Main
  Front Page   Full Index   Photos   Blog   Vlog   FAQ
Account
Donate as much as you like, and receive a lifetime privileged access to this website.
iconDonate iconLog In
Your Favorites
Become a patron and access your favorite soundscapes from this section.
Site Favorites
 Distant Thunder  Japanese Garden  Irish Coast  Stormy Weather  Medieval Library  Floating  The Pilgrim  Rain on a Tent 
What's New
  Sign Up   RSS Feed   Mastodon
Kripalu, Massachusetts, USA
The myNoise Sampling Sessions' Photo Album
In May 2025, I was invited as an artist-in-residence at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health — a peaceful retreat nestled in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. The idea was to spend a week immersed in the place, inspired by its energy, nature, and people, and to create new sound generators for myNoise. I had hoped to capture the sounds of North American forests in spring, but the weather had other plans — unusually rainy and windy for the season. While I didn’t collect as many nature recordings as I’d hoped, what I did find exceeded all expectations: the warmth of the people. Ava, Jason, and Todd to name a few of the staff that welcomed me; and among the fellow artists, I found beautiful collaborators in Reggie, Shaun, and Corinne. Big thanks to all of them.

Discover these sounds in Gong Bath • Birds Valley • Mahican Song • Forest Voice
The welcoming view upon arrival at the center in Lenox, Massachusetts.
The double bedroom awaiting me: one bed for rest, the other for my equipment, naturally.
Surrounded by the verdant Berkshire Mountains, a land originally inhabited by the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.
As always, my microphones are set in place—capturing every sound over the course of a day and a night.
A BP-4025 microphone, shielded by a reliable windshield; the recorder discreetly hidden beneath the leaves.
In search of diverse biotopes to capture a broad range of sounds—this exact spot unveiled a nighttime chorus of spring peepers. Pictured here: a pair of AT3032 microphones.
The same microphone pair, now positioned at a different site. A tree trunk serves as a natural baffle, enhancing stereophonic separation much like a head between two ears.
Applying the same technique with a pair of self-made, budget-friendly microphones—ideal for challenging conditions like the persistent rain shown here.
A boom pole allows precise microphone placement... or hanging. Here, capturing the sound of rain falling on leaves at close range.
It rained most of the time during my stay, so I remained indoors for much of the week. My “studio” was a quiet room, shared with gongs. Here is a couple of the larger ones.
Introducing Reggie Hubbard, the master of Gongs.
And here I am—your devoted recordist. A full day of gong recording can have its side effects. Who said sound frequencies are always good for your health?
Shawn Stevens, also known as Standing Eagle, sharing his traditional Native American songs.
In the final days, as the weather cleared, I set out hiking, capturing as many natural sounds as possible.
Introducing Corinne Vosburg, the voice of the forest.
A nearby bird sanctuary offered potential, but the birds remained shy and the wind, too strong.
The Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
My buddy Reggie and I, sharing countless silent hours, listening and patiently waiting for each gong’s resonance to fade. The perfect way for sound lovers to bond! ;)

Thank you!

Sampling sessions abroad are only possible because of the generosity of the people making donations to this website. May those contributors be assured of my deepest gratitude! If you would like to foster the recording of new sounds, please support or keep supporting my work. Stéphane