Geolocated ambient recordings from cathedrals, forests, coastlines and cities — sign in to explore the archive.
A living archive of the world's acoustic environments
Geolocated ambient recordings from cathedrals, forests, coastlines and cities — captured, archived and shared for interest, discovery, and research.
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Heard something worth capturing? Add your recording to the archive.
The Archive
The SoundArk is a growing global archive of ambient acoustic recordings — sounds that capture the essence of a location. Not speech, not music, but the acoustic signature of a space: the resonance of a cathedral nave, the texture of a forest floor, the rhythm of a coastal shore.
Each recording is precisely geolocated, time-stamped and catalogued. Together they form a living document of the world’s sonic environments — many of which are changing, or may be lost.
How It Works
Use your phone or any device with a microphone to capture an ambient sound — no speech, no music, just the acoustic character of a place. New to field recording? Read our Recording Guide for tips on getting good levels.
Pin your recording to its exact location — tap the map, search a place name, or enter coordinates.
Approved contributors can choose to share a recording to the Community Map, where it becomes freely accessible to listeners, researchers and anyone curious about the acoustic world. Otherwise, it stays on your own personal map, visible only to you.
Choose a file or drag it here
WAV, MP3, AIFF or M4A · compressed to MP3 at upload
Choose an image or drag it here
JPG, PNG, WEBP or HEIC · resized to 600×600px
Click anywhere on the map below to place your pin.
Your recording has been added to the archive.