Famou5 Foundation: A Conversation of Consequence
We worked with a playwright and developed a script of a Famous 5 “Pink Tea.” Utilizing binaural audio technology, we recorded a live performance of the piece with a specialized 360-degree microphone.
By using multiple microphones set up in the ears of a dummy head, binaural audio captures sound, and then plays it back in a way that the ear and brain understand to be three-dimensional. Where conventional audio recordings provide a passive experience, binaural actively engages the listener’s brain by situating them in the space through audio. The listener doesn’t just hear, they feel.
With our audio piece complete, we developed a corresponding video component that used a small shape in a subtle way to suggest where the sound was coming from. We wanted the user to pay less attention to the visual and more to the audio, so we ensured the visual element was complementary and not distracting.
After nearly a century, the Famous 5’s voices were finally heard loud and clear again. The binaural experience earned a great deal of organic media coverage nationwide and has been made into a permanent exhibit to ensure the attention persists. It has also made its way into classrooms, as Canadian teachers have adopted it as part of their lessons. Additionally, it’s going to be featured as a part of Canada Day celebrations across the nation, in both in the country’s capital of Ottawa and in Calgary. All of that attention contributed to a 400% increase in traffic to the Famous 5 website.Genres: Dialogue
Categories: Idents
Critical Mass UK, 7 years ago
