A collection of field recordings from my travels. For recordings longer than an hour check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/georgevlad

Field Recordings

Sound effects library demos

Congo Basin Rainforest 2018

A collection of soundscapes I recorded in the Amazon rainforest in March/April 2019. Read about the expedition on my blog: https://mindful-audio.com/blog/sound-recording-amazon-rainforest-expedition

Amazon rainforest

Borneo 2020

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

Nightfall In The Congo Jungle

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

Amazon Rainforest Waking Up

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

Calm Morning In The Rainforest

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

Night In The Borneo Jungle

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

Jungle rain - Rainforest soundscape

Listen to a powerful thunderstorm, stron winds and wildlife calling on the Roof of Africa. Longer version at https://youtu.be/e4yNzS5vYgM

Thunderstorm and heavy wind on the roof of Africa

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

Night in the Amazon jungle

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

Lazy afternoon in Borneo

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

Frogs croaking in the cloud forest

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

The sounds of sailing II

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

Dusk in the Serengeti

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

Thunderstorm in the Borneo rainforest

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

Pure sound of rain in the forest

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

Dusk By The River In The Amazon Rainforest

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.

Congo Basin Rainforest - Bugs Close To The Mics

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

Dark Night In The Amazon Rainforest

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 weird sound of the Empress cicada

Red deer stags rutting in the Carpathian Mountains, Bucovina, Romania.

Red Deer Rut In Bucovina

Listen to a lush and immersive dusck chorus captured in the East African savanna. Long version at https://youtu.be/pjsDqXcreDw

Dusk in the African savanna

Rain showers and wind gusts recorded from a stationary car. Recorded with Sony PCM D100 in wide mode at 24bit 96kHz.

Rain On Car Roof

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

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MAFX001 Woodland Atmosphere 1.1 Demo

MAFX007 is a collection of rare World War 2 aircraft recordings. It features icons such as the Supermarine Spitfire, Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann, North American P-51 Mustang, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Grumman F8F Bearcat and others. Available at https://mindful-audio.com/ww2-aircraft/

Downloadable demo - all rights reserved. License agreement available at https://mindful-audio.com/eula

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MAFX007 WW2 Aircraft Demo

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.

Midnight In Mohoba Village

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

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Nordic Nature sfx library demo

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

MAFX016 African Cloud Forest demo

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

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MAFX017 African Jungle demo

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

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MAFX019 Volcano Demo

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

MAFX018 Amazon Jungle Demo

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

MAFX2019 Holiday Freebies Demo

Early morning at a small pond - Tabin Wildlife reserve in the Borneo rainforest. A water hen calls incessantly near the mics while a distant Coucal's notes reverberate through the forest. Longer version on Youtube at https://youtu.be/Q3J9ZSPhPKs

Recorded with Sony PCM D10 and Lom MikroUsi microphones taped to the branches of a dead tree in the centre of the pond. Read about my expedition to Borneo at https://mindful-audio.com/blog/sound-recording-borneo

Borneo Rainforest - Morning At The Pond

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

Intense Dusk Chorus In The Borneo Rainforest

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

Borneo Rainforest - Afternoon Storm with rolling thunder

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

Owl Calling In The Savanna

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

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MAFX021 Wild Rain Demo STEREO

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/

Congo Basin Rainforest - Afternoon - Loud Cicadas

A beautiful and calm atmosphere recorded in Borneo's rainforest. Longer version at https://youtu.be/RUZcg6SOZ0A

Borneo Calm Atmosphere

Slow soundscapes from the Amazon rainforest. Longer version at  
https://youtu.be/66RWAfuKPq4

Hot Afternoon In The Amazon

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

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MAFX022 African Desert Demo

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

In The Jungles Of Borneo

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

George Vlad

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