Wind Chimes is a sound effects library of meticulously captured wind chimes purposely recorded with a pair of high-end Barcus Berry 4000 (Planar Wave Piano and Harp Pickup System) contact microphones. By using this type of mic instead of traditional ones, the attack, sustain and decay of each tube struck by its clapper is experienced in ways unheard by the naked ear. Every tinkle and plink, every clang and rattle sound a bit more removed from its environment than normal. Hear harmonics alongside fundamental frequencies. Every recording is unique to its moment in time. Each note is as random as the wind that plays it. These chimes are anything but showroom new. Some weathered. Some outwardly neglected. A few sound pretty, others not so much.
I recorded in situ when possible, spreading out cables and bags on my back porch, in friend’s and newfound friend’s yards, on a stranger’s patio (after getting her permission), in a state park and at a local golf course restaurant while eating a pretty good burger and looking down upon the 18th hole. I recorded in cemeteries too. As you might expect, cemeteries make for a quiet recording location. Know that I approached each gravesite with respect. I even placed an ad on an internet marketplace asking to record people’s wind chimes. One woman responded, giving me a large one she could no longer keep. It is ringing on my back porch now, no doubt annoying the neighbors.
I usually recorded for an hour at each location. For this library, I chose shorter ranges of time that contain soft, medium and loud chimes in one recording. There’s no road noise, no people talking, just occasional birdsong and varying degrees of wind, making it easier I hope to drop into your projects.
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Library Info:
- 16 96kHz/24bit 2-channel .WAV files with metadata
- Universal Category System (UCS) compliant
- Sound Devices 702 recorder using two Barcus Berry contact microphones (4000 Planar Wave System with 4000XL piezo preamps)
Wind Chimes Recorded for this Library
