Evaluating a continuous sonic interaction:comparing a performable acoustic and digital everyday sound

This paper reports on the procedure and results of an experiment to evaluate a continuous sonic interaction with an everyday wind-like sound created by both acoustic and digital means. The interaction is facilitated by a mechanical theatre sound effect, an acoustic wind machine, which is performed by participants. This work is part of wider research into the potential of theatre sound effect designs as a means to study multisensory feedback and continuous sonic interactions. An acoustic wind machine is a mechanical device that affords a simple rotational gesture to a performer; turning its crank handle at varying speeds produces a wind-like sound. A prototype digital model of a working acoustic wind machine is programmed, and the acoustic interface drives the digital model in performance, preserving the same tactile and kinaesthetic feedback across the continuous sonic interactions. Participants’ performances are elicited with sound stimuli produced from simple gestural performances of the wind-like sounds. The results of this study show that the acoustic wind machine is rated as significantly easier to play than its digital counterpart. Acoustical analysis of the corpus of participants’ performances suggests that the mechanism of the wind machine interface may play a role in guiding their rotational gestures.