Lecture: R. Murray Schafer - Soudscape Studies

Conferencia Murray Schaffer. (1:15) An informative lecture by Murray Schaffer on the early work in the field of acoustic ecology and his initial study of the soundscape. This is an interesting audio recording providing listeners with the opportunity to hear one of the founding figures in this area of sound studies. There is no information with this site regarding the location of this presentation.

Source: YouTube.

Documentary: Odyssee Sonore (Sound Journey)

Odyssee Sonore. (73:48) Par Louis Richard. Ce long métrage documentaire nous révèle l'infinie richesse de l'univers des sons. Il suffit de fermer les yeux pour s'engager dans une odyssée étrange ou familière, lyrique ou dissonante. Non pas en regardant ce film unique, mais en se retrouvant au cœur d'une ville comme Québec, guidés comme ici par le compositeur canadien R. Murray Schafer, considéré comme le père de l’écologie sonore. Entre l'hommage visuel rendu à Québec et les surprises d'une envoûtante trame sonore, nous apprendrons que la science progresse dans la lutte contre la surdité... et que la parole fut peut-être inventée pour surmonter l'angoisse du silence.

Google Translation: This feature documentary reveals the infinite wealth of the world of sound. Just close your eyes to engage in a strange odyssey or familiar, lyrical and dissonant. Not only watching this film, but find themselves at the heart of a city like Quebec, as guided by the Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, considered the father of sound ecology. Between visual tribute paid to Quebec and the surprises of a haunting soundtrack, we learn that science progresses in the fight against deafness ... and the word was perhaps invented to overcome the fear of silence.

Source: National Film Board of Canada

Research: Bioacoustics and Ecological Diversity

Bioacoustics for Ecological Research and Education (3:53) John Quinn explains bioacoustics sampling and how he's used it as a part of research focused on biodiversity conservation in working landscapes. We hear a collection of "farmbird songs", a growing database of sounds from John's recordings.

Produced by Kat Shiffler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources

Source: Vimeo

Soundscape: Arctic Soundscape Project

Arctic Soundscape Project (4:22) In June 2006 a team lead by Bernie Krause that included Martyn Stewart and Kevin Colver, spent two weeks recording the biophony at diverse sites in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This film is an appeal to continue this great work for following generations and the hope that we can protect these valuable environments from oil exploitation.

Source: YouTube

Phonographer Rob Nokes: Field recording in Vietnam

Rob Nokes is a sound recordist and a sound  supervisor for television and film. For him, "Sound recording is like a treasure hunt. It's like a magic moment when you recognize that a sound is unique and good."  He further adds, "It's very exciting to record on the field, exciting and sometimes dangerous." Read More about Robf Nokes background in sound recording and design.  

This video series documents Rob Nokes making field recordings in Vietnam.

(1) Halong Bay (2:56) The purposes of this trip was to record birds, insects and monkeys. Learn what techniques work best in this difficult but rewarding field sound recording. 

(2) North of Sapa (4:20) At this location nature, frogs, and a real find of a watermill were recorded. Learn what techniques / placement work best in this difficult but rewarding field sound recording. 

(3) Children in rural dchool (4:34) Rob Nokes travels to Vietnam and discovers a rural school with children to record. Learn the various approaches to getting a great sound from these great children.

Source: YouTube

Phonographer Mark Brennan: Wild Earth Voices

Canadian Mark Brennan is a visual artist and Nature Recordist who has an intense interest in wild places. His travels have taken him to wilderness areas across Canada from Banff National Park to the windswept coastlines of Labrador. He hopes to bring the viewers of his art closer to nature through quiet listening of field recordings made during his travels. “I hope to bring nature not just to the eyes, through my visual art, but also to the ears, these experiences, I hope, will help strengthen the listeners bond with nature”.  

Mark Brennan On Art, Nature recording & the Environment  (5:05) In this film Landscape Painter and Nature recordist, Mark Brennan discusses his work as a painter and sound recordist and how his work reflects his interaction with the natural world. 

Standing With The Trees (8:32) When you listen to this, you should be able to get a real sense of the size of the trees with the way the sound reverberates in the forest. This recording is the ‘voice’ of the forest, in reality the forests have no voice in the industrialized human world, mostly they are seen as a resource for consumption, but as you will hear, the forests of the world are an intricate part of the web of life. 

Acadian Forest Ravine (4:33)  A short film that takes a look through an old growth ravine in Eastern Nova Scotia in Spring. This fast flowing stream flows into the St Marys River on Nova Scotia's Atlantic Coast just outside the once protected Liscomb Game Sanctuary. 

Ambient Sounds of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park (2:53) Ambient Sound recordings from the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Northern Nova Scotia, recorded by Mark Brennan during late winter of 2011. A time before many of the migrating bird species arrive, before leaves on trees, only the sounds of wind, waves and breaking up streams.


Moore's Cove (3:14) The sights and sounds of Moore's Cove Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. 


Shaped By The Wind  (2:34) Winter on the Northumberland Strait with temperatures dipping to -20 degrees C. I head out onto the ice to make a field recording of the ever present Arctic North wind that shapes just about everything in winter.

Boreal Wetland Dawn (3:05) Morning in a Boreal Forest wetland, as the dawn breaks the morning chorus begins. Filmed and recorded on location in Northern Nova Scotia, Canada. This track comes from the album "Welcoming Dawn", celebrating the Boreal and Acadian Forests at this special time of day. A year in the making, this unique soundscape album of Nova Scotia nature sounds is available for download here

Source: Vimeo

Lecture: Gordon Hempton at TEDx Amazon

Saving Silence From Extinction (19:20) For 25 years Gordon Hempton has recorded sounds that people have forgotten or have not given attention. In this presentation at TEDx Amazon he warns that silence is an endangered elements of the soundscape and he wants to save it from extinction.

The TEDx Amazon is a nonprofit conference bringing together more than 50 thinkers of knowledge areas as diverse as art and technology, science and business, to talk about their best ideas in talks lasting 5 or 15 minutes. Source: YouTube

Soundtracker: Amazon (4:54) Over 20 years ago, Gordon Hempton visited Brazil's Amazon to record the sounds of dawn. He recently returned. This is what it sounded like. A short film by Nick Sherman. Source: Vimeo

Lecture: Gordon Hempton at Sonikas 7, Madrid

Sound recordist Gordon Hempton discusses the documentary Soundtracker: A Portrait of Gordon Hempton, by filmmaker Nicholas Sherman at the 2009 International Festival of Experimental Music held at the Vallecas Villa in Madrid, Spain. Hempton's presentation includes a discussion of his life-long work as a sound recordist, and shares some of his favorite field recordings selected from those he has made around the world.

The presentation is in 5 Parts: 

• Part 1 (8:18)
• Part 2 (6:05)
• Part 3 (6:39)
• Part 4 (9:50)
• Part 5 (9:39)

Official Trailer: Soundtracker: A Portrait of Gordon Hempton. (2:31) In this documentary that shadows an Emmy-winning sound recordist at work, writer-director Nick Sherman captures one man's solitary obsession with obtaining "natural" sounds in an aural world that's littered with noise.

Source: YouTube