Piping Systems

Specs

Gas, water and sewage piping sounds
46 pipe sound recordings
Around 3 mins per sound
Industrial sounds of 3 non-public municipal sites
96 kHz / 24 bit WAV files
Descriptive filenames
Embedded Soundminer metadata
3.6 GB Zip / Fast download

Description

This sound collection consists of close up sound effects, indoor and outdoor ambiences made in three different non-public municipal processing sites: A gas control station, a sewage plant and a waterworks. This library of industrial sounds includes ambiences and stereo contact mic recordings of active gas and water pipes, capturing the various resonating pipes in isolation.

We recorded the hissing of gas, low drones of water rushing through massive pipes, and the sounds of various stages of sewage processing recorded indoors and outdoors in multiple locations and rooms throughout the three facilities.
Total play time of all recordings is just under 2 hours.

Gear

Sound Devices 633, 2 x Neumann TLM 103, 2 x Sennheiser MKH 8040, 2 x Barcus Berry 4000

Locations

Gas Control Station

Waterworks

Sewage Plant

Examples

About Pipe Sounds

The sounds of gas and water running through industrial pipes, like the ones used in piping systems, create a distinctive blend of humming, droning, and rushing noises that stem from the physical properties of the pipes and the substances moving through them. These sounds are primarily the result of fluid dynamics and acoustic resonance within the pipe structures.

When gas or water flows through a pipe, it moves at varying speeds depending on the pressure, volume, and type of substance. As the fluid interacts with the interior surface of the pipe, friction and turbulence are generated, producing vibrations. These vibrations create sound waves that resonate inside the pipe. The pitch and intensity of the sound depend on several factors, including the diameter and length of the pipe, the material it’s made of, and the speed of the flow. Wider pipes tend to produce lower-pitched sounds, while narrower pipes generate higher frequencies, due to the difference in how air or liquid moves through them. Additionally, longer pipes may amplify the drone-like qualities, as sound waves bounce off the walls and travel over greater distances, creating a more resonant effect.

The phenomenon of resonance plays a significant role in shaping these sounds. When the frequency of the sound waves aligns with the natural frequency of the pipe, resonance occurs, amplifying certain tones and creating that deep, continuous humming or droning sound often associated with industrial piping. The size and material of the pipe affect this resonance, with metals often producing a clearer, more defined hum compared to other materials, due to their rigid structure and ability to transmit sound waves efficiently.

For game and film sound designers, these industrial piping sounds offer a rich source of atmospheric audio. The deep, droning hums and intermittent whooshes of gas or water moving through pipes can be used to enhance environments, creating an industrial or mechanical atmosphere. These sounds can be manipulated to fit various contexts, from the subtle background noise of a factory or spaceship to more intense, unsettling soundscapes in sci-fi or horror settings. The natural variation in pitch and resonance across different pipe types allows sound designers to layer these sounds, creating complex audio textures that evoke tension, movement, or even danger. By understanding the physics behind the sounds, designers can creatively use them to support the emotional tone of a scene, making industrial piping sounds not only functional but an essential tool in immersive audio design.

Reviews

“David Kamp and SHAPINGWAVES team have taken pipe ambience to a new level with Piping Systems. This very specific library could flesh out the duct work of an entire interactive spaceship with pipes to pump air, gas and sewage through the lungs, veins and intestines of the ship.”
–Designingsound.org