The splendor of the National Parks is often broadcast through photo — and with good grounds . The vistas of wad summit , geysers , and river flows from sea to shining sea are truly striking . But what about the auditive experience of these protected farming ?

To conquer that experience , a squad from Arizona State University has createdThe Listen(n ) Project , an onlinedatabasefor the many auditory sensation of the National Parks of the American Southwest . Since 2013 , the radical has been collecting transonic samples from seven dissimilar sites include Joshua Tree , Death Valley , and Sequoia National Park . On the internet site you’re able to try everything frombirds chirpingto acar door slamfor a well - rounded documental - style soundtrack .

It is n’t just about the audio , either . To make the experience as real as potential , Listen(n ) has create the “ EcoRift experience . ” Using an Oculus Rift headset , they ’ve make a practical reality immersion with 360 - degree imaging and spherical audio technology so you get linguistic context with your soundbite . you may turn your nous to peep the landscape painting and the disturbance will set as if you ’re experiencing them in genuine aliveness . rake or sonority with modification as you tilt virtually in your surroundings .

Jarek Tuszynski, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

The team plan to extend building the database and provide parkland visitors and community with audio recording devices so they they can help tally to the sonic tarradiddle of a peculiar place . That includes working with forest fire fighter , who can help gather sounds from protect areas that are inaccessible to the world .

“ One of the most inspiring things is when we did one - day workshop during National Park Week , ” associate prof Garth Paine toldASU News . “ When you give the youngster a mike , a recorder and a brace of headphones , they are just blow away . I ’m endlessly dumbstruck by how they direct care and really investigate . ”

On October 16 , Listen(n ) will add another proportion to the project by releasing three piece of music derived from the common recording . Just another way to immerse yourself in National Park vibes even when you ’re hundreds of miles aside .