Forest sounds

Forest is less a single sound than a sense of space. Leaves moving, distance, the particular quiet of somewhere with a lot of soft surfaces to absorb sound — it is the layer that decides where a mix takes place rather than what is happening in it.

Because it is broad and unstructured, it masks better than its volume suggests and it tolerates long sessions well. There is nothing rhythmic to lock onto and nothing sharp to flinch at, which makes it a good base for reading and for work that runs for hours.

It is also the most flexible starting point in the library. Add birds and it becomes morning; add rain and it becomes weather under a canopy; add wind and the whole canopy starts moving; add a fireplace and it becomes a camp.

Set it as the bed and build on top. Most people end up running forest a little louder than they expect, because it is the layer that carries the room rather than the detail.