Nature Sounds CD's

Most are crap. I can identify 3 sub-categories. Some producers have CDs in several categories:
1. Outdoor recordings, often by audiophile enthusiasts. Quality is usually absolutely brilliant. No human generated noises. I can definitely recommend Gordon Hempton; Echoes of Nature series; Dan Gibson (sounds of nature); www.soundtracker.com. In Australia, we have Les Gilbert; www.listeningearth.com (both excellent).
2. Natural sounds + music. Usually the ocean, rivers, rain, birds, frogs, assorted insects overlain with pan flute harmonies. This is the music you hear in candle shops. The natural sounds are often 'canned'. It is these which give nature sounds CDs a bad name. For best quality try 'Orange Tree Productions National Park Series', Dan Gibson (sounds+music). In Australia we have Ken Davis, Tony O'Connor; Brett Nielsen. Some are very cheap and abundant second hand because they come in sets of 10-20. There are lower quality ranges (to me) like Gentle Persuasion; Natures Harmonies; Natures Magic; Natures Symphony; Tranquility.
3. Educational recordings like 54 bird calls, 35 frog calls, etc. A search of the bird and frog appreciation organization's shops will locate these these. Often priced at full retail. Usually each sound is separately indexed and the bird/frog/insect named on the cover. Quality ranges from historic to excellent. The sounds never repeat so not as boring as you may think. Never, never, buy one with a spoken commentary - they are absolutely patronising to listen to. In Australia, we have www.naturesound.com.au (all their CDs are excellent).

I have accumulated over 200 CDs of this genre - because they are so cheap - but many are only suitable for listening when reading, studying, (ie Muzak).

thanks, all. i was not familiar with the suggestions you've made but will certainly check them out.

-scott

Just to be clear with my post. These are ambient electronic music albums and NOT nature sounds. Neroli has been used to calm women in labor just before childbirth and Steve Roach is just the most prolific ambient musician of our time. His album I mentioned has been voted over and over as the best album for Yoga meditation.

thanks, Synth!! my wife is due in august, so Neroli sounds like just the thing!!

-scott

How to recognise a good nature recording:
1. Does it list the name of the recorder. If no one was prepared to put their name on the CD it can't be much good.
2. Does it have a sequence of tracks with smooth transitions. For example: dawn, day, wind, approaching thunder, rain starting, running water, rain clearing, frogs , dusk, etc. This requires much more effort than simply taking a mike to the shower (rain) or running tap (river).
3. Locations are listed. If the recorder actually went to the effort of going on location then the results should be superior. Of course, the birds and frog sounds have to match. For example, Australia has no woodpeckers !
4. List the gear used. Guys with good mikes, binaural head, high technology gear, etc have invested in expensive stuff. The quality shows in the results.
5. List complaints about suffering on location. Recording is an obsession for many guys who spend days/weeks in tents in all weathers in all seasons to get perfect sounds.
6. Listen for background noises. If you can hear planes, cars, doors, pets, talking, then it was probably recorded in the backyard or local park.
7. Nature is random. The same sequence of sounds should never repeat. Too much swishing (white noise) suggests artificial sources.
8. Plenty of variety. I think 20 minutes of river gurgles is really boring. I consider CDs with a single theme or single sound as poor quality.

The random aspect makes nature sounds so unpredictable and special. With a little practice you can separate the CDs which are a unique work from the syndicated productions.