Wind and Metal

Wind and Metal explores the awesome ways metal responds sonically under the influence of wind. Large objects like modern wind turbines, old-fashioned windmills, a geodesic dome, an overhead power line transmission tower, a fire tower, flag poles and a giant crucifix, were recorded under varying wind speeds from airy breezes to howling gusts. Each structure produces resonant tones unique to its design, location and weather affecting it. There’s the sound of wire fences too, of course.

Here you’ll find eerie low-end drones plus piercing and painful high-end squeaks. There’s animalistic groaning and scraping. Some serious banging and thumping. Plus rattles and rumbles, deep impacts and rhythmic whooshes.

Wind and Metal sound effects library by Evocative Sound and Visuals

Wind Turbines and Windmills

I captured the rhythmic whooshing sound of modern wind turbines, at varying distances, on expansive wind farms placed smack in the middle of Iowa farmland and Idaho’s high desert. In addition, I visited working wind turbines at county parks and museums. I found one in front of a dentist’s office. This one produced one of the most irritating, grating sounds I’ve ever heard. Far worse than the sound of any dentist’s drill.

There’s plenty of old-school metal windmills featured in the library. The kind with sails instead of blades, and used for pond aeration and water pumps down on the farm. I recorded many of these on Amish farms in Ohio. This was my way of slowly introducing myself to the Amish community in order to cover them in more detail for my Amish sound effects library.

Geodesic Dome

I recorded an 80-ton, 103-foot high (31 meters), 250-foot (76 meters) diameter geodesic dome. It is made entirely of extruded aluminum pipe, with a lot of nuts and bolts thrown in. More than 65,000 parts in all according to ASM International’s website. Standing under this structure is pretty cool. Listening to its low drone and rattle under a strong wind with the aid of a pair of contact mics is even better. 

The open latticework geodesic dome that spans ASM International’s headquarters at Materials Park in Novelty, Ohio on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. The dome, built in 1958 of extruded aluminum pipe in 1958, contains over 65,000 parts. It is the world’s largest open-work geodesic dome, standing 103 feet high, measuring 250 feet in diameter and weighing 80 tons. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
The open latticework geodesic dome that spans ASM International’s headquarters at Materials Park in Novelty, Ohio on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. The dome, built of extruded aluminum pipe in 1958, contains over 65,000 parts. It is the world’s largest open-work geodesic dome, standing 103 feet high, measuring 250 feet in diameter and weighing 80 tons. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon

Overhead Power Line Transmission Tower and Fire Tower

I sat at the base of a 345 kV overhead power line transmission tower and did the same atop an 80-foot (24-meter) fire tower that looks down upon a state forest. I captured these in the dead of winter, practically guaranteeing no one else would be around. An otherworldly drone emanates from the transmission tower. Likewise, a clanky, rattling drone emerges from the 90-year-old fire tower.

Using a pair of Barcus Berry contact microphones to capture the sound of wind traveling through a high power metal transmission line tower in northeast Ohio on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Constant winds averaged 16 MPH with gusts up to 37 MPH. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
Recording the sound of wind hitting the 80-foot (24-meter) firetower at Mohican State Park on February 19, 2016. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
Recording the sound of wind hitting the 80-foot (24-meter) fire tower at Mohican State Park on February 19, 2016. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon

Flagpoles and Crucifix

I affixed contact microphones to hollow flagpoles, one being 100 feet (30 meters) tall. Things get interesting when the wind kicks up and the rope attached to the flag hits the pole. I hiked to 3,600 feet above sea level to stand beneath a six-story tall, 4,500-pound (2,041 kilogram) lighted metal crucifix atop Table Rock in Boise, Idaho. The controversial cross has beckoned religious followers and graffiti artists since the 1950s.

Capturing the sound of wind, rope and flagpole with a pair of contact microphones in Northfield, Ohio on January 15, 2022. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
Recording the sound of the large metal cross atop Table Rock in the foothills of Boise, Idaho on Saturday, October 13, 2018. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon

Wire Fences

No sound effects library involving metal recorded with contact microphones would be complete without the sound of wire fences captured on windy days. The wind ‘plays’ these wires like a low-toned instrument in the band.

Create something soothing, eerie, impactful or in between by inserting Wind and Metal into your next project.

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Library Details

  • 43 files, 6.44 GB, 187 minutes
  • Captured with either a pair of full-frequency Barcus Berry 4000 contact microphones (with their dedicated preamps), or a Sony PCM D100. A Sound Devices 702 recorder and Mixpre D mixer were also used.
  • Loops for wind turbine files that allow for it.

Are you looking for the sound of wind chimes? 

Evocative Sound and Visuals has recorded them too!

Behind the Scenes

Wind Turbine Specifics

  • Nordex N100: hub height = 100 meters/rotor diameter = 100 meters/Rated power = 2,500 kW/year online 2012
  • Suzlon S88: hub height = 79 meters/rotor diameter = 88 meters/Rated power=2.5 MW/year online 2009
  • UGE-1K: Rated power 1 kW
  • Vestas V27: rotor diameter = 27 meters/hub height 30 meters/Rated power 225 kW/year online 2006
  • Windspire Energy Model 800080: vertical axis wind turbine/Rated power 1.2 kW

Information above via the USGS’ U.S. Wind Turbine Database

Multiple 123.10 meter tall S88 wind turbines, manufactured by Suzlon Energy and installed in 2009, are seen at twilight in Glenns Ferry, Idaho on October 12, 2018. Part of the Mountain Home Wind Project, each turbine, with a rotor diameter of 88 metes, can produce 2.5 MW of electricity. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
Multiple 123.10 meter tall S88 wind turbines, manufactured by Suzlon Energy and installed in 2009, are seen at twilight in Glenns Ferry, Idaho on October 12, 2018. Part of the Mountain Home Wind Project, each turbine, with a rotor diameter of 88 metes, can produce 2.5 MW of electricity. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
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