overview of the installation
BMW was announcing to the media their sponsorship of the South African rugby team – the Springboks. Our brief was to simulate the feeling a rugby player would experience as they walk onto a packed stadium.
Participants enter the event through a dark 30m long tunnel. As they walk, the sound builds from a distant stadium stomping their feet in unison, to the South African Anthem being sung. As they go deeper into the tunnel, the sound keeps developing and getting more exciting, loud, and present. Around the bend, a motion detection system picks them up and the whole “stadium” erupts sonically and visually.
BMW was announcing to the media their sponsorship of the South African rugby team – the Springboks. Our brief was to simulate the feeling a rugby player would experience as they walk onto a packed stadium.
Participants enter the event through a dark 30m long tunnel. As they walk, the sound builds from a distant stadium stomping their feet in unison, to the South African Anthem being sung. As they go deeper into the tunnel, the sound keeps developing and getting more exciting, loud, and present. Around the bend, a motion detection system picks them up and the whole “stadium” erupts sonically and visually.
We had six HD LCD wall panels (each consisting of four LCDs) displaying a stadium full of animated people standing up and cheering.
We also hacked disposable cameras to augment the experience with real flashes.
sound design
Here are the loops. They really don’t give any justice to the experience, as they were mixed specifically for the space and to the system in the venue. There’s some serious low end going on, which massive subwoofers were dealing with. When listening in the venue, the loops sound a lot more accurate to how it would actually sound.
Here are the loops. They really don’t give any justice to the experience, as they were mixed specifically for the space and to the system in the venue. There’s some serious low end going on, which massive subwoofers were dealing with. When listening in the venue, the loops sound a lot more accurate to how it would actually sound.
Distant South African anthem. At the entrance of the tunnel. As you’re waiting in the reception area, you can here this sound very distantly.
More present South African anthem. From one third into the tunnel. Synced to first loop.
Picking up the pace and excitement with this loop. Close to the exit of the tunnel.
The climax as you step out of the tunnel and “onto” the pitch. This loop is triggered by a motion detection system.
This transition allows the loop to reset itself and go back to the idle “excited” state.
If you are interested, you can find more details on the sound design here.
the control room
control room with focus on the electronics for the camera flahses
different parts of the circuitary for triggering the camera flashes
HD LCD wall panels getting hooked up
