Large-Scale Interaction with a Sound Installation as a Design Tool

Abstract

In this paper we present an installation done in collaboration with Volvo Cars® for the international motor shows in Geneva, New York, and Shanghai during spring 2017. To envision and produce a future car sound for silent vehicles, users were given high-level control of a sophisticated synthesizer through playing with an attainable and inviting "color book"-inspired interface. The synthesizer algorithm was designed to dynamically create a rich mix of looped sounds that could blend with a sonic background scenery that had ecoacoustic validity, and that could metaphorically align with the visual elements. The installation ran faultlessly for around thirty days and with tens of thousands recorded sessions.