An Audible Environment: Production of a generative soundscape device

Abstract

The overall appearance of the world changed immensely due to the increased cultivation and urbanization of Earth. The sonic space plays a crucial role in how we experience the world around us, yet the importance of sound is overlooked and often considered a trivial part of our existence. Changes in the sonic space of our environments are no exception, with the world getting louder and more saturated with different anthropogenic noises. That forced biodiversity to adapt or relocate, which transformed the concept of nature and how we get to experience it from both visual and sonic perspectives.

An Audible Environment explores the theme of soundscape studies and acoustic ecology. The thesis discusses the concept of nature, examining the practice of sound ecology and the human impact on nature’s soundscapes in our environment. It points out the relationships between different categories of soundscapes elements (Biophony, Geophony, and Anthrophony) and how they adapt and change over time. It argues against the division of what is natural and what is man-made in our auditory environments. It points out how the line between both shifted and became amalgamated. The research served as the base for the production of a generative soundscape device, which was exhibited as a sound installation in Space21 and the Helsinki Winter Garden.