Baltic quad surroundings

in: Ambient Backgrounds, Sound Libraries, Trains

Description Tracklist Notes

Riga city urban and its adjacent suburban and rural areas, located in Baltics, Northern Europe. Quadraphonic (L/R/Ls/Rs) library for your next surround work.

Takes are approximately 4 to 5 minutes long or even longer, so that should cower the majority of movie scenes. Please listen to the stereo samples, or Quad samples to hear the full potential of these recordings.

Libraries are available in two options – Quad and Stereo.

This is the first library that results from a steady need for authentic and realistic surround backgrounds. The most common problem we have with surround sound libraries is that they are too exotic or have too much activity. So, we took matters into our own hands and started to explore different surround recording techniques. Our recordings can be used as a surround soundscape “beds” or layers. This allows controlled addition of other elements to build up the scene and keep the viewers focus on the storyline.

The goal was to record diffused sound field atmospheres and that is where spaced Quadraphonic Omni setup shines. Human hearing does not rely only on level differences across frequency spectrum. In fact, our auditory system heavily relies on the difference of sound wave arrival time to each ear. This is especially important with frequencies below 800 hertz.

So spaced microphones result in more believable sound field recordings than point source recording techniques like MS or other compact systems. The phase is also not an issue, it even decreases as microphones get placed even further apart. The only downside to this technique is the big and bulky rig and that it requires individual wind protection for each microphone.

Future goal is to add dedicated center channel to the recording rig and to start building up way bigger and more sophisticated libraries. Stay tuned for future releases!

Sample rate	96
Bitdepth	24
Number of files	33
Size	5.4 GB
Type	Source
Format	Stereo
Metadata	Yes

Gear Used: Recorded with Sound Devices MixPre6, spaced Quadraphonic DPA omni setup.

Filename	Description	BitDepth	SampleRate	Channels	Duration
Abandoned area with distant city background_4.0.wav	Abandoned area in daytime at early spring. Constant city rumble with faint traffic background and distant sirens. Light metallic rattle. Occasional dry leaves on ground, seagulls, crows and other birds.	24	96000	4	05:41
Active crows in five story residential buildings yard_4.0.wav	Morning suburbs at early spring. Prominent traffic background. Active and loud crow flock with some seagulls. Occasional horns and faint cars passing by.	24	96000	4	03:40
Active sparrows in five story residential buildings yard_4.0.wav	Daytime suburbs at early spring. Constant city rumble and traffic background. Active and loud sparrow flock. Occasional crows, seagulls.	24	96000	4	05:24
Birds in two story residential buildings yard_4.0.wav	Morning suburbs at early spring. Constant city rumble and faint traffic background. Variety of birds with occasional seagulls, crows and faint cars passing by.	24	96000	4	05:29
Calm five story residential yard with distant city background_4.0.wav	Daytime suburbs at early spring. Silent city background with distant traffic and sirens. Few birds and occasional distant ball hits.	24	96000	4	05:17
Calm wind in leafless tree forest_4.0.wav	Daytime forest at early spring. Slowly changing wind in leafless trees with trunks cracking and squeaking. Occasional branches falling with sparse birds.	24	96000	4	09:49
Calm wind in pine tree forest_4.0.wav	Daytime forest at early spring. Slowly changing wind in pine trees with trunks cracking and squeaking. Occasional branches falling with rare and sparse birds.	24	96000	4	09:39
Calm wind in reed field_4.0.wav	Daytime in reed field at early spring. Slowly changing wind gusts. Distant city and traffic background with occasional bird chirps.	24	96000	4	05:28
Central park at night with city background_4.0.wav	Nighttime city park at early spring. Constant city rumble and traffic background with some plastic flutter. Distant activity in skateboard pit.	24	96000	4	05:45
Central park with birds and children playground_4.0.wav	Daytime city park at early spring. Prominent traffic background with variety of birds, crows, seagulls and children's in playground.	24	96000	4	04:24
Central park with birds and traffic background_4.0.wav	Daytime city park at early spring. Prominent traffic background with variety of birds, crows, seagulls and light pedestrian activity.	24	96000	4	05:46
City backyard with birds_4.0.wav	Daytime in backyard at early spring. Prominent traffic background with few sparrows.	24	96000	4	04:51
City center square with traffic background and birds_4.0.wav	Daytime city square at early spring. Prominent traffic background. Sparrows and mild pedestrian activity. Occasional crows and seagulls.	24	96000	4	04:24
City center street at night_4.0.wav	Nighttime urban street at early spring. Constant city rumble with occasional car passes by in background.	24	96000	4	04:17
Distant city suburban yard with birds_4.0.wav	Daytime suburbs at early spring. Distant city background with variety of birds and distant cranes.	24	96000	4	02:28
Empty train yard with city background_4.0.wav	Daytime in empty train yard at early spring. Distant city background. Ocasional machinery, crows, sparrows and dog barking.	24	96000	4	03:18
Empty train yard with traffic background_4.0.wav	Daytime in empty train yard at early spring. Prominent traffic background with occasional metal rattling.	24	96000	4	05:23
Field near to five story residential bildings with birds_4.0.wav	Daytime suburbs at early spring. Constant city rumble and traffic background. Calm sparrow flock with small pedestrian activity. Occasional seagulls, crows and cars passing by.	24	96000	4	04:15
Harbor docks with ships and city background_4.0.wav	Nighttime harbor at early spring. Idle ship engine rumble and constant city background. Distant traffic and faint birds.	24	96000	4	05:44
Harbor mole with city background_4.0.wav	Nighttime harbor at early spring. Distant city background with light and small water splashes against mole. Occasional birds and machinery.	24	96000	4	04:44
Harbor mole with passing train_4.0.wav	Nighttime harbor at early spring. Distant city background with slow passing train and machinery. Rare and distant birds.	24	96000	4	06:37
Harbor warehouses with city background_4.0.wav	Nighttime harbor warehouse at early spring. High pitched ventilation engine. City background with industrial activity. Distant birds and faint frogs.	24	96000	4	04:37
Nine story residential yard with birds_4.0.wav	Daytime suburbs at early spring. Constant city rumble with faint traffic background and constant sparrows. Rare seagulls and faint cars passing by.	24	96000	4	03:19
Nine story residential yard with dog barking_4.0.wav	Daytime suburbs at early spring. Constant city rumble with faint traffic background and constant sparrows. Distant and echoey dog barks.	24	96000	4	01:24
Oldtown street with sparrows_4.0.wav	Daytime in Oldtown street at early spring. Constant city rumble and traffic background. Loud and active sparrow flock.	24	96000	4	05:53
Small suburban park with traffic background_4.0.wav	Daytime suburbs at early spring. Prominent traffic background with dry leaves on ground. Occasional seagulls and crows.	24	96000	4	04:54
Sparse suburban park with birds and city background_4.0.wav	Daytime in Suburban park at early spring. Constant city rumble and traffic background. Light pedestrian activity and variety of birds.	24	96000	4	04:30
Close cargo locomotive at slow speed_4.0.wav	Diesel cargo train locomotive passes by at slow speed. Close perspective with fast approach and departure.	24	96000	4	01:14
Close cargo train at slow approach and departure_4.0.wav	Diesel cargo train passes by at slow speed. Close perspective with slow approach and departure. Crossing bell and some announcer speech.	24	96000	4	04:58
Close cargo train at slow approach and stop_4.0.wav	Diesel cargo train passes by at slow speed. Close perspective with slow approach and stop. Crossing bell with faint birds and some announcer speech	24	96000	4	03:35
Close cargo train at slow speed but fast approach and departure_4.0.wav	Diesel cargo train passes by at slow speed. Close perspective with fast approach and departure.	24	96000	4	03:47
Close passenger train at full speed_4.0.wav	Electric passenger train passes by at full speed. Close perspective with fast approach and departure.	24	96000	4	01:06
Distant cargo train at full speed_4.0.wav	Diesel cargo train passes by at full speed. Horn at the beginning. Distant perspective with fast approach and long departure.	24	96000	4	02:56

Since this is our first release, we are also adding a free bonus micro library with quad recordings of passing trains, that we encountered during recording sessions. Enjoy!

Recorded with spaced Quadraphonic Omni setup in 96 kHz 24 bit. 2 hours and 35 minutes of recordings come with full Soundminer metadata in a total of 10,7 GB.

Recordings were done in early spring when vegetation has not yet grown leaves, to avoid unnecessary noise pollution. Some recordings are made at night to keep bird activity to the minimum.

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