Prompt's TechBlog
Stop, Look & Listen
10 May 2007
Posted by Dave Wilby
In late 2005 we wrote a review in our newsletter of a fascinating field recording project called SoundTransit. This collaborative online community dedicated to phonography and unusual soundscapes allowed vistors to plan 'sonic journeys' around the world, stopping off to listen to snow walking in Lapland, sandfleas in California, a Tuk-Tuk ride in Chennai, skateboarders in Strasbourg - that kind of thing. Anyway, it's still going strong and the archive is now massive, and well worth a visit on a stressful afternoon.
Well, it now seems SoundTransit was way ahead of its time. This week Google has announced it will add audio clips to its Google Earth geolocation application, in some sort of Web 2.0 audio epiphany. To be fair though, it actually appears very well thought through indeed, and we're expecting great things.
According to New Scientist, Google has recruited the talents of Bernie Krause, one-time Moog player in The Weavers and a bit of a legend in ambient sound recording circles. He has spent over 40 years collecting thousands of sounds from all over the world, which he has previously made available online through his own company Wild Sanctuary. Bernie's sounds will form the professional backbone of the Google Earth sound library which will then be supplemented in time in true Web 2.0 style with contributions from mere punters, who will be able to send their own noises through the Freesound project (which is also rather brilliant in its own right).
We still think SoundTransit will have an edge for a little while yet, especially when it comes down to really quirky and mundane soundscapes in other climes, but once the public grab the ears of Google Earth, well, we won't hear the end of it..!
Tags: Google Earth | Bernie Krause | freesound | soundscapes
Well, it now seems SoundTransit was way ahead of its time. This week Google has announced it will add audio clips to its Google Earth geolocation application, in some sort of Web 2.0 audio epiphany. To be fair though, it actually appears very well thought through indeed, and we're expecting great things.
According to New Scientist, Google has recruited the talents of Bernie Krause, one-time Moog player in The Weavers and a bit of a legend in ambient sound recording circles. He has spent over 40 years collecting thousands of sounds from all over the world, which he has previously made available online through his own company Wild Sanctuary. Bernie's sounds will form the professional backbone of the Google Earth sound library which will then be supplemented in time in true Web 2.0 style with contributions from mere punters, who will be able to send their own noises through the Freesound project (which is also rather brilliant in its own right).
We still think SoundTransit will have an edge for a little while yet, especially when it comes down to really quirky and mundane soundscapes in other climes, but once the public grab the ears of Google Earth, well, we won't hear the end of it..!
Tags: Google Earth | Bernie Krause | freesound | soundscapes
Labels: web 2.0
# posted by Dave Wilby at 12:01 PM 
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