Resources
Here is a list of resources related to nature sound recording, including books, websites, and organizations. If you know of others, please contact me via the Contact Page.
I include animal communication references here because much of the biophony (sounds made by organisms) is animals communicating with each other. Understanding more about animal behavior will improve your sound recording and overall appreciation of the wild soundscape.
I’ve divided the book resources into “animal communication”, “techniques”, “soundscapes”, and “listening”, although many fit more than one category. These resources are focused on nature sound recording; there are many more resources devoted to acoustics and studio recording. I’ve intentionally left out resources devoted to signal processing and analysis, as those are highly technical fields a bit beyond the scope of this list.
I have included Amazon links for some of the books that are available on Amazon. If you purchase a book after clicking on one of these links, I receive a small commission, at no cost to you, which helps support the website. I am also an affiliate with Bookshop.org, a business that supports local booksellers. Their catalog is not as extensive as Amazon, but if you prefer to support small businesses, you can do so through this link. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Books
Communication
Techniques
Soundscapes
Listening
Websites
Acoustic Ecology Institute – great source of information on the impacts of human-induced noise on natural environments.
Avisoft Bioacoustics – Hardware and software for investigating animals communication, along with detailed reviews of sounds recorders and microphones.
Creative Field Recording – Paul Virostek’s blog about field recording. He covers a lot of things from equipment and software reviews to interviews with field recordists (including me!).
Macauley Library of Sounds – One of the largest libraries of bird song in the world, also has other animals, lots of videos, and information on techniques and equipment.
Xeno-Canto Collection – a community website dedicated to sharing bird songs from around the world.
Western Soundscape Archive – a relatively new collection of sounds of species and soundscapes from the western US.
National Park Service Natural Sounds Program – a nationwide program (in select parks) to characterize the human and non-human sounds within national park units. Reports detailing methodology and results are available.
Nature Recordists Yahoo! listserv – a email listserv covering information on techniques and equipment for nature recording.
DPA mic-university – lots of information about microphones and stereo arrays.
Quiet Coalition – helping communities reduce health and environmental harm from noise and pollution.
Noise Free America – a coalition to “make quiet happen.”
Organizations
Wildlife Sound Recording Society – a UK-based organization to promote wildlife sound recording. Shares info on recording equipment and techniques and promotes the study of bioacoustics. Hosts several workshops each year.
Nature Sounds Society – an organization to encourage the preservation, appreciation, and creative use of natural sounds. Hosts several workshops each year.
Cornell Bioacoustics Research Program – scientific program to collect and interpret sounds in nature.
Smithsonian Bioacoustics and Biodiversity Project – primarily focused on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on ocean life.
International Society of Ecoacoustics – to promote a scientific study of ecoacoustics, and promote community and dissemination of information. Facilitates conferences and workshops and promotes publications.
The World Forum of Acoustic Ecology – “works in collaboration with its world-wide network of affiliated organizations to produce and promote research, education, events, conferences and publications revolving around the interdisciplinary field of acoustic ecology.”