My new book/CD, WILD SOUNDSCAPES: DISCOVERING THE VOICE OF THE
NATURAL WORLD (Wilderness Press), contains a section in Chapter 12
(Bioregions and Sounds to Explore) that deals specifically with
recording ocean wave sounds. First, one must learn to hear what's
happening. Only then can one record (given the right equipment).
Bernie Krause
Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, California 95442-0536
Tel: (707) 996-6677
Fax: (707) 996-0280
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
>Hello, I am quite new to this group. Therefore, I would like very
>much to convey how much I have no desire to offend or upset anyone
>by what I am about to ask. I wouldn't think it would be offensive,
>but if you have been involved with online forums or groups, you will
>have already seen people unintentionally (it seemed to me- I wasn't
>the one that did it, but I watched this often) ask a question or
>make a statement or a request that brought down the wrath of a whole
>segment of a community. So, after wasting your bandwidth with that
>preamble, here goes.
>
> I am hoping to be able to learn to make my own recordings. But
>at the moment, I am not in place where I could record what I am
>trying to get.
>
> I am interested in recordings of waves coming up onto a beach.
>The waves I want are slow, almost languid yet powerful,full,
>rolling, delicious. I am told and it seems to me from the research
>I have been doing that I must be talking about waves from a place
>like Hawaii. Long full waves, never harsh, rich, long break,
>satisfying "crunch" at the ending part, that full, almost fizziness
>after the crunch, followed by the same full rich cycle all over
>again. No birds. Sorry, but for what I need, as much as I may enjoy
>them normally, no birds. Which may mean that this was done at night
>as far as I can tell. If you love birds, and this makes you think
>that I don't, you are mistaken and I hope that this isn't offensive.
>If you are smiling at my concern about being offensive, that is
>great. It means you are smiling. If not, please, I love birds, I
>wouldn't hurt a bird. Seriously, maybe I might try to find a way to
>humanely relocate pigeons if they were causing a constant noise
>above a recording studio (yes, this happens), but I love the birds
>in nature as much or more as anyone else.
>
> But, for what I need, the birds are not possible. I could add a
>few later, but that must be an option, not an unremovable element.
>
> Now,I hope that what I have described about the waves is
>conveying something. I want it to sound like paradise. Smooth,
>deeply relaxing, evocative of something that is the opposite of city
>noise. A deep, relaxing break, a vacation.
>
> After listening to every ocean recording I have been able to
>find - I really mean that, online, soundFX libraries, nature CD's,
>relaxation with music - that is the most disturbing because
>occasionally that sounds OK but - the music is there - I have become
>a connoisseur of waves. I actually have. I can discuss the various
>components of the cycle in great detail. I know what I am trying to
>find.
>
> I am trying to make a simple relaxation program. It began for
>me, then my friends, now I am beginning to try to market it. I am
>not going to lie to anyone here. I want to try to purchase the
>rights to use it on a program. A very small attempt at a helpful
>commercial product. I am one person, I have a very limited budget.
>I have to say that up front. But, I would use it in an extremely
>tasteful way and I think that you would be happy with what came of
>it.
>
> All the oceans I have heard but one or two are loud, crazed, the
>ones I could find of Cape Cod - sounds unfortunately like jets
>preparing for takeoff in the recordings I have gotten. Or sloshing,
>breaking on rocks, and on and on. Wild, unfocused, surging, angry
>stormlike or ploppy, sloshy, uneven small waves, or slurping
>(actually that was the best so far but it isn't right)slow draining
>sounds from long inclined pebbled beaches (I'm assuming) and on and
>on.
>
> I am hoping that someone among you knows what I am talking about
>and has some tape - high resolution digital - that is just there and
>this isn't a crazy imposition or proposal. I actually love these
>sounds and I would consider it a privilege to interact with someone
>who works at documenting or "capturing" these sounds. I was drawn
>to what I am trying to do because I love these sounds in
>particular. However, I am not in such a location. If I were in
>Hawaii or somewhere that would allow me to go each day or evening to
>this beach and learn to record it until I got it just right - I'm
>there - I'd make a real point of it and I would just love to be able
>to do it.
>
> Again, I couldn't pay a lot. I most likely won't make a lot, but
>I want to create it anyway. So, if you have such recordings, know
>someone who is into this, know a way I could get in touch with
>anything or anyone who could help directly or indirectly, please let
>me know. Please email me directly - you would be doing me a real
>favor.
>
> I appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with people who
>are involved directly with what you are doing. Trying to talk to
>companies that sell the sound has been quite unsatisfying. Thanks
>again for letting me ask this here. Bruno
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
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