Free Soundscape Recorder Designed For Recording And Sharing Environmental Sound

soundscape-recorderSoundscape Recorder is a free app, for iOS and Android, designed for recording and sharing environmental sound.

Soundscape ecology is a field of research that investigates how sound in the environment can be used to assess ecosystem health and human connection to nature and the environment in general.

The app creates environmental audio recordings and captures additional information about the recording, including location, date/time, meta data about the sounds in the recording and optional user input.

In conjunction with Earth Day 2014 (April 22), the creators are organizing an effort to record soundscapes from around the world. Here is an introduction to the project:

Data collected by the app includes:

  • Audio recordings of a soundscape in *.wav file format
  • Length of recording in mins:secs format
  • Time of day and date
  • Device type (manufacturer, such as Apple or Samsung)
  • OS version
  • Location “fuzzed” by 10km
  • A datafile that contains user survey inputs to soundscape composition
  • An optional user input soundscape description (as a text field of up to 255 characters)
  • Global Soundscapes Day app version

Soundscape Recorder is a free download from the App Store and Google Play.

3 thoughts on “Free Soundscape Recorder Designed For Recording And Sharing Environmental Sound

  1. I downloaded the app. It is not “Designed for Recording and Shariing Environmental Sound.” It is a way for this man to collect data from app users for his own research study.

    When you open the app, you are greeted with a four-screen “RESEARCH PARTICIPANT CONSENT FORM” to participate in his research project “that allows researchers to associate peoples perceptions and emotions with existing sounds in recordings.”

    After reading the 109-line consent form, the following window pops up:
    “I have had the opportunity to read this research participant consent form and terms of use. And I agree to accept terms and conditions to participate in this research study.”

    You then have a choice to click Agree or Disagree. If you Disagree, the app closes. When you open it again, you are greeted with the same form. You cannot use the app unless you agree to be a research participant! Synthtopia, are you aware of this?

    I personally believe this app is inappropriate for this site.

    1. I’m pretty sure they know because a good part of the article is dedicated to telling you.

      In conjunction with Earth Day 2014 (April 22), the creators are organizing an effort to record soundscapes from around the world. Here is an introduction to the project:

      Then it also says, “Data collected by the app includes:”

  2. I think this is great, and an appropriate article for Earth Day. As a researcher, I applaud this innovative approach to collecting field data. I kind of understand that some people may not be comfortable assisting other people’s endeavors, but this is an opportunity for audio junkies (like myself) to contribute to science in a fun way. Thanks for sharing! I will be sharing this with my friends!

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