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Contact-mic recordings – field recordings

Contact microphones pick up vibrations inside solid objects – fences, bridges, railings, trees – instead of sound in the air. The results are often surprising, musical and otherworldly.

149recordings
27countries

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High-Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O] – Naaldwijk
CC BY-ND 3.0by info.sem.zeemanInternet Archive
0:00
Field Recording: Zoom H1e. Ambiance en gare…. En attendant le train – Gif-sur-Yvette
Public Domain Markby antoine.acInternet Archive
0:00
Field Recording. Périphérique Parisien Bondé et en surchauffe – Paris 20 Ménilmontant
Public Domain Markby antoine.acInternet Archive
0:00
A20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O] – Schiedam
10:15CC BY-ND 3.0by info.sem.zeemanInternet Archive
10:15
Phytophony – Falmouth
Public Domain Markby Jamie HouseInternet Archive
0:00
Walking Holme Fence, Holme MossSound inside the rail plus a displaying hoverflyCarbridge & BirdsThe last iceStorm at taubanesentralenMIne 7, LongyearbyenMine 7, LongyearbyenMine 7, LongyearbyenFence with vines and wind 2Sounds from the traintripOne square meter: reed and cableOne square meter: metal and concrete gateDanube Canal Vienna - Riverharp RecordingListening to trains through a metal fence and contact micropSonic Spindling at 'Playground on Fire'Fence vibration and a signalFence, radar signalAlexanderplatz, tuned city, bucky ballListening to the tall grasses hitting a glass sheetGeophone on the ridgeFence in the wind next to a marsh (spring)2014-04-23 HDDEssen, am schultenhof, traffic light sound signalsListening to the wind and rain through the gate between FirsElectricity Box At Bell StationBlack gate at the edge of Kareela oval, near my houseTransmission tower in a small area of bushland in JannaliBridge across from Gymea Technology High School, the high scAmazing droning air conditioner and then it stoppedClanging wires inside a lamp postBridge 000: Improvisación colectiva para puente peatonal y mContact microphonesKarate Grading (Contacts)Kopisty (the inside of the pipes)A Fence In The WindWind in a fenceEarthworms eatingFamished slug eatingBonaforthFence160718Train from ParisAl Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Fountain in the CouAl Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Traffic Through MetAl Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Clicking Gas MeterWire Fence in the WindWreck Beach Reeds - Windy_ReedsFerns growingBlackhallMill_Bridge_DerwentReduxFrankKojayProject_010517_16Mole diggingEnd of 2017 CelebrationsBridge cable, strange with a contact microphoneViolin Builder Carving A ViolaNatural art installation: blown sand on machir bayMontreal: 4702 ch. queen mary - 4702 ch. queen maryUtena, Lithuania, under the bridge, re-visitedUtena, Lithuania, underbridge study in two partsNarkūnai, Lithuania, ghost trains on abandoned bridgeUtena, Lithuania, temporary fenceAtkočiškės, Lithuania, abandoned swingĄžuolija, Lithuania, sonic portrait at abandoned watertowVilnius, Lithuania, abandoned Rotonda caffeeGrybeliai, Lithuania, study of watertowerContact mic at the railing of the bridgeTrain passing by in the Wirikuta Desert (Mexico, SLP)A windy day in the woodsElderberry TreeUtena, Lithuania, at electric substationAukštadvaris, Lithuania, in The Devils PitAncient wetland wood in a gale; inside and outside a creaky WLD 2020 Hydrophone recordings of creekWaves sounding in and around a bleached tree trunk lying on Jūrmala, Latvia, empty sport hall contactŠiaudiniai, Lithuania, watertowerAntalgė, Lithuania, sculpture King Mindaugas and Queen MortaAntalgė, Lithuania, sculpture TimeThumping trams, speedboats underwater, creaking mooringsMotorboat Barge Contact MicAlytus, Lithuania, White Rose BridgeCrane BoomVibrations in the elevated structure as a UBahn train passesHissing pipes amongst trees, normal & contact mic mixHudson_Croton_PointDrainage PipeKlondike Park Overlook PlaneKlondike Park Lake BridgeWillow tree branches brushing against metal fenceUtena, Lithuania, tiny ice droneChorillo Miraflores Valley FenceMalvern, Worcestershire, UKRecordings in the Garden - Experimental location recordingBees Recordings in the Beehive Through The Metal Net with CoBees Recordings Through Wooden Desk in the Beehive with MagnVyzuoneles, Lithuania, abandoned manor (study)Sabrina BridgeOnde StationnaireFlagpoleStorm in a Birch TreeWindgusts through palmtree fronds and fibres heard by 3 contBig Boy No. 4014Sound barrier near a roadMarketplace tent metal frame soundsTwo flagpolesFavourite Door A1Favourite door B 1Kaunas, Lithuania, abandoned autodromWind in abandoned fencing-wire as heard by contactmicsWood ants explore contact mics placed on their nestCreaking tree 1 internal and external sounds mixedWater station, overflowCrystal Bridges BridgeMetal pipe in the forest - Inside the pipeCastlewood Ruin FenceWater filter in 3 parts - water filter part 1Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 2Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 3Sounding a metal window grill on the old ice factoryMixed external/internal soundsParallel worlds: Millennium Bridge deep drone and atmosphereMillenium Bridge wires resonating in rainParallel sonic worlds: Birchtrees & Tate Modern riverside벌집_bee hiveWire FenceSinging ViaductMoleUtena, Lithuania, young tree in windStopped ReeferRain rain rainStorm Isha (2)Storm Isha (1) + electricity cutStorm JocelyneRain rec. via airharpRain rec. via air harp & ambient micsWind rec. via ambi mics & airharpGrafham Water, listening to a fishing boat on the local reseTUIL Arena Security FenceTwo layers of sound, young children play in the forest, whilInside the Brunnen metallic sculptureA20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O]High-Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O]Old metro access doorsPhytophonyA man with Wagner Group sew-on badge was crossing the LibertWalkway to PontonGraffiti wallPedestrian bridgeField Recording: Zoom H1e. Ambiance en gare…. En attendant lField Recording. Périphérique Parisien Bondé et en surchauffSelf-actuating panel with contact micsVibrations inside St Saviour's Bridge; a contact microphonesGare de Cluj
149 contact-mic recordings recordings

By country

Recordings

Spectrogram of High-Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O]

High-Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O]

Naaldwijk, The Netherlands

2023
 Spectrogram of Field Recording: Zoom H1e. Ambiance en gare…. En attendant le train

Field Recording: Zoom H1e. Ambiance en gare…. En attendant le train

Gif-sur-Yvette, France

2024
 Spectrogram of Field Recording. Périphérique Parisien Bondé et en surchauffe

Field Recording. Périphérique Parisien Bondé et en surchauffe

Paris 20 Ménilmontant, France

2025
 Spectrogram of A20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O]

A20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O]

Schiedam, The Netherlands

10:152023
 Spectrogram of Phytophony

Phytophony

Falmouth, United Kingdom

2026
 Spectrogram of Wind rec. via ambi mics & airharp

Wind rec. via ambi mics & airharp

Limerick, Ireland

2024
 Spectrogram of Sonic Spindling at 'Playground on Fire'

Sonic Spindling at 'Playground on Fire'

Oxford, United Kingdom

2013
 Spectrogram of Alytus, Lithuania, White Rose Bridge

Alytus, Lithuania, White Rose Bridge

Alytus, Lithuania

3:092020
 Spectrogram of A man with Wagner Group sew-on badge was crossing the Liberty Bridge in Budapest

A man with Wagner Group sew-on badge was crossing the Liberty Bridge…

Budapest, Hungary

2022
 Spectrogram of Rain rain rain

Rain rain rain

Limerick, Ireland

21:232024
 Spectrogram of Ferns growing

Ferns growing

Fleurus, Belgium

9:212017
 Spectrogram of Rain rec. via airharp

Rain rec. via airharp

Limerick, Ireland

2024
 Spectrogram of Alexanderplatz, tuned city, bucky ball

Alexanderplatz, tuned city, bucky ball

Berlin, Germany

3:482008
 Spectrogram of Rain rec. via air harp & ambient mics

Rain rec. via air harp & ambient mics

Limerick, Ireland

2024
 Spectrogram of Clanging wires inside a lamp post

Clanging wires inside a lamp post

Reading, United Kingdom

2015
 Spectrogram of Storm in a Birch Tree

Storm in a Birch Tree

Great Malvern, United Kingdom

3:202026
 Spectrogram of Earthworms eating

Earthworms eating

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

4:302016
 Spectrogram of 2014-04-23 HDD

2014-04-23 HDD

Madrid, Spain

4:532014
 Spectrogram of Waves sounding in and around a bleached tree trunk lying on the beach

Waves sounding in and around a bleached tree trunk lying on the beach

Lowestoft, United Kingdom

6:482020
 Spectrogram of Recordings in the Garden - Experimental location recording

Recordings in the Garden - Experimental location recording

Great Malvern, United Kingdom

5:002024
 Spectrogram of Thumping trams, speedboats underwater, creaking moorings

Thumping trams, speedboats underwater, creaking moorings

Linz, Austria

4:002020
 Spectrogram of Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 1

Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 1

Stowmarket, United Kingdom

50:042022
 Spectrogram of Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 2

Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 2

Stowmarket, United Kingdom

50:042022
 Spectrogram of Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 3

Water filter in 3 parts - water filter part 3

Stowmarket, United Kingdom

50:042022
 Spectrogram of Vibrations inside St Saviour's Bridge; a contact microphones hears wind, tides and heavy steps on a stormy day

Vibrations inside St Saviour's Bridge; a contact microphones hears…

London, United Kingdom

5:512006
 Spectrogram of BlackhallMill_Bridge_DerwentReduxFrankKojayProject_010517_1615

BlackhallMill_Bridge_DerwentReduxFrankKojayProject_010517_1615

Consett, United Kingdom

2017
 Spectrogram of Klondike Park Overlook Plane

Klondike Park Overlook Plane

Wildwood, United States

1:292020
 Spectrogram of Parallel worlds: Millennium Bridge deep drone and atmosphere

Parallel worlds: Millennium Bridge deep drone and atmosphere

London, United Kingdom

6:042022
 Spectrogram of Sounding a metal window grill on the old ice factory

Sounding a metal window grill on the old ice factory

Braník, Czechia

1:422022
 Spectrogram of Chorillo Miraflores Valley Fence

Chorillo Miraflores Valley Fence

Primavera, Chile

4:482021
 Spectrogram of Famished slug eating

Famished slug eating

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

7:062016
 Spectrogram of Geophone on the ridge

Geophone on the ridge

Exeter, United Kingdom

2:462012
 Spectrogram of Elderberry Tree

Elderberry Tree

Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom

8:372019
 Spectrogram of Sounds from the traintrip

Sounds from the traintrip

Avellino, Italy

5:042012
 Spectrogram of Transmission tower in a small area of bushland in Jannali

Transmission tower in a small area of bushland in Jannali

Miranda, Australia

9:412014
 Spectrogram of WLD 2020 Hydrophone recordings of creek

WLD 2020 Hydrophone recordings of creek

O'Connor-Parkview, Canada

7:302020
 Spectrogram of Malvern, Worcestershire, UK

Malvern, Worcestershire, UK

Great Malvern, United Kingdom

17:282021
 Spectrogram of Big Boy No. 4014

Big Boy No. 4014

Kirkwood, United States

2026
 Spectrogram of Natural art installation: blown sand on machir bay

Natural art installation: blown sand on machir bay

Unnamed Road, United Kingdom

2:212018
 Spectrogram of Onde Stationnaire

Onde Stationnaire

Toulouse, France

3:152021
 Spectrogram of Ancient wetland wood in a gale; inside and outside a creaky tree

Ancient wetland wood in a gale; inside and outside a creaky tree

Lowestoft, United Kingdom

12:442020
 Spectrogram of Black gate at the edge of Kareela oval, near my house

Black gate at the edge of Kareela oval, near my house

Miranda, Australia

4:552014
 Spectrogram of Wind in abandoned fencing-wire as heard by contactmics

Wind in abandoned fencing-wire as heard by contactmics

Templin, Germany

4:462021
 Spectrogram of Listening to the wind and rain through the gate between First Marsh and Second Marsh

Listening to the wind and rain through the gate between First Marsh…

Exeter, United Kingdom

3:242014
 Spectrogram of Singing Viaduct

Singing Viaduct

Kendal, United Kingdom

2:542022
 Spectrogram of Parallel sonic worlds: Birchtrees & Tate Modern riverside

Parallel sonic worlds: Birchtrees & Tate Modern riverside

London, United Kingdom

6:092022
 Spectrogram of Bees Recordings Through Wooden Desk in the Beehive with Magnetic Adapter Of Contact Microphone

Bees Recordings Through Wooden Desk in the Beehive with Magnetic…

Gorizia, Italy

1:182020
 Spectrogram of 벌집_bee hive

벌집_bee hive

Chuncheon, South Korea

32:492022
 Spectrogram of Storm Isha (2)

Storm Isha (2)

Limerick, Ireland

11:172024
 Spectrogram of Storm Isha (1) + electricity cut

Storm Isha (1) + electricity cut

Limerick, Ireland

4:372024
 Spectrogram of Storm Jocelyne

Storm Jocelyne

Limerick, Ireland

7:172024
 Spectrogram of Mixed external/internal sounds

Mixed external/internal sounds

Braník, Czechia

6:262022
 Spectrogram of Mole

Mole

Stowmarket, United Kingdom

2025
 Spectrogram of Old metro access doors

Old metro access doors

Puente de Vallecas, Spain

1:022025
 Spectrogram of Train passing by in the Wirikuta Desert (Mexico, SLP)

Train passing by in the Wirikuta Desert (Mexico, SLP)

SLP 6, Mexico

2:342012
 Spectrogram of Essen, am schultenhof, traffic light sound signals

Essen, am schultenhof, traffic light sound signals

Essen, Germany

2:272014
 Spectrogram of Water station, overflow

Water station, overflow

Karow, Germany

3:302021
 Spectrogram of Listening to the tall grasses hitting a glass sheet

Listening to the tall grasses hitting a glass sheet

Exeter, United Kingdom

14:522013
 Spectrogram of Al Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Traffic Through Metal Entrance Gates

Al Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Traffic Through Metal…

Umm Suqaym, United Arab Emirates

2016
 Spectrogram of Metal pipe in the forest - Inside the pipe

Metal pipe in the forest - Inside the pipe

Lingen, Germany

1:452022
 Spectrogram of Mole digging

Mole digging

Troyes, France

9:002017
 Spectrogram of Creaking tree 1 internal and external sounds mixed

Creaking tree 1 internal and external sounds mixed

Templin, Germany

5:592021
 Spectrogram of Two layers of sound, young children play in the forest, while wood ants build their nest nearby

Two layers of sound, young children play in the forest, while wood…

Charlottenburg, Germany

4:332025
 Spectrogram of Grybeliai, Lithuania, study of watertower

Grybeliai, Lithuania, study of watertower

Utena, Lithuania

2019
 Spectrogram of Vibrations in the elevated structure as a UBahn train passes

Vibrations in the elevated structure as a UBahn train passes

Kreuzberg, Germany

4:582020
 Spectrogram of Wreck Beach Reeds - Windy_Reeds

Wreck Beach Reeds - Windy_Reeds

University Endowment Lands, Canada

2017
 Spectrogram of Drainage Pipe

Drainage Pipe

Kirkwood, United States

2:002020
 Spectrogram of Wind in a fence

Wind in a fence

Millau, France

4:482016
 Spectrogram of Electricity Box At Bell Station

Electricity Box At Bell Station

Blue Mountains, Australia

5:362014
 Spectrogram of Castlewood Ruin Fence

Castlewood Ruin Fence

Ballwin, United States

4:472022
 Spectrogram of Gare de Cluj

Gare de Cluj

Cluj-Napoca, Romania

7:082006
 Spectrogram of Listening to trains through a metal fence and contact microphones

Listening to trains through a metal fence and contact microphones

Brussels, Belgium

5:402013
 Spectrogram of Two flagpoles

Two flagpoles

Kaunas, Lithuania

22:282021
 Spectrogram of Kopisty (the inside of the pipes)

Kopisty (the inside of the pipes)

Most, Czechia

4:392015
 Spectrogram of Aukštadvaris, Lithuania, in The Devils Pit

Aukštadvaris, Lithuania, in The Devils Pit

Aukštadvario seniūnija, Lithuania

3:372020
 Spectrogram of Bridge 000: Improvisación colectiva para puente peatonal y micrófonos de contacto, Cuenca

Bridge 000: Improvisación colectiva para puente peatonal y…

Cuenca, Spain

5:062014
 Spectrogram of Utena, Lithuania, at electric substation

Utena, Lithuania, at electric substation

Utena, Lithuania

2020
 Spectrogram of Motorboat Barge Contact Mic

Motorboat Barge Contact Mic

Wildwood, United States

3:372020
 Spectrogram of Contact microphones

Contact microphones

Poznań, Poland

3:012015
 Spectrogram of Narkūnai, Lithuania, ghost trains on abandoned bridge

Narkūnai, Lithuania, ghost trains on abandoned bridge

Utena, Lithuania

2018
 Spectrogram of Al Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Clicking Gas Meter

Al Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Clicking Gas Meter

Umm Suqaym, United Arab Emirates

2016
 Spectrogram of Fence vibration and a signal

Fence vibration and a signal

Neukölln, Germany

3:302013
 Spectrogram of Windgusts through palmtree fronds and fibres heard by 3 contactmics

Windgusts through palmtree fronds and fibres heard by 3 contactmics

Amora, Portugal

3:182021
 Spectrogram of Favourite Door A1

Favourite Door A1

Mannheim, Germany

1:352021
 Spectrogram of Favourite door B 1

Favourite door B 1

Mannheim, Germany

1:522021
 Spectrogram of MIne 7, Longyearbyen

MIne 7, Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

2:422012
 Spectrogram of Mine 7, Longyearbyen

Mine 7, Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

0:362012
 Spectrogram of Mine 7, Longyearbyen

Mine 7, Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

3:132011
 Spectrogram of Millenium Bridge wires resonating in rain

Millenium Bridge wires resonating in rain

London, United Kingdom

5:102022
 Spectrogram of Karate Grading (Contacts)

Karate Grading (Contacts)

Reading, United Kingdom

2:032015

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