/#/metal-atmosphere/
A recording of 60 mph wind blowing through woodland. Interesting creaking wood sounds. Recorded with Sony PCM D100 in the Pentland Hills around Edinburgh. More details: https://mindful-audio.com/blog/2015/12/9/recording-wind-part-1
The moment the dawn chorus starts, recorded in March 2015 in the Pentland Hills outside Edinburgh in Scotland. More sounds and stories at https://mindful-audio.com
Rain showers and wind gusts recorded from a stationary car. Recorded with Sony PCM D100 in wide mode at 24bit 96kHz.