The Robophone Ensemble: Munich Biennale
For the 2024 Munich Biennale, 4DSOUND proudly contributed to the groundbreaking project of artists Parker Heyl and Mac Van Dam, which introduced the Robophone Ensemble—an innovative array of robotic sound sculptures. Asking the question “what if a speaker had a body?”, this ensemble merges sound and motion, creating an immersive environment that challenges traditional notions of spatial audio.
For this project, 4DSOUND’s director Poul Holleman collaborated with software developer George Adamopoulos to craft a custom spatial sound interface. Unlike traditional 4DSOUND systems, which focus on virtual sound sources, this interface was designed to integrate the physical presence of the robots as sound sources, allowing composers to control sound and movement in a unified artistic expression.
The Robophone Ensemble’s unique setup allowed for real-time manipulation of both sonic and kinetic elements, offering a new level of immersion. This was brought to life with newly commissioned works by composers Tamara Miller and Ted Hearne, which were performed by robotic musicians navigating through Munich’s streets. The robotic musicians travelled from the Vereinshaus Scholastika to the MaximiliansForum. The multidisciplinary performance, titled “In Passage,” combined kinetic art, robotics, and spatial sound technology in imaginative and boundary-pushing ways.
This project was a collaboration with Het Geluid.
Credits
Kinetic sculptures: Parker Heyl and Mac Van Dam
Composers: Tamara Miller and Ted Hearne
Vocal coaching: Kirsten Schoetteldreier
Spatial audio technology, sound and kinetic integration: 4DSOUND and Poul Holleman
Motion control and software development: George Adamopoulos
Art direction: Het Geluid
For this project, 4DSOUND’s director Poul Holleman collaborated with software developer George Adamopoulos to craft a custom spatial sound interface. Unlike traditional 4DSOUND systems, which focus on virtual sound sources, this interface was designed to integrate the physical presence of the robots as sound sources, allowing composers to control sound and movement in a unified artistic expression.
The Robophone Ensemble’s unique setup allowed for real-time manipulation of both sonic and kinetic elements, offering a new level of immersion. This was brought to life with newly commissioned works by composers Tamara Miller and Ted Hearne, which were performed by robotic musicians navigating through Munich’s streets. The robotic musicians travelled from the Vereinshaus Scholastika to the MaximiliansForum. The multidisciplinary performance, titled “In Passage,” combined kinetic art, robotics, and spatial sound technology in imaginative and boundary-pushing ways.
This project was a collaboration with Het Geluid.
Credits
Kinetic sculptures: Parker Heyl and Mac Van Dam
Composers: Tamara Miller and Ted Hearne
Vocal coaching: Kirsten Schoetteldreier
Spatial audio technology, sound and kinetic integration: 4DSOUND and Poul Holleman
Motion control and software development: George Adamopoulos
Art direction: Het Geluid