In this project, we wanted to show what cities should be like by focusing on the contrast between the hustle and bustle of cities and the tranquility of natural spaces, such as natural life. The recordings we captured with the Zoom H3-VR recorder are intended to give people a deeper sense of how the noise of modern urban environments can mask the inherent tranquility of nature.
These sounds are often portrayed as vibrant centers of activity, but they can also be a source of stress and anxiety for citizens. From car horns to sidewalk noise, prolonged exposure to these sounds can cause people to lose touch with their natural environment. In contrast, the rustling of leaves, the sound of running water, and the sounds of birds remind us of the tranquility outside the hustle and bustle of the city.
We combined these two soundscapes together to emphasize their contrast and evoke calming memories of natural environments. This project is not only a reflection on our auditory environment, but also a call to reconnect with nature and find solace in stressful cities.
We made a combination of field recordings from various locations around the city. Key urban sound sources include:
– City Streets: We captured the rush of traffic and the chatter of pedestrians.
– Natural Tranquility : We recorded sounds from parks, such as wind through trees and
water flowing to show the natural environment sounds.
Utilizing techniques such as:
– Binaural Recording: We want to provide an immersive listening experience.
– Ambisonic Encoding: We want to create a multidimensional sound experience.
In summary, by contrasting the hustle and bustle of city life with the tranquility of nature, through our finished product, we hope that people will stop to reflect and feel the peace outside the noise of the city, and experience the balance between city life and the natural world.
Reference:
1. Junichi OGURO, 大黒淳一
. (2023, April 7). [Binaural Mix] Field recording | Rainforest | Amami
Island , Japan 雨の奄美大島 フィールドレコーディング (アカヒゲ/ルリカケス) [Video]. YouTube.
2. Cathylane. (n.d.). Cathy Lane – The Hebrides Suite. Cathy Lane – the Hebrides Suite.
https://hebrides-suite.co.uk/
3. DDell. (2017, August 9). Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – First 20 minutes – 60FP