soundscapes
Sonic atmosphere compositions
Soundscapes are the acoustic environments of a place—the combination of sounds that characterize a location or recording.
A forest soundscape might include birdsong, rustling leaves, and distant water.
The term applies to both natural environments and composed audio works: The album creates haunting electronic soundscapes.
In film and games, soundscapes establish atmosphere and sense of place.
Gaseous layer around planets
- moodPrevailing emotional condition
- ambientOf the surroundings
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- textureSurface tactile quality
immersion · backdrop · layering · enveloping · wash · padding · bed · hum
Rate of recurrence
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
echo · reverberation · timbre · pitch · harmonics · decibel · overtones · oscillation
Avian musical vocalizations
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- windAir current outdoors
- wavesTraveling energy disturbances
rustling · crickets · waterfall · stream · forest · dawn chorus · cicadas · whale song
Extended composition for orchestra
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- stringsThin flexible lines
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
woodwinds · percussion · crescendo · movement · harmony · melody · texture · dynamics
Captured audio or video
- mixingCombining into one mass
- layeringForming successive strata
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
looping · field recording · foley · mastering · editing · microphone · sequencing · DAW
Movement along routes
- sirensEmergency vehicle noisemakers
- constructionProcess of building something
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- chatterLight, rapid speech
footsteps · street noise · car horns · engines · bustle · jackhammer · crowd · ventilation
atmosphere
Gaseous layer around planets
texture · immersion · backdrop · layering · enveloping · wash · padding · bed · hum · murmur
frequency
Rate of recurrence
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
resonance · echo · reverberation · timbre · pitch · harmonics · decibel · overtones · oscillation · modulation
birdsong
Avian musical vocalizations
waves · rustling · crickets · waterfall · stream · forest · dawn chorus · cicadas · whale song · frog calls
symphony
Extended composition for orchestra
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- stringsThin flexible lines
brass · woodwinds · percussion · crescendo · movement · harmony · melody · texture · dynamics · instrumentation
recording
Captured audio or video
synthesis · looping · field recording · foley · mastering · editing · microphone · sequencing · DAW · panning
traffic
Movement along routes
- sirensEmergency vehicle noisemakers
- constructionProcess of building something
- subwayUnderground transit passage
chatter · footsteps · street noise · car horns · engines · bustle · jackhammer · crowd · ventilation · trains
- soundsbeeps, listen, sounds, hear, buzzes
- soundscapesambient noise, nature sounds, ocean waves, natural sounds, rainfall
- musical languagemelody, cadence, counterpoint, refrain, motifs
- environmental psychologymental maps, cognitive maps, wayfinding, spatial perception, sense of place
- sound artfield recording, electroacoustic, deep listening, tape loop, tape loops
- Trip-HopMassive Attack, Portishead, downtempo, Sly, Mandalay
soundscapessilence
Total lack of sound
quietude · dead silence · stillness · soundlessness · hush