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Sounds of Windsor

Soundscapes from Windsor, MA throughout the Seasons
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Hi there!

I am Chris Bolte, a sound recordist, sound designer, and audio engineer creating sounds for video games, movies and other forms of media who moved to Windsor in December of 2023.

When arriving in this lovely little town, I immediately fell in love with the stillness, the beautiful nature, and the welcoming community that makes Windsor what it is.

I want to invite you to experience the sonic world of Windsor throughout the seasons with immersive, relaxing soundscapes you can enjoy when you want to unwind, focus, or fall asleep. Be sure to wear your favorite headphones!

By the way, feel free to email me at bolttracks@gmail.com if you have any suggestions for future sound recordings or ideal recording locations.

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September 2024

A Very Quiet Night

Fall is coming fast here in Windsor, Massachusetts and the sounds of nature have already quieted down considerably. Being outside this time of year feels incredibly serene with just a few insects and birds being audible here and there. This recording is, as such, incredibly quiet, and features just a few chickadee calls, the distant babble of Westfield Brook, and some leaves rustling in the breeze.

What to listen for...

This is an amazing soundscape to simply unwind and let your thoughts wander to. I personally can almost feel the crisp air when listening back.

August 2024

Carolina Wren Duet

When leaving my recording rig out overnight recently, I managed to capture this incredibly charming duet of two Carolina Wrens underscored by the steady chirps of cricket, and gentle was of Westfield Brook.

What to listen for...

Enjoy this amazingly peaceful soundscape and try to imagine yourself out in the yard at night, witnessing this very musical conversation.

July 2024

Calming Thunderstorm

This summer has seen no shortage of rain and thunderstorms here in Windsor, so I thought it fitting to share this calming recording of one of them captured indoors, right under the roof!

What to listen for...

Immerse yourself in this heavy thunderstorm knowing full well that you're protected by a solid roof and walls, and listen as the thunder and rain slowly fade away

June 2024

The Early Birds

What I'm enjoying most this time of year is hearing nature wake up and break into song in the early morning. One such morning, I decided to record the birds singing close to our house and ended up with this very relaxing soundscape.

What to listen for...

Sit back and enjoy the sounds of black-capped chickadees, red-eyed vireos, and eastern phoebes signing along in the wee hours of a mild June morning. And while you're at it, maybe you can even help me identify the bird or mammal that can be heard calling in the background, sounding almost like a person yelling. I've been looking through a bunch of species and haven't found a match thus far. If you do know, I'd appreciate a message to the email listed above!

May 2024

Blissful Forest Ambience

It's finally warm and birds all around Windsor are making themselves known loud and proud. Immerse yourself in this blissful forest soundscape filled with the songs of chickadees, song sparrows, and even individual spring peepers. Captured in an untouched part of the woods, there is no manmade noise in this recording.

What to listen for...

There's not too much to say about this one but to sit back and enjoy the concert of birds and peepers and try to imagine a mild breeze brushing by every now and then.

Calm Forest Rain

There is something uniquely calming about the sounds of rain, and I was thrilled when I managed to find a well-sheltered spot in the woods near Windsor to record it from.

What to listen for...

This soundscape should conjure up the feeling of taking in the humid, warm air during late spring showers and the smells of nature still coming into bloom.

April 2024

Spring Peeper Crescendo

T'is the season for spring peepers, the notoriously musical frogs that provide the soundtrack of the region as days and nights slowly get warmer and shy buds and blossoms start showing up around us. After some scouting and studying of property maps, I located a secluded pond on state land that felt like an ideal location to capture this nightly concert. I set up my recorder and microphones for two days and got some amazing recordings of rain, birds, and, of course, peepers!

What to listen for...

Immerse yourself and picture standing at the edge of the pond as the light of day slowly fades and the chorus of peepers begin their song. Slowly, more and more of them join in from all around you. Be sure to not increase your volume too much at the start as it will get louder as the chorus grows.

Westfield Brook and Chickadees

In typical April fashion, the weather has been all over the place lately. After several days of snow, April 9th brought us some wonderful rays of sunshine, snow melt, and the calls of many chickadees. Sadly, that didn't mean we were going to stay dry for all that long. Here's to warmer days ahead.

What to listen for...

Relax to the lively sound of Westfield Brook and the calls of black-capped chickadees echoing around the woods that surround you. It's a beautifully simple soundscape to let your mind wander.

March 2024

Lively Brook and Shy Birds

We've entered the time of the year where the weather seems to have an identity crisis. Snow one day, near 60-degree temperatures with blue skies the next, followed by rain. March 13th, the day I captured this recording exemplifies this perfectly. It had been nearly 60 just a few days before, only for the snow to come back just as quickly.

A day later, the sun showed herself and the snow started to melt, waking up the many water runoffs, brooks, and creaks in our neck of the woods, a few lonely birds could also be heard. A perfect day for recording!

What to listen for...

I always find the sounds of brooks and creeks to be incredibly relaxing. I can feel my thoughts wash away as I listen to the dripping, flowing, and soft rumble of the water washing past me. Try to savor all the little nuances in the sound of the water while imagining the cold air giving way to pleasantly warm sunbeams.

February 2024

Strong Winds & Creaking Trees

As you most certainly can recall, the closing days of February brought us some strong winds and took down quite a few trees. Among the things that didn't stand a chance was our greenhouse, which the storm made quick work of.

Regardless, there is beauty in witnessing the power of nature, and on the night of February 29th, I managed to capture the amazing sounds of these strong winds blowing through the treetops around me.

What to listen for...

Even though at first it might sound like pure noise, try to intently listen for how the tonality of the wind changes as its intensity ebbs and flows. Some gusts of wind almost sound like planes flying by. Listen for the old trees creaking under the immense forces without giving in and the rustling of a thin layer of new snow being blown across a thick sheet of ice. Occasionally, you will hear branches snapping and falling.

This recording was captured with a so-called "Ambisonic" microphone which allows the listener to hear sounds all around them. If you close your eyes, you will start to notice how the wind seemingly envelops you from all sides.

Want to support my endeavors?

If you would like to support my recording endeavors and help me share the sounds of our region and the world with more people, sharing this page with your friends and family is greatly appreciated. If you want to go even further, any donations, no matter how small, are always greatly appreciated and can be made by clicking the button below.
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