Deepwood is an immersive site-specific sound installation created by Bristol-based arts company Mechanimal. Participants walk around a tree with adapted headphones, and listen to soundscapes that are being generated in real-time using sensors attached to the tree. Different areas allow them to listen into the sounds of different sensors. They also hear voiceovers related to local people’s relationship with trees, and exciting scientific research into tree communication, memory and consciousness.

As the team’s Creative Technologist and Sound Artist, I was in charge of both creating the sonic material and implementing the sound systems. This involved:

🌳 Designing the high-level technical infrastructure and implementing the production of the project from conception to completion.

🌳 Sourcing the best value and most appropriate technical equipment for the company for purchase and hire.

🌳 Developing a generative sound system from the data coming from the biosensors using the audio softwares Max/MSP and Ableton.

🌳 Mapping the physical space to a digital environment in the game tools Unity and Wwise to track when people move between defined listening zones.

🌳 Writing technical documentation for the project’s operation and legacy.

Deepwood creative team:

• Creative Director: Tom Bailey
• Plant Sensor Designer: Danilo Oliveira Vaz
• Web Designer: Jon Somerscales
• Designer: Natasha Soonchild
• Spatial Audio Adviser: Jan Meinema