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How Should You Record a UFO Noise?

A careful recording, location notes, timing, and comparison checks can make an unusual sound report much more useful.

On this page

  • What to capture immediately
  • Useful notes and context
  • Common mistakes to avoid
Preview for How Should You Record a UFO Noise?

Introduction

If you hear a sound that seems connected to a UFO sighting, the most useful thing you can do is record it carefully and document the circumstances immediately. Most unusual aerial noises turn out to have conventional explanations such as aircraft, helicopters, drones, industrial equipment, atmospheric effects or distant traffic. However, many reports become impossible to assess because witnesses rely on memory rather than recordings, precise timing and location details.

Overview image for Record It A useful UFO noise report is not built around dramatic descriptions. It is built around evidence: an audio recording, notes about where you were standing, the direction of the sound, weather conditions, whether other people heard it and what known sources were nearby. Sound researchers and acoustic monitoring programmes routinely depend on structured recordings and metadata because context is often as important as the sound itself. [NCEI]ncei.noaa.govNCEIPassive Acoustic Data | National Centers for EnvironmentalMarch 1, 2022 — 17 Sept 2024 — Passive acoustic monitoring is a powerful observational tool that NOAA uses to detect and characterize sou…Published: March 1, 2022

What to Capture Immediately

The first few minutes matter most. If an unusual sound is still occurring, focus on preserving information rather than trying to interpret it.

[Record:]rwsc.orgData Management & Storage Best Practices for Long-termrecord) metadata information on sound files in sound analysis software. • Check that date/times line up in sound files with what is recor…

  • The sound itself using a phone, audio recorder or camera.
  • The exact time, preferably down to the minute.
  • Your location.
  • The direction the sound appears to come from.
  • Whether the sound is stationary, moving closer or moving away.
  • Any visible lights, aircraft or unusual objects.
  • Reactions from other witnesses nearby.

If possible, make a continuous recording rather than repeatedly starting and stopping. Continuous audio preserves changes in pitch, volume and rhythm that may help later identification.

While recording, speak occasional observations into the microphone:

  • “The sound is coming from the north.”
  • “It became louder at 22:14.”
  • “A helicopter just appeared.”
  • “The sound stopped suddenly.”

These spoken notes create a timeline that can later be matched against flight records, weather data or other witness reports.

Record It illustration 1

Why Location and Timing Matter So Much

Many mystery-sound investigations fail because the witness remembers the noise but not the circumstances.

A report becomes far more useful when it includes:

DetailWhy it mattersExact timeAllows comparison with aircraft tracking, satellite passes and local eventsExact locationHelps estimate distance and directionWeather conditionsWind can carry or distort sound over long distancesDurationHelps distinguish transient events from continuous sourcesNearby structuresBuildings can reflect and amplify soundsNumber of witnessesConfirms whether the sound was widely heard or highly localised

Acoustic monitoring projects often place heavy emphasis on metadata because recordings without contextual information are difficult to interpret correctly. [NCEI]ncei.noaa.govNCEIPassive Acoustic Data | National Centers for EnvironmentalMarch 1, 2022 — 17 Sept 2024 — Passive acoustic monitoring is a powerful observational tool that NOAA uses to detect and characterize sou…Published: March 1, 2022

Even a rough note such as “heard from a field two kilometres south of town during calm weather” is more valuable than a recording uploaded later with no location details.

How to Make a Better Recording

Most modern smartphones can capture useful evidence, but a few habits improve the result significantly.

Reduce handling noise

Hold the device steadily or place it on a fixed surface.

Finger movement, clothing friction and wind striking the microphone can overwhelm quieter sounds. Field-recording specialists routinely treat handling noise as one of the biggest obstacles to useful recordings. [Mindful Audio]mindful-audio.comMindful Audio Noise and field recordingMindful AudioNoise and field recordingApril 4, 2023 — 4 Apr 2023 — Often over- and mis- used, the word noise means something specific in…Published: April 4, 2023

Unmasking noise! Discover 3 effective methods to track sound paths

Channel: Soundproofist · Views: 11.4K · Uploaded: January 2024 · Length: 4 minutes 5 seconds

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Record the surrounding environment

Do not zoom in digitally or try to isolate only the mysterious sound.

Background noises can be extremely useful later because they provide reference points. Passing vehicles, birds, church bells or nearby conversations can help establish scale, direction and timing.

Capture several minutes before and after

If the sound persists, continue recording even when nothing dramatic appears to be happening.

The beginning and ending phases often reveal clues. A supposed UFO hum may gradually resolve into a distant aircraft engine, industrial machine or drone once enough audio is collected.

Avoid aggressive editing

Keep the original file.

Noise reduction software can sometimes help clarify recordings, but investigators generally prefer access to the untouched version first. Audio-forensics guidance stresses preserving original recordings before enhancement because processing can accidentally remove important information or create misleading artefacts. [SWGDE - SWGDE]swgde.orgSWGDE - SWGDESWGDE Best Practices for Forensic AudioJune 9, 2022 — Eliminate or minimize sound distractions in the audio laboratory to pr…Published: June 9, 2022

How to Check Whether the Sound Has a Conventional Source

Before assuming a UFO connection, compare the sound against known possibilities.

Aircraft and helicopters

Aircraft remain one of the most common explanations for unusual aerial sounds.

Several factors can make ordinary aircraft seem strange:

  • Temperature inversions can carry sound unexpectedly far.
  • Wind can change the apparent direction.
  • Clouds can reflect sound.
  • Large aircraft can produce deep, persistent hums.
  • Helicopters can create rhythmic vibrations that seem unfamiliar at distance.

Aircraft-noise researchers note that identifying a source becomes harder in areas with high ambient noise and easier in quieter environments where aircraft stand out clearly. [gacc.org.uk]gacc.org.ukAmbient noiseMarch 30, 2016 — by R Ummels · Cited by 2 — In the rural area it is illustrated that aircraft noise has a significant higher sound exposu…Published: March 30, 2016

Checking public flight-tracking services for the recorded time can often resolve a report quickly.

Record It illustration 2

Drones

Consumer drones produce distinctive high-frequency buzzing sounds.

Their apparent location can be deceptive because the sound reflects from buildings and terrain. Research into drone acoustic detection shows that drones have identifiable sound signatures, although urban environments make classification more difficult. [arXiv]arxiv.orgarXivEmpirical Study of Drone Sound Detection in Real-Life Environment with Deep Neural NetworksJanuary 20, 2017…Published: January 20, 2017

Industrial and infrastructure noise

Many persistent hum reports eventually trace back to:

  • Ventilation systems
  • Electrical substations
  • Factories
  • Water pumps
  • Construction equipment
  • Rail traffic

Low-frequency sounds are particularly difficult to locate accurately because humans are poor at determining their direction.

Aircraft Noise 101: Introduction to Noise Science and Modeling

Channel: Naval Safety Center Archives · Views: 413 · Uploaded: September 2015 · Length: 10 minutes

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Weather and atmospheric effects

Strong winds, temperature layers and unusual atmospheric conditions can transport sounds over surprisingly large distances.

This is one reason why some witnesses hear what seems to be a nearby aerial source when the actual origin is many kilometres away.

Looking at the Sound More Closely

If the recording is clear enough, free audio software can reveal patterns that are difficult to hear directly.

A spectrogram displays sound frequencies over time and can help show whether a noise is:

  • Constant or pulsing
  • Mechanical or irregular
  • Low-frequency or high-frequency
  • Increasing or decreasing in pitch

Acoustic-monitoring programmes commonly use waveform and spectrogram analysis because visual patterns often reveal details that casual listening misses. [RWSC]rwsc.orgData Management & Storage Best Practices for Long-termrecord) metadata information on sound files in sound analysis software. • Check that date/times line up in sound files with what is recor… [NOAA Institutional Repository]repository.library.noaa.govnoaa 52227 DS1NOAA Institutional RepositoryMonitoring spatial and temporal underwater soundscape…by JA Stanley · 2021 · Cited by 13 — To quantify am…

For example:

  • A steady horizontal band may indicate machinery.
  • Repeating pulses may suggest rotor blades.
  • Broad noisy bands can indicate wind.
  • Rapid frequency shifts may indicate a moving aircraft.

This does not prove a source, but it helps narrow possibilities.

Record It illustration 3

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Several habits make unusual-sound reports much less useful.

Recording only after the event

The most valuable evidence is captured while the sound is occurring.

A detailed memory recorded hours later is less reliable than a rough recording made immediately.

Adding dramatic interpretations

Statements such as “it could not have been an aircraft” are less useful than describing exactly what was heard.

Focus on observations rather than conclusions.

The Proof Is Out There: 4 DISTURBING SOUNDS CAUGHT ON TAPE | History

Channel: HISTORY · Views: 2.4M · Uploaded: July 2022 · Length: 19 minutes

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Forgetting environmental conditions

Wind, rain, traffic and nearby machinery should always be noted.

A mystery sound cannot be evaluated properly without understanding the wider soundscape.

Uploading only edited clips

Short, heavily processed clips often remove contextual clues.

Whenever possible, keep and share the original recording.

Ignoring witness separation

If several people heard the sound, ask them to write independent descriptions before discussing it together.

Comparing independent accounts can reveal genuine consistencies and reduce the risk of shared memory effects.

What Makes a UFO Noise Report Worth Investigating

A report becomes significantly more valuable when several pieces of evidence line up:

  • A clear recording exists.
  • Exact time and location are known.
  • Multiple independent witnesses heard the same thing.
  • Weather conditions are documented.
  • Flight activity and obvious local sources have been checked.
  • The original audio remains available.

Even then, an unexplained sound is not automatically evidence of a UFO. The strongest reports are not the most dramatic ones; they are the ones with enough detail to allow serious checking. Careful recording, accurate notes and methodical comparison with known sources give an unusual noise report the best chance of being understood, whether the explanation turns out to be ordinary or genuinely unresolved.

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Endnotes

  1. Source: ncei.noaa.gov
    Title: NCEIPassive Acoustic Data | National Centers for Environmental
    Link: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/passive-acoustic-data
    Source snippet

    March 1, 2022 — 17 Sept 2024 — Passive acoustic monitoring is a powerful observational tool that NOAA uses to detect and characterize sou...

    Published: March 1, 2022

  2. Source: rwsc.org
    Title: Data Management & Storage Best Practices for Long-term
    Link: https://rwsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/RWSC-PAM-Data-Management-Storage-Best-Practices.pdf
    Source snippet

    record) metadata information on sound files in sound analysis software. • Check that date/times line up in sound files with what is recor...

  3. Source: mindful-audio.com
    Title: Mindful Audio Noise and field recording
    Link: https://mindful-audio.com/blog/field-sound-recording-noise
    Source snippet

    Mindful AudioNoise and field recordingApril 4, 2023 — 4 Apr 2023 — Often over- and mis- used, the word noise means something specific in...

    Published: April 4, 2023

  4. Source: swgde.org
    Link: https://www.swgde.org/documents/published-complete-listing/08-a-001-swgde-best-practices-for-forensic-audio/
    Source snippet

    SWGDE - SWGDESWGDE Best Practices for Forensic AudioJune 9, 2022 — Eliminate or minimize sound distractions in the audio laboratory to pr...

    Published: June 9, 2022

  5. Source: gacc.org.uk
    Title: Ambient noise
    Link: https://www.gacc.org.uk/resources/Ambient%20Noise%20Report.pdf
    Source snippet

    March 30, 2016 — by R Ummels · Cited by 2 — In the rural area it is illustrated that aircraft noise has a significant higher sound exposu...

    Published: March 30, 2016

  6. Source: arxiv.org
    Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/1701.05779
    Source snippet

    arXivEmpirical Study of Drone Sound Detection in Real-Life Environment with Deep Neural NetworksJanuary 20, 2017...

    Published: January 20, 2017

  7. Source: repository.library.noaa.gov
    Title: noaa 52227 DS1
    Link: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/52227/noaa_52227_DS1.pdf
    Source snippet

    NOAA Institutional RepositoryMonitoring spatial and temporal underwater soundscape...by JA Stanley · 2021 · Cited by 13 — To quantify am...

  8. Source: repository.library.noaa.gov
    Title: noaa 72168 DS1
    Link: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/72168/noaa_72168_DS1.pdf
    Source snippet

    Sound Monitoring Program (ONMS Sound) | 2022–current | https:// · sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/monitoring/sound/. This program coordinates...

  9. Source: ncei.noaa.gov
    Title: science behind it sounding out innovation
    Link: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/science-behind-it-sounding-out-innovation
    Source snippet

    Science Behind It: Sounding Out Innovation | News18 Sept 2024 — NCEI Passive Acoustic Data Program Manager, Carrie Wall, tells us more ab...

  10. Source: sanctuaries.noaa.gov
    Link: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/monitoring/sound/
    Source snippet

    Monitoring | Office of National Marine SanctuariesNOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries maintains a nationally coordinated underwa...

  11. Source: repository.library.noaa.gov
    Title: noaa 73147 DS1
    Link: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/73147/noaa_73147_DS1.pdf
    Source snippet

    Acoustic Monitoring Desktop Studyby MM Holt · 2026 — This report summarizes past and present underwater acoustic monitoring efforts withi...

Additional References

  1. Source: nmfs-ost.github.io
    Link: https://nmfs-ost.github.io/PAM-Soundscapes/content/technical_documentation.html
    Source snippet

    Soundscape Technical DocumentationThis effort includes refining archival methods, software tools, and baseline soundscape metrics to inte...

  2. Source: svantek.com
    Link: https://svantek.com/case-studies/noise-source-identification/
    Source snippet

    Noise Source Identification in Aircraft Noise MonitoringIdentify and classify sound events automatically; Distinguish between true aircra...

  3. Source: microflown.com
    Link: https://www.microflown.com/case-studies/visualizing-aircraft-cabin-noise
    Source snippet

    Visualizing and quantifying aircraft cabin noiseDiscover 3D sound intensity measurements for visualizing and ranking acoustic noise sourc...

  4. Source: researchgate.net
    Title: 342042680 Investigation All Types of Aircraft Noises Review Paper
    Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342042680_Investigation_All_Types_of_Aircraft_Noises_Review_Paper
    Source snippet

    Investigation All Types of Aircraft Noises: Review Paper2 Mar 2020 — As part of a study of the impact of aircraft noise intrusions within...

  5. Source: aef.org.uk
    Link: https://www.aef.org.uk/guides/understanding-aircraft-noise/
    Source snippet

    Understanding aircraft noiseIf you're affected by noise from light aircraft, including helicopters try an internet search to find airfiel...

  6. Source: acousticnature.com
    Title: how to record nature sounds
    Link: https://acousticnature.com/journal/how-to-record-nature-sounds?srsltid=AfmBOooBqLqTPXOHIgihYOKA8VtNQt4TfQcl6VotZvZTTh7_AoSdlNy2
    Source snippet

    The Ultimate Guide20 Sept 2022 — From gear, research, microphone placement, and stereo techniques, learn how to record nature sounds like...

  7. Source: stellaraudioforensics.com
    Link: https://stellaraudioforensics.com/background-noise-in-legal-audio-recordings/
    Source snippet

    Learn how professionals minimize noise to ensure clear and accurate audio evidence...

  8. Source: gat04-live-1517c8a4486c41609369c68f30c8-aa81074.divio-media.org
    Link: https://gat04-live-1517c8a4486c41609369c68f30c8-aa81074.divio-media.org/filer_public/23/ad/23adc11f-e586-4b44-8f11-5cf91456ae64/1047_2020_08_11_iccan_review_of_aviation_noise_metrics_and_measurement.pdf
    Source snippet

    A review of aviation noise metrics and measurementTo determine the annoyance from aviation noise, the noise level from aviation needs to...

  9. Source: reddit.com
    Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskEngineers/comments/1lad9fr/how_to_record_low_frequency_noise_to_use_it_as/
    Source snippet

    the noise is there? My neighbor intentionally disturbing our sleep...

  10. Source: youtube.com
    Title: Unmasking noise! Discover 3 effective methods to track sound paths
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1qJ3scE_ig
    Source snippet

    Izotope RX11 | Isolating Bird Calls | Detailed Demo for Beginners | Spectral De-Noise | EQ...

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