Sound Design Research Articles

"Stadtklanggestaltung" - The importance of urban sound design in the field of administrative noise control

Cities sound. They can be loud, quiet, monotonous, or vibrant and exciting. How urban spaces sound in detail depends on the respective framework, which includes the urban planning and the different activities of the residents. The focus dealing with sounds of the cities in acoustic engineering lies mainly on the topic of noise. In fact, environmental noise has a negative impact on our health and reduces the quality of life. But the sound of cities is much more than just noise. Harmonious and appealing city sounds have a positive effect on well-being; it promotes orientation, and it can help to strengthen social and cultural bonds. Therefore, it is important to consider the sound of the city from the planning stage. This contribution sets out to show the possibilities of including planning tools within the concept of "Stadtklanggestaltung" (Urban Sound Design) into the field of administrative noise control and how the soundscape standardization sets a supporting framework to implement them in practice. Specific urban sound design and planning can make a significant contribution to developing high-quality urban places and to preventing possible conflicts in relation to controversial urban sound situations.

User evaluation of the Sonic Gathering Place - an installation incorporating sound design

The Sonic Gathering Place (SGP) is a prototype outdoor urban furniture installation that uses natural sounds recorded in national parks to enhance the biophilic effects of plants. This paper presents the development and results of a user evaluation survey accessed via QR code on the installation. It aimed to provide the designers with feedback on effects of the installation, constructed in a Melbourne university campus courtyard, on users' enjoyment, as well as capturing more subtle affective outcomes of users' experiences. Results demonstrated that the soundscape/biophilic design intervention was successful, increasing the enjoyment of its users and improving self-reported mood. It encouraged users to stop and listen; they responded it provided them with the restorative effects experienced in nature; and that the sounds complemented the plantings. This paper also reports sound levels measured at the installation which showed that the introduced sound levels were set by the designer only marginally louder than those that existed before the installation.

Comfortable sound design based on auditory masking with chord progression and melody generations using automatic composition

Unpleasant noise is a crucial problem, that we often face in daily life. One of such a problem is in the case of dental treatment. A dental instrumental noise that includes peaky components in the high-frequency band makes doctors and patients discomfort. To reduce discomfort, we proposed a method to mask unpleasant noise with a comfortable sound. The proposed method was automatically generating a comfortable cord progression. In previous subjective test results, it shows that degree of discomfort reduces. The remaining problem is that degree of comfort improves. This is due to the fact that the previous method utilizes the musical element of chord, but does not introduce the musical elements of melody and rhythm. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new method to introduce the melody generation with automatic composition (AI composition) into the previous method based on the automatic generation of the chord progression. The proposed method automatically generates a chord progression to follow the peak frequency of dental treatment sounds and to add a melody following the chord progression with AI composition assistance tool to improve comfort and to design comfortable sound.

Playful Computation

This paper investigates students’ experiences and teachers’ attitudes towards playful computation: an innovative pedagogy that emphasizes playful learning to teach students information and computing technology. A pilot study was conducted at a Californian primary school during the summer, involving 84 students and 5 teachers engaging in creative and playful computing activities such as 3D printing, coding drones, redubbing audio, building computers, and music production. Student surveys, teacher interviews, and classroom observations were collected in mixed-methods research to provide multiple perspectives on the challenges and benefits of implementing the pedagogy. Key findings indicate that playful computation significantly boosted student engagement and enjoyment, even surpassing student expectations. Teachers also expressed surprise at the increase in engagement as well as persistence, attributing this to the intrinsically rewardingnature of playful activities. Playful computation also promoted student self-expression and collaborative learning. However, teachers expressed concerns about the practicality of implementing this pedagogy in standard educational settings due to existing structural constraints of aligning with academic standards. Classroom management and lack of established norms for play in this learning context also limited their lesson plans and implementations. Supporting the existing literature on the benefits of playful learning, this research also suggests the need for further investigation into its role in facilitating flow and non-cognitive traits like grit. Investigating how playful computation impacts students’ testable learning outcomes is also recommended as a necessary research direction to facilitate broader implementation in American classrooms.

북유럽 지역의 제품 디자인 특성 분석을 통한 뱅앤올룹슨 오디오 제품 디자인과의 상관성에 관한 연구

At some point in modern daily life, Nordic design began to rapidly increase as a home design preferred by people. Northern Europe has developed a unique culture due to its geographical conditions, such as adapting to nature or being friendly, focusing on indoor life, and practicality through simplicity. In this study, the characteristics of Northern European Design were derived into four types through analysis of design cases of representative Northern European countries. Nordic countries are traditionally based on practicality, and are characterized by nature-friendly purity, aesthetics of cultural background, and sustainable simplicity. Bang & Olufsen was selected as the target to examine specifically how these Nordic design characteristics were applied to actual product design and how they changed over time. Bang & Olufsen is a world-renowned audio company in Northern Europe with a 99-year history. In this study, a case study of 66 representative Bang & Olufsen products from 1926 to 2023 was conducted, and the results showed that Bang & Olufsen's audio design generally maintains the characteristics of Nordic design over time. Among the characteristics of Nordic design, simplicity and aesthetics still remain strong over time, and purity is relatively low but appears to be increasing slowly as technology advances. Despite the lack of samples of target products for case analysis and some limitations in the expert survey, this study is significant in that it presents a method for analyzing design characteristics by examining the geographical characteristics and temporal changes in product design.

A class-oriented architecture for designing learning apps

ABSTRACT In the age of Apps, where almost everyone is fast becoming accustomed to using apps in almost every walk of life. Such widespread production, consumption, and burgeoning proliferation of Apps are also frequently seen in the various educational pitches and we call them “Learning Apps” (LAs). Now, approximately everyone is believing in and engaging through these apps as the mandatory future of our educational-organizations. However, their overwhelming nature surprised everyone including learners, parents, and other stockholders. Every day, a thousand apps get published, and continuously adding in educational categories of various app stores. Significantly, most LA developers are targeting preschoolers. And, who knows if they contain true educational values or not? Nevertheless, this scenario seems elusive. We observe the emergence of several de facto design paradigms, having no or little theoretical basis. Moreover, their design features do not scientifically connect with evidence-based teaching practices. Despite the expansion of enterprises and the development of new tools and technology, there is a lack of a sound app design strategy grounded in established didactics. Realizing this, we developed A Class-oriented Architecture of LAs to facilitate the content experts’ design.

Embodied/Encoded: A Study of Presence in Digital Music

Presence in Embodied/Encoded is concerned with the physical and embodied dimensions of musicking in relation to digital-informational representations of such phenomena. I explore presence through practices of recording, creative coding, audio production, and spatial electronic music composition. Of particular interest is the link between presence and the sensual/corporeal aspects of sound production and listening. Research in embodied music cognition and extended reality provide a foundation for this type of meaning formation. In the context of immersive electronic music, I suggest that physical presence – a sense of ‘being somewhere’—emerges not just from images/representations of place, but from peripheral aspects of the (embodied) acoustic experience such as spatial proximity and distance, diffuseness, resonance and reverberation, noise floor, etc. Consequently, musical meaning in “Embodied/Encoded” moves away from the symbolic dimension of electronic sounds toward meaning as an outcome of embodied interaction with the environment. The concept of presence can also apply to ‘mixed’ music, or combinations of acoustic and electronic sources, in which virtual presence is complicated by real bodies and spaces. Digital technology renders sound a flexible, malleable entity—a ‘flickering’ signifier to borrow from Hayles—capable of reconfiguring presence in creative ways. The dance between encoded and embodied dimensions inspires and informs this artistic research. Through a body of immersive music and multimedia documentation, I unpack connections between presence and its digital abstractions.

Translating Radio Productions into Television Programmes: The Post-War Career of BBC Writer/Producer Nesta Pain

When BBC Television resumed broadcasting in 1946, BBC radio still dominated the airwaves. However, within a decade, television had swiftly become the dominant medium. BBC radio producers from the Features Department were eager to try their hand at translating their audio productions into visual ones, although few were successful. BBC producer Nesta Pain ultimately remained in radio production, but she successfully translated some of her radio plays and productions into television programmes, including John Mortimer’s The Dock Brief (1957), A Shaft of Light (1958), and Simon Raven’s The Move Up Country (1961). As one of the few women, and one of the more successful BBC Features writer/producers of the 1940s and 1950s, Nesta Pain’s approaches to translating her work to television and the obstacles she encountered trying to move from audio storytelling to a more visual media offers a glimpse into the difficulties radio producers faced in switching to new methods. This article discusses the successful, as well as challenging, moments she faced in attempting this transition and also explores how access to Pain’s personal papers has greatly enhanced this understanding.

A perspective review on the role of engine sound in speed perception and control: state of the art and methodological suggestions.

In this review we focus on the role of in-car sound, specifically the artificial engine sounds, on drivers' speed perception and control, a topic that has received little attention so far. Previous studies indicate that removing or reducing engine sound leads drivers to underestimate speed and, consequently, to drive faster. Furthermore, evidence suggests that specific sound frequencies could play a role in this process, highlighting the importance of in-car sound features. First, we show that the amount of research in the field is scarce and rather outdated, and that this is largely due to the fact that industrial research is subject to very few publications. Then, we examine benefits and limitations of different research paradigms used and we propose a protocol to investigate systematically the phenomenon. In particular, we argue for the benefits of a wider use of psychophysical methods in speed perception, a field that has been typically explored by means of driving simulation. Finally, we highlight some methodological and statistical limitations that might impact the interpretation of the evidence considered. Our methodological considerations could be particularly useful for researchers aiming to investigate the impact of sound on speed perception and control, as well as for those involved in the design of in-car sounds. These are particularly relevant for the design of electric vehicles, which represent a challenge but also the ideal testing ground to advance the knowledge in the field.

Investigating the Impact of Film Quality and Viewing Environment on Viewer Satisfaction

Viewer satisfaction measures how well a film's technical and artistic elements match or surpass the expectations and tastes provided by the viewer. Film quality refers to a film's technical and creative components. Out of 75 surveys that were provided, 50 valid results were utilized to emphasize the aspects affecting viewer satisfaction in Impact of Film Quality and View Environment. To enhance data validity and reliability, we employed the Statistical Package (SPSS) software to carry out the following tests. The correlation technique was used to measure the extent of the connection between several factors like film quality, viewing environment, and the level of viewership satisfaction and the results yielded positive results. Proper regression analysis was also conducted to investigate the correctness of Resolution quality, Sound design, Cinematography, Seating comfortness, Ambient Lighting, and Viewing distance. The findings indicated how the watching setting and the caliber of the film affected the viewers' overall happiness levels. The findings also affirmed the robustness of the model which indicated that film quality impacted the respondents more than the viewing environment. These factors are highlighted in this study as key influences on viewer experiences and provide valuable information regarding possible improvements in the processes of film creation and marketing to increase audience engagement. The prevention statistically justified the quality of the film and the viewer's satisfaction with having a successful film.

Sound Design in the Turkish TV Series and Cinema Sector: Post-Production Stage

Sound Design in the Turkish TV Series and Cinema Sector: Post-Production Stage

Writing Script and Audio Production: Movement to Strengthen Javanese Radio Drama in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

This study aims to gain a deep understanding of the subjective experiences of participants who are directly involved in the strengthening movement to uncover the development of Javanese radio dramas in Yogyakarta. Due to the abstract nature of the data, including people's experiences in drama radio and radio broadcast fields, this study employs the interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA) to explore and understand these experiences. We used IPA to process qualitative data from interviews with nine participants who were actively involved in strengthening Javanese radio dramas. The study's findings indicate that participants' subjective experiences in the reinforcement movement provide an overview of the positive development of Javanese radio dramas. Several actions, such as raising awareness, writing scripts (through workshops and competitions), nurturing talent, producing audio, evaluating, and enhancing the community's role, sparked this development. These actions encourage the manager's optimism about restoring Javanese dramas as an important part of the Javanese people's identity. This research not only helps policymakers re-evaluate local cultural preservation and development programs, but it also opens up space for cultural movers in general to find alternative ways to prevent the degradation of Javanese culture in the digital era.

Artificial neural network-based sound insulation optimization design of composite floor of high-speed train

Artificial neural network-based sound insulation optimization design of composite floor of high-speed train

Telling Data Stories with the Hero's Journey: Design Guidance for Creating Data Videos.

Data videos increasingly becoming a popular data storytelling form represented by visual and audio integration. In recent years, more and more researchers have explored many narrative structures for effective and attractive data storytelling. Meanwhile, the Hero's Journey provides a classic narrative framework specific to the Hero's story that has been adopted by various mediums. There are continuous discussions about applying Hero's Journey to data stories. However, so far, little systematic and practical guidance on how to create a data video for a specific story type like the Hero's Journey, as well as how to manipulate its sound and visual designs simultaneously. To fulfill this gap, we first identified 48 data videos aligned with the Hero's Journey as the common storytelling from 109 high-quality data videos. Then, we examined how existing practices apply Hero's Journey for creating data videos. We coded the 48 data videos in terms of the narrative stages, sound design, and visual design according to the Hero's Journey structure. Based on our findings, we proposed a design space to provide practical guidance on the narrative, visual, and sound custom design for different narrative segments of the hero's journey (i.e., Departure, Initiation, Return) through data video creation. To validate our proposed design space, we conducted a user study where 20 participants were invited to design data videos with and without our design space guidance, which was evaluated by two experts. Results show that our design space provides useful and practical guidance for data storytellers effectively creating data videos with the Hero's Journey.

An efficient technique for developing the active sound control system in electric vehicle

The sound characteristic is a critical metric to manifest the brand differentiation of electric vehicle (EV), and the sound design with more diverse acoustic characteristics has become a hot issue in current research of EV technology. In this paper, an efficient technique of active sound design (ASD) is explored to develop the control system of active sound generation (ASG) with powerful sound quality for EV. Firstly, an optimization algorithm of sound synthesis based on multi-frequency superimposition is proposed to improve the harmonic interference phenomenon in the synthesized sounds. Subsequently, an adaptive sound control strategy is formulated, where an iterative accumulation method is proposed to calculate the “virtual engine speed” of EV, and a gain table is presented to divide the running state. Besides, an ASG system is developed based on the proposed ASD technique. The tests result demonstrate that there are 18 target order sounds are reproduced perfectly, and the powerful sound quality interior EV is enhanced while the original interior acoustic environment of EV is retained, which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed control technique of ASG system. The proposed ASD technique here accelerates the change from silence to sound quality in the electric vehicles, which has important theoretical significance and engineering value.

The cloth pass and soft glitch

In this article, sound artist Julie Rose Bower examines the relationship between the Foley ‘cloth pass’ and the ‘fabric sounds’ autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) trigger. Starting with Serres’s sensory appraisal that ‘the world is a mass of laundry’ the tactile qualities of cloth are proposed as a key component in accounting for the ‘felt rather than heard’ status of Foley sound. Writing from a practitioner perspective, Bower argues for textile manipulation as a form of embodied sound design and cloth sounds as a curiously generative media object. Through theorizing developments in the scope of attention within screen cultures, Bower develops a speculative ontology of soft glitch and conceptualizes a politics of folded listening. Alongside accounts of sound practice from industry Foley artists Vanessa Theme Ament (Die Hard, Edward Scissorhands), Joanna Fang (Sony PlayStation) and from her own ASMR work using costume and textiles (ASMR at the Museum for the Victoria and Albert Museum [V&A]), Bower argues for cloth sounds as transcendent cyberfeminist technique.

Investigating the Founction of Sound Design in Creating Atmosphere in Food Preparation Scenes

Investigating the Founction of Sound Design in Creating Atmosphere in Food Preparation Scenes

Research on the Application of Soundscape Design in Domestic Suspense Films: A Case Study of Lost in the Stars

This paper takes the soundscape design of domestic suspense films as the research object, aiming to explore the classification, case analysis, and production process of soundscapes in domestic suspense films, and to propose innovative strategies. Firstly, by defining and classifying film soundscapes, the characteristics of soundscape design in domestic suspense films are summarized. Secondly, through a specific case study of Lost in the Stars, the application and effect of soundscape design in domestic suspense films are analyzed. Next, the production process of soundscapes in domestic suspense films in the digital cinema era is introduced, including sound design, simultaneous recording, post-production, mixing, and playback stages. Finally, innovative strategies for the soundscape design of domestic suspense films are proposed. This research aims to provide theoretical support and innovative ideas for the practice of soundscape design in domestic suspense films.

Post-Internet Music: Negotiating Queer Identity in the Digital Era

My paper investigates an electronic music genre that emerged in the 2010s, in conjunction with the rise of attention to identity politics on mainstream platforms. The genre does not have a definite name; however, attempts have been made by critics (see, for example, Waugh 2017) to categorise it under the umbrella term "post-internet music". Such a label encompasses different and often competing sub-genres, all of which nonetheless share an imbrication in internet discourse: these range from Hyperpop, to ‘Deconstructed Club, to ‘Conceptronica’ (Reynolds 2019). As such, the post-internet genre has three distinguishing features: a) many artists operating within it identify both themselves and their music as queer; b) on the sonic side, the genre often comprises complex sound design, loud mixes, a wide stereo field, organic drum samples, pitched-up vocals, and beats that elude conventional time-signatures, so as to sound "deconstructed"; c) the music often makes overt or subtle reference to internet culture, and the digital domain. I seek to place particular attention to the conjuncture between the genre's sonic properties and its ‘queerness’, arguing that the genre is both enabled by, but also enables, internet-mediated identity categories. In this sense, I question what it means to be queer in the contemporary neoliberal era, how this might historically differ from previous elaborations of queerness, and to what extent electronic music - a genre so entrenched in masculinist narratives of technology - can act as a vehicle for counter-normative expression. 

Contributions of the ADNI Biostatistics Core.

The goal of the Biostatistics Core of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has been to ensure that sound study designs and statistical methods are used to meet the overall goals of ADNI. We have supported the creation of a well-validated and well-curated longitudinal database of clinical and biomarker information on ADNI participants and helped to make this accessible and usable for researchers. We have developed a statistical methodology for characterizing the trajectories of clinical and biomarker change for ADNI participants across the spectrum from cognitively normal to dementia, including multivariate patterns and evidence for heterogeneity in cognitive aging. We have applied these methods and adapted them to improve clinical trial design. ADNI-4 will offer us a chance to help extend these efforts to a more diverse cohort with an even richer panel of biomarker data to support better knowledge of and treatment for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. HIGHLIGHTS: The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Biostatistics Core provides study design and analytic support to ADNI investigators. Core members develop and apply novel statistical methodology to work with ADNI data and support clinical trial design. The Core contributes to the standardization, validation, and harmonization of biomarker data. The Core serves as a resource to the wider research community to address questions related to the data and study as a whole.