About the Portland Sound Map

The Portland Sound Map is a collaboration between Soundscape Planner and Designer, Kenya Williams and Montreal Sound Artist, Max Stein. This web-based soundscape archive allows users to explore, experience and upload audio field recordings to a map of Portland, Oregon.

This sound map serves as a means to increase the public’s soundscape awareness and profile the acoustic uniqueness and character of the city’s neighborhoods, spaces and places. In addition, this map functions as an audible time capsule with the goal of preserving sounds before they become extinct. Sound maps are in many ways the most effective archival tool of the cultural, historical, artistic, political and technological characteristics of the soundscape since the soundscape is constantly changing. Soundmapping promotes active listening and the Portland Sound Map offers an interface for users to explore and listen to the sonic fabric of the city with purpose and attention that is not often given to sound phenomena of our environment.

It is our goal for people to engage in attentive listening by visiting and experiencing these points of acoustic interest firsthand. This encourages increased soundscape awareness, providing people the opportunity to promote and protect the soundscape and build stronger senses of place and community.

Uploading a sound

We are currently accepting submissions and plan to do so indefinitely. To upload a field recording, click the Upload link at the top of the page.

Licensing, Reuse & Attribution:

We have implemented a Creative Commons Share Alike Agreement.

This license deems the recording free to be copied, distributed, transmitted, and also adapted under the following conditions:

Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (you must give credit to the author of the work).

Share Alike. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar licence to this one.

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