The sounds of France are as unique as its culture. From the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees, metropolitan cities to small rural villages, every region has its own identity. To capture the sonic terroir of these places, immersive audio specialists Jason Strawley and Andrew Garraway toured the country recording ambiences, walla, and miscellaneous sounds in high-resolution Ambisonic and stereo formats.
Ideal for any production set in France, this library covers a range of urban, suburban, and natural locations. From Bordeaux and the surrounding wine country to the medieval fortress of Carcassonne, coastal Marseille and bustling Paris (including the bells of Notre-Dame), there’s a huge variety of city life and activity. Natural soundscapes range from the pristine Pyrenees mountains to the lush Camargue wetlands by the Rhône delta, as well as many rivers, waterfalls, and coastal areas in between.
France’s extremely low noise pollution made it possible to capture authentic ambiences without unwanted distractions, so you won’t have to cut around airplanes, music, or other unusable sounds. Historic city centers are devoid of cars and commercial music (although vehicle recordings are included), and the prevalence of railways means much of the countryside is free from airplane noise.
Jason and the mobile rig in Bordeaux
Urban recording in Marseille