As part of ongoing work with New York University’s Immersive Audio Group, I worked to expand a database of immersive sound recordings meant for a variety of uses. My role was to select a space with various ambient noises and professionally record its soundscape with an ambisonic microphone. These recordings then become stock audio samples to be used for any purpose.
Two of the recording locations chosen for the project are shown below.
A recording location situated at the end of Pier 46 in Manhattan. The water and wind noise, along with the indistinct chatter of locals, gave a great soundscape.
Another recording location located in the attic of an NYU building. Its ventilation noise and periodic clanking provided an ideal soundscape for the project.
The recordings were made using a Sennheiser Ambeo ambisonic microphone and a Zoom F8 MultiTrack Field Recorder. The microphone was placed in a location that contained mostly diffuse-field sound, rather than nearby point sources like people or cars. This allows the recordings to be used as ambience in a variety of settings.
More recordings are likely to come as the Immersive Audio Group expands its ambisonic database.
David Baylies 