Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the Voice of the Natural World

by Bernie Krause

Wild Soundscapes is the first comprehensive guide to listening to--and recording--nature. Learn how to tune in to nature's biophonies, or creature symphonies; how to use simple microphones to hear more; and how to record, mix, and play with sounds you gather. Keep it simple or launch yourself into a new creative field. Whether you're an amateur naturalist, novice field recordist, musician, want to create your own natural sound library, or just want to gain further appreciate of the natural world, this is the book for you. Bernie Krause, a professional field recordist and bioacoustician, shares his expertise in exploring nature's sonic landscapes. Wild Soundscapes comes with a full-length CD, narrated by Krause, sampling a variety of natural the crashing sea, the singing of ants, the bugling of Yellowstone elk, the plop of falling Costa Rican crabs, and more. With the help of this CD, Krause demonstrates techniques and tricks for field recording success.

Genres: Nature, Music, Animals, Nonfiction, Science

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

Dr. Bernie Krause is both a musician and a naturalist. During the 1950s and 60s, he devoted himself to music and replaced Pete Seeger as the guitarist for The Weavers. For over 40 years, Krause has traveled the world recording and archiving the soundsof creatures and environments large and small. He has recorded over 15,000 species. He lives in California.

Reviews

[Ray]

Wow!

This isn’t just a book on field recording. It is first and foremost a book on listening. If you want to explore how sounds affect your perception of place, you’ll want to check it out.

[Hui Shan]

Interesting read!

[James Greening]

An excellent resource book for anyone interested in capturing the sounds of nature, and who maybe needs a nudge to get out there and explore the wonderful world of nature's symphonies!