BOOM Library has announced the release a new sound effects collection recorded across two expeditions to the wetlands of Florida over a three year period. Led by field recordist Matt Mikkelsen, the project documents wild alligators, dense insect beds, wading birds, mud textures and long evolving ambiences captured in extreme heat and humidity.
Swamps follows the tradition established by BOOM Library’s highly regarded Thunderstorm Chaser collection. Both projects demanded long periods of observation, deep ecosystem knowledge and the ability to work in environments where equipment failures and physical discomfort are inevitable.
Mikkelsen approached Swamps by first studying the environment rather than recording immediately. Each sub ecosystem, including cypress groves, open wetlands and transitional areas, has its own acoustic behaviour. This informed the placement of the ORTF 3D rigs and shaped the long form recordings that define the collection. Across the two trips, Mikkelsen captured more than 150 hours of raw material, later refined into the final curated library.
All wildlife material in Swamps was recorded from animals behaving naturally in the wild. The alligator recordings, in particular, represent authentic territorial bellows at multiple distances. This makes a noticeable difference in tone and movement compared with recordings captured in controlled environments.
Swamps features
- Wild alligator bellows at multiple distances – Close, mid and distant recordings capturing genuine territorial and environmental behavior.
- Long evolving ambiences – Dawn, night, storm transitions and slow environmental changes recorded as uninterrupted takes.
- Insects and birds – Dense insect beds shifting with light and temperature, plus the behavior of egrets and ibises feeding in shallow water.
- Mud and water movement – Natural squelch, foot movement and wetland textures captured without staging or enhancement.
- Multi year recording scope – Two field expeditions across three years to allow for seasonal variation and environmental consistency.
Swamps is available now from BOOM Library at an introductory price of $92 USD / €79.20 EUR for the Stereo version and $260 USD / €223.20 EUR for the Surround version until December 23rd, 2025. After this date, the library will be listed at its standard price of $115 USD / €99 for Stereo version and $325 USD / €279 for Surround version.
More information: BOOM Library / Swamps
