Wild field recording adventures with George Vlad Asbjoern Andersen

Posted by Asbjoern Andersen in Recording, SFX interview, Sound community highlights


Field recordist, adventurer and independent sound effects creator George Vlad travels the world to record some truly incredible natural soundscapes. Hear stories from his wild adventures capturing sounds of deserts, jungles - and even a live, roaring volcano - in this in-depth podcast interview. And, as a bonus, you get an exclusive collection of 9 premium ambiences from Mindful Audio, completely free too!
Featuring George Vlad. Interview by Jennifer Walden, hosted by Asbjoern Andersen & Christian Hagelskjaer
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In this episode:

0:00 Introduction and new independent sound effects
03:36 Wild field recording adventures – with George Vlad. Learn more about him on A Sound Effect here, and on his Mindful Audio website here.
56:32 Greetings from our friends in the Audio Podcast Alliance

 

Hear the episode below:

 

Sound effects libraries highlighted in this episode:

 
  •
    Nature & Countryside Ambiences African Desert Play Track 29+ sounds included, 227 mins total $220

    African Desert is a collection of immersive stereo soundscapes recorded in the remotest parts of the Namib desert. It covers a variety of locations, from sand dunes and canyons to desert pavement and rocky outcrops. Subjects include sand movement recorded with hydrophones, soft to medium wind blowing over the surface of the dunes, and insects, birds and reptiles creating a sparse ambience full of minute detail.

    The purpose of this collection is to portray the soundscape of the Namib desert in all its sparseness and beauty. Some of these recordings are not much more than very soft wind. A few of the included soundscapes feature sand being blown over the surface of dunes. There’s a variety of wildlife calls too, from insects like cicadas, crickets or flies to barking geckos and occasional birds. This is not a wildlife library though, as the focus is more on the lifeless beauty of this mostly barren landscape.

    Add to cart
  • Electricity Sound Effects Arcs and Sparks Play Track 2228 sounds included $149

    Arcs and Sparks is an essential collection of electrical sounds including both longer sustained elements and one-shots, arcs and sparks if you will. The sounds in this library were created through the processing of non-electrical sources, going beyond the limitations of literal electricity. Along with the diverse, personality rich processed content, you’ll get all the raw recordings used in the design process. Use this raw source to create your own electricity designs and learn about the new techniques we discovered during our extensive sonic explorations in the creation of this library.

    • 378 files
    • 2,228 total sounds
    • 96k/24bit
    • 1117 raw source sounds
    Add to cart
  • Train Sound Effects Trains in Sri Lanka Play Track 27+ sounds included, 50 mins total $27

    Trains in Sri Lanka gives you a collection of old Diesel Electric, Hybrid Train sounds. M6, S12, S13 are the Trains from which most of the sounds are from.
    It contains idle engines, screeching breaks, train pass by sounds, and the sweet rhythmic sound of moving trains. Also, some unique station ambiance and PA sounds are included too.

    The library was recorded with Zoom H5N and Rode NTG5.

    Add to cart
  • Mechanical Sound Effects Vintage Buttons, Switches & Mini-Mechanicals Play Track 1400+ sounds included $49.99

    This immense sound-set has been meticulously recorded and curated to provide a vast array of creative sonic material.

    This pack contains over 1400 sounds sourced from a variety of vintage gear from the 1970s and 80s, ranging from old analog sound equipment to obscure kitchen tools. This pack works great for Foley or just as sonic inspiration and would be ideal for use in games or movies.

    Highlights include two different reel-to-reel tape recorders from the 1970s and an assortment of retro tools and implements. Included are a few bonus more modern sounds – just to complete the pack’s usability.

    If you need to make gizmo or mechanical sounds then this library is for you.

    It also contains a hefty amount of mechanical switches.

    Gear Used: Neumann KMR 81i – Mic. Sound Devices – Recorder. Izotope RX7 – Processing.

    Recorded at 24 Bit 96kHz.

    Add to cart
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Explore the libraries from Mindful Audio below:

 

Newest libraries from Mindful Audio:

  •
    Environments & Ambiences African Desert Sahara Play Track 83+ sounds included, 486 mins total From: $220

    African Desert: Sahara is a collection of stereo and quad soundscapes recorded in the barren but beautiful mountain range at the heart of the Sahara desert. This is the largest hot desert on Earth, incredibly difficult to access and explore. It’s a breathtaking place with a huge dynamic range, from dead silence to powerful winds. The soundscapes in this collection were recorded around giant rock formations, rocky outcrops, canyons and sand dune expanses.

    Select options
  • Environments & Ambiences Atacama Desert Play Track 40 sounds included, 246 mins total From: $220

    Atacama Desert is a collection of stereo and quad soundscapes recorded in the barren but amazingly beautiful desert plateau of Western Chile. This is the most arid desert on Earth, with some weather stations here having never recorded any rain. It’s a breathtaking place with incredible silence and powerful winds. The soundscapes in this collection were recorded around giant rock pillars, endless rock plains and fields of sparse dry vegetation.

    This library is the perfect way to portray the barren expanse of the Atacama desert. Some of the soundscapes recorded are the lightest of desert airs. The others feature wind, from light and soft to heavy and gusty. Lastly, some of the recordings also include flies buzzing around.

    This library was recorded in several locations on the border between Chile, Argentina and Bolivia . Reaching this part of the world was no easy task, as you can see in the second part of the teaser video.

    Select options
  • Wild Animals Sound Effects Whale Song Play Track 17+ sounds included, 108 mins total $250

    Whale Song is a collection of underwater recordings of humpback whales singing and calling in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Madagascar. These soundscapes were recorded in pseudo-stereo with two hydrophones and also include the sounds of corals, fish, shrimp and water movement.

    Humpback whales migrate to this part of the Indian Ocean every year to mate and give birth. Their fascinating songs and calls can be heard underwater from tens of miles away, however reaching this part of the world can prove quite challenging as seen in the second part of the teaser.

    Add to cart
  • Nature & Countryside Ambiences Arabian Desert Play Track 67+ sounds included, 416 mins total From: $220

    Arabian Desert is a collection of stereo and quad soundscapes recorded on the Arabian Peninsula in the Empty Quarter, the largest expanse of sand dunes on Earth. The recordings range from soft to medium and gusty/blustery wind, with variations including sand spray, vegetation movement and insects.

    This collection of recordings will help portray the vast expanse of the Empty Quarter. Many of these soundscapes are not much more than soft wind. There’s also gusty and blustery wind, recorded with microphones at the top of dunes and underneath the sand surface. Wildlife is incredibly sparse in the Empty Quarter and is represented in this library by buzzing flies and other insects.

    Select options

Best-selling libraries from Mindful Audio:

  •
    Environments & Ambiences Woodland Atmosphere Play Track 58+ sounds included, 309 mins total $125

    Woodland Atmosphere is a collection of clean and immersive natural ambiences recorded in forests around Europe by George Vlad. The library is updated with new content on a regular basis, all free for existing users.

    Get more than 5 hours of pristine nature recordings and birdsong with this SFX library:

    Add to cart
  • elements gear sound effects
    elements gear sound effects
    Featured Sound Creators Elements: Gears Play Track 212+ sounds included, 205 mins total $125

    Elements: Gears is a collection of small and large gear, ratchet, cogwheel and other mechanical sounds recorded and edited over more than 2 years by George Vlad. The library encompasses more than 4000 individual sounds covering actions such as single clicks, slow movement, fast movement, short turns etc. The objects recorded include ratchet tools, plastic toys, old sewing machines, wagon wheels and ethnic noise making instruments. Some of the larger objects have been recorded using MKH 8040, DPA 4060 and a JrF contact microphone with each perspective included on a separate track.

    Elements: Gears 1.1 Update adds more large gear sounds! Check out the accompanying spreadsheet.

    The sounds can be used for obvious purposes such as ratchet wrenches, cogwheels, drawbridges, steampunk mechanisms, machinery etc.. As is the case with other libraries in the Elements series, these sounds can also be used as building blocks for more complex sounds such as spaceships, vehicles, industrial machinery and others. Additionally, all files are recorded and mastered at 24/96 quality which makes them excellent sound design elements ripe for serious processing.

    Elements: Gears at a glance:

    • 212 .wav files; more than 4000 sounds in total
    • recorded and presented as 24 bit/96 kHz mono files
    • 3 hours and 55 minutes total length
    • 3.83 GB uncompressed size – 3.11 GB zip archive
    • recorded on Sound Devices 633 with Sennheiser MKH-8040, DPA 4060 and JrF microphones
    • comprehensive metadata compatible with Basehead and Soundminer

    Add to cart
  • Nature & Countryside Ambiences Eerie Forest Play Track 30+ sounds included, 154 mins total From: $140

    Eerie Forest is a collection of subtle ambiences recorded at night in dense forests in the regions of Transylvania and Moldova, Romania over two trips in Spring and Autumn 2017. The library features soft wind, distant hum, vegetation rustles, dogs barking at various distances, church bells tolling, a variety of owl species and other birds like ravens and woodcocks. All these elements are not foreground, but rather washed-out, echoey and atmospheric.

    Eerie Forest is not suitable for foreground sound elements as the recordings are very soft and subtle. Make sure you check out the demos before you purchase.

    Select options
  • ww2 aircraft sound effects
    ww2 aircraft sound effects
    Aircraft - Jet/Propeller Plane Sound Effects WW2 Aircraft Play Track 59 sounds included, 96 mins total $150

    WW2 Aircraft is a collection of recordings of rare World War 2 aircraft. It features icons such as the Supermarine Spitfire, Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann, North American P-51 Mustang, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Grumman F8F Bearcat and others. The library consists of 59 recordings ranging from 13 seconds to over 10 minutes in length. The sounds have been recorded with the Sennheiser MKH416, MKH8040 and the Sony PCM D100.

    The library covers exterior flybys from slow to very fast, aircraft taxiing by, engines starting up, idling, revving, stopping and a few takeoffs. It also includes an on-board recording of a Bucker Bu-131 biplane as it starts up, taxies, takes off, flies, lands and then stops. The planes have been recorded at a variety of distances, from close to relatively far away. As an added bonus, one of the P-51 Mustangs recorded had had its guns removed, which caused an awesome whistling sound every time it swooped down at a certain angle.

    Add to cart
  • Nature & Countryside Ambiences Amazon Jungle Play Track 49 sounds included, 357 mins total From: $220

    Amazon Jungle is a collection of unique ambiences recorded in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. The library was recorded during the rainy season when birds are vocal and humidity is at its highest. These recordings feature species such as the Screaming Piha, Toucans, Howler Monkeys, Trogons, Tinamous, Owls, very vocal Bamboo Rats and a multitude of insects and frogs.

    Select options
  • Nature & Countryside Ambiences African Jungle Play Track 80+ sounds included, 460 mins total From: $220

    African Jungle is a huge collection of unique ambiences recorded in Central Africa’s Congo Basin rainforests. To my knowledge, these are the first surround field recordings made in this area. Last year I spent a whole month off the grid, listening to and recording a variety of habitats at all times of day and night, at the height of the rainy season when birds are most vocal. It took me many days of travel to get to these places, from using trains, boats, cars and planes to hiking on foot in the jungle.

    Select options
  • Nature & Countryside Ambiences African Desert Play Track 29+ sounds included, 227 mins total $220

    African Desert is a collection of immersive stereo soundscapes recorded in the remotest parts of the Namib desert. It covers a variety of locations, from sand dunes and canyons to desert pavement and rocky outcrops. Subjects include sand movement recorded with hydrophones, soft to medium wind blowing over the surface of the dunes, and insects, birds and reptiles creating a sparse ambience full of minute detail.

    The purpose of this collection is to portray the soundscape of the Namib desert in all its sparseness and beauty. Some of these recordings are not much more than very soft wind. A few of the included soundscapes feature sand being blown over the surface of dunes. There’s a variety of wildlife calls too, from insects like cicadas, crickets or flies to barking geckos and occasional birds. This is not a wildlife library though, as the focus is more on the lifeless beauty of this mostly barren landscape.

    Add to cart
  • Nature & Countryside Ambiences Arabian Desert Play Track 67+ sounds included, 416 mins total From: $220

    Arabian Desert is a collection of stereo and quad soundscapes recorded on the Arabian Peninsula in the Empty Quarter, the largest expanse of sand dunes on Earth. The recordings range from soft to medium and gusty/blustery wind, with variations including sand spray, vegetation movement and insects.

    This collection of recordings will help portray the vast expanse of the Empty Quarter. Many of these soundscapes are not much more than soft wind. There’s also gusty and blustery wind, recorded with microphones at the top of dunes and underneath the sand surface. Wildlife is incredibly sparse in the Empty Quarter and is represented in this library by buzzing flies and other insects.

    Select options

Browse the full Mindful Audio catalog here

 

 

Exclusive gift: Instantly download 9 premium ambiences from Mindful Audio:

To give you a taste of what Mindful Audio has to offer, here’s an exclusive collection of 9 premium ambiences from Mindful Audio, completely free:

Download the free sounds here

One wish from us: Please remember to share a link to this page, so others can discover what Mindful Audio has to offer, and get free sounds too. Thanks in advance!


 

More about George Vlad and Mindful Audio:

 

Mindful Audio Featured Sound CreatorFeatured Sound Creator: Mindful Audio
Learn more about Mindful Audio, a Featured Sound Creator here on A Sound Effect:
 
Learn more here  

 
Field Recording GuidePreparing for a successful field recording trip
Make the most of your field recording trip with these excellent planning tips from recordist George Vlad:

Read the story here

 
sound effects recording in africaThe Senegal sound recording expedition – with George Vlad:
Sound recordist George Vlad shares the stories behind an incredible recording expedition to Senegal:

Read the story here

 
A group of kids huddle around to try on the headphones.Capturing the fascinating sounds of Africa

George Vlad and Daan Hendriks tell the intriguing stories behind their many African recording adventures:
 
Read the story here  
 

 
How To Find The Best Handheld Recorder
A good handheld recorder is an essential addition to any audio professional’s toolkit – but finding the right one is tricky. Get a much-needed overview here:

Read the story here

 
Recording Atmospheric Nature Sounds in Scotland
Get the story behind Woodland Atmosphere, a new SFX library that captures the atmospheric sounds of Scotland’s nature:

Read the story here
 

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THE WORLD’S EASIEST WAY TO GET INDEPENDENT SOUND EFFECTS:
 
A Sound Effect gives you easy access to an absolutely huge sound effects catalog from a myriad of independent sound creators, all covered by one license agreement - a few highlights:

  •
    Fire Sound Effects Fire Play Track $199

    Elevated and Designed FIRE sounds

    Welcome to the first in our new Element Series: FIRE. The Element series will feature highly designed sounds as well as expertly recorded raw source recordings. With FIRE we spared no expense to experiment with tons of different props and sources. From a double ended fire staff all the way to a “plasma gun” fire tube. Can you ever have enough FIRE? We don’t think so. FIRE is a collaboration between SoundMorph, Jason Cushing, Tibo Csuko & Boris Karekine. FIre contains more than 3.4GB / 675+ files.

    WHAT’S INSIDE

    All files are 24bit/96khz .WAV stereo files, all meticulously embedded with Soundminer & Basehead metadata. FIRE contains the following folder categories:

    • Designed Sounds
    • Blasts
    • Burning
    • Fire Ball
    • Fire Staff
    • Ignition
    • Matches
    • Plasma Gun
    • Textures
    • Torch
    • Whoosh
    Add to cart
  • Destruction & Impact Sounds Matter Mayhem Play Track 1397+ sounds included $249

    Need the sound of utter destruction, debris, bomb blasts, and chaos – recorded in high definition sound, with multiple perspectives and tons of different materials? That's what you get right here:

    As sound designers, we always need these types of highly useable sounds, and with the creation of Matter Mayhem, we've gone above and beyond. Spanning 5 months of recording out in the field and designing in the studio, SoundMorph is very proud to bring you one of our largest produced libraries ever! If you need debris and destruction, Matter Mayhem is a solid choice to add to your collection!

    Matter Mayhem was created in collaboration with Frederic Devanlay (Sinematic, Solar Sky) and Cedric Denooz (Future Weapons), and contains 1,500+ sounds / 5.75Gb of 24bit/96khz .WAV files, all meticulously embedded with Soundminer & Basehead metadata.

    The library includes sounds like Big Blow Ups – Stoney Structures • Big Blow Ups – Wood Structures • Near, Mid, and Far Perspectives • Bomb Blasts • Blow Ups – Stone, Pebble, Metal, Wood • Debris – Stone, Wood, Glass, Plastic • Collapses • Scaffold Impacts • Whoosh Objects • Designed Debris • First Person Debris • Metal Objects.

    So if you're looking for the sound of destruction, this one delivers!

    Add to cart
  • Creature Sound Effects WINGS Play Track 1444+ sounds included From: $99

    We are extremely proud to present our first library, WINGS – a one-of-a-kind sound library.

    From tiny insects to small birds, from fairies to dragons, WINGS offers a creative palette with a diverse range of sounds to choose from.

    With over 1400 files (more than 4 GB for the 192 kHz version ) we’re confident you will find the perfect sound.

    When purchasing WINGS you get 2 packs, our Design category that includes 180 files and the Source category that offers more than 1200 sounds. Featuring the very best of our foley sessions.

    All single flaps have been careful edited, allowing for unique speed or rate adjustments.

    Pick your preferred version at the introductory prices below:

    Select options
Explore the full, unique collection here
Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • City Life Sound Effects City Ambiences 2 Play Track 30 sounds included, 180 mins total $14.99

    Immerse your players in the sounds of the city with our 30 City Ambience Sound Recordings pack. Featuring a rich variety of urban soundscapes, this collection includes recordings of city traffic from both the street and rooftop perspectives, the calming patter of rain falling in the city, lively playground sounds, birds singing in the morning. Perfect for adding authentic, atmospheric depth to any game environment, these versatile sound effects are ideal for creating dynamic cityscapes and enhancing the realism of urban settings. Whether you’re building bustling streets or quiet, rainy corners, this pack provides the perfect backdrop for your game world.

    Features:

    • City Streets
    • Rooftop Ambiences
    • Morning and Evening Ambiences
    • Traffic and Motorcycles
    • Kids Playgrounds
    • Raining in the City
    • Birds in the City
    Add to cart
  • Car Sound Effects Mercedes Benz 170 W136 1935 executive car Play Track 198 sounds included, 51 mins total $65

    All files are recorded 32bit, 192 kHz, with RØDE NTG1, Line Audio Omni1 and FEL Clippy XLR EM272 microphones, Sound Devices MixPre-6 II recorder. Library contains wav files of driving, interior and exterior foley, mechanical and electrical sounds. It is also available in UCS.

    Add to cart
  • Animal Sound Effects Baby Birds Play Track 71 sounds included $7.99

    This is a sound library containing some extremely close up recordings of nesting Great Tits, from a few hours after hatching through to fledging.

    Features:

    • 71 audio files in 24 bit 96kHz quality WAV format
    • All files have UCS compliant metadata and naming, allowing for easy searching in sound library management tools
    • Available for commercial or personal use without attribution
    43 %
    OFF
    Add to cart
  • Drones & Mood Sound Effects Dark Dungeon Soundscapes 2 Play Track 26 sounds included, 60 mins total $12

    Step into the shadows with Dark Dungeon Soundscapes Pt. 2, the soundscapes collection for game developers, filmmakers, and creators seeking spine-chilling atmosphere. This second edition brings you even deeper into the abyss with haunting ambient textures, eerie whispers, unsettling drips, distant screams, and the deep echoes of forgotten catacombs.

    Designed for horror and cinematic projects, these soundscapes will set the perfect tone for dark fantasy, gothic horror, or deep dungeon-crawling adventures. Whether you’re unveiling an ancient crypt, leading players into a cursed temple, or orchestrating a demonic ritual, these immersive sounds will pull your audience into the darkness.

    🔥 Features:

    ✅ Diverse environments, from eerie ruins to underground horrors

    ✅ Seamless looping for extended play sessions

     

    Add to cart
  • Car Sound Effects Speed Engines Play Track 102 sounds included, 15 mins total $10

    Rev up your creativity with Speed Engines Sound Effects, a collection of roaring, revving, and accelerating engine sounds. Perfect for game developers, filmmakers, and content creators, this pack features a variety of engine types, from thunderous muscle cars to high-speed motorcycles.

    Each sound is recorded to deliver crisp, immersive audio that brings speed and power to life. Whether you’re working on a racing game, an action-packed movie, or a thrilling YouTube video, these sound effects will add adrenaline-pumping realism to your project.

    🔥 Features:
    ✅25 – Engine SFX / 77 – Pass By
    ✅ Variety of engine types and variations
    ✅ Royalty-free – use in commercial & personal projects with no extra fees
    ✅ Ready for use in games, films, and multimedia projects

    Add to cart

   

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