Tape Translations

Interactive Sound Sculpture, 2010

Tape Translations is a modular, wall mounted, interactive sound exhibit. Participants approach a mounted panel to which a cassette tape, speaker and light bulb have been affixed. The tape's ribbon has been pulled from its plastic casing and runs around a series of bobbins and across a magnetic tape head. The user is prompted to grab and pull the loose tape through the system. As the tape runs over the sensor, the magnetic information encoded on the tape is played through the speaker and distorted based upon the speed at which the user is pulling. The magnetic information is also translated into a different form, turning on a light bulb, which reflects the varying voltage levels of the magnetic information. Each panel would contain one tape system, however the combination of multiple visitors pulling multiple tapes would create a composition of sound which, becomes more robust as more "players" are present.

Tape Translations was made with Emily Webster and Ju Yun Song.

For more information please visit www.tapetranslations.com

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