Robotic Soundscape

Machine-art pioneer and media artist Kal Spelletich led a two-week workshop demonstrating how to build interactive sound robots. Participants constructed electromechanical sound generators, using technology in unconventional and experimental ways. The approach included harvesting environmental data and translating it into sound through kinetic objects. Biosensors paired with microcontrollers actuated motors and movement.

Motors, transducers, found objects, and mechanical linkages were combined with resonating bodies to produce new tone colors and complex polyrhythmic structures. The machines' thumping, jolting, scraping, creaking, and humming sounds were recorded, amplified, and spatialized.

The workshop concluded with a joint concert performance, where all individual sound sculptures were brought to life and combined into a collective composition.

Additional Information

• Workshop Supervision: Kal Spelletich, Lorenz Schwarz