SonAR II - Minnehaha Falls

The Sonic Augmented Reality (SonAR) project explores the artistic potential of smartphone-based music connected to the environment of its locale. This connection is inspirational, logistic, and literal.

SonAR II is a soundwalk composed for Minnehaha Falls Park in Minneapolis, MN. The app displays a map and the users location. A red line indicates recommended soundwalking paths.

Audio tracks play back from virtual speakers located along and adjacent to the recommended path. The tracks overlap with each other and the walking path in a variety of ways and at different locations. GPS tracking compares the phone location relative to the virtual speaker locations, and adjusts the volume and apparent direction of the source of the audio tracks while walking. Moving closer to a virtual speaker will increase its amplitude, and turning (or pointing your phone) in different directions will rotate the perceived sound field.

It is recommended to use headphones or earbuds at a level which allows the ambient sound of the environment to bleed through and mix with the electronic audio tracks.

Different paths taken produce unique musical experiences.

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes at a leisurely pace.

Made possible with support from the Hellervik Award and St. Cloud State University.