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Sonic Sphere for Burning Man 2022

A spherical concert ball lined with lights and speakers for mind-blowing immersive experiences

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Sonic Sphere for Burning Man 2022

Sonic Sphere for Burning Man 2022

Sonic Sphere for Burning Man 2022

Sonic Sphere for Burning Man 2022

Sonic Sphere for Burning Man 2022

A spherical concert ball lined with lights and speakers for mind-blowing immersive experiences

A spherical concert ball lined with lights and speakers for mind-blowing immersive experiences

A spherical concert ball lined with lights and speakers for mind-blowing immersive experiences

A spherical concert ball lined with lights and speakers for mind-blowing immersive experiences

Ed Cooke
Ed Cooke
Ed Cooke
Ed Cooke
1 Campaign |
Black Rock City, United States
$11,844 USD 22 backers
23% of $50,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Sonic Sphere Overview

We're an international collective of musicians, engineers, polymaths and philosophers beyond inspired to create a spherical concert hall to conjure outrageous new shapes in musical consciousness.

The Sonic Sphere is a reimagining of Karl-Heinz Stockhausen's legendary 3-D concert hall of 1970 with dazzling modern technology for this year's Burning Man Festival. 

The elevated 12.5m geodesic sphere will be lined over its entire interior surface with a 52.4 speaker rig and more than 20,000 LEDs to create the first fully spherical audiovisual experience ever created. Hundreds of souls will lie in sound-and-light-perforable nets suspended in the centre to experience incredible 3-dimensional audiovisual compositions.  

Features

  • 52 unique audio channels for immersive sound - so the music comes from behind, in front, left, right, above and below. 
  • High grade audio for pristine listening experiences
  • A diverse mix of musical genres and meditations 
  • Synchronised lighting 

Use of funds

This is an entirely volunteer, non-profit enterprise, so our costs are exclusively for the raw materials necessary to construct this marvel. We have already directly raised $100k to meet 2/3rds of the costs of materials. 

  • We need $50k to complete the acquisition of all such raw materials including steel, speakers, LEDs, amplifiers, electronics and nets. 
  • Perks include contributing to a sensational new engine of audiovisual consciousness; access to our community of makers; and the chance to extend the scope of human consciousness.
  • All pledgers will receive a Sonic Sphere sticker for their laptops, a source of guaranteed intrigue and admiration across the best cafés of the world. 
  • Anyone who makes it to Burning Man will of course be able to experience it directly. 

The Impact

Your contribution will bring to fruition perhaps one of the most extraordinary engines of listening and avant-garde sonic experience in history. 

  • This will be the first completely spherical concert hall in history
  • It will contribute to a research program that reached its apogee more than 50 years ago and is need of invigoration.
  • All learnings will be shared via an open-source project so others can build sonic spheres too

Risks & Challenges

We are pushing the boundaries of 3-D audio, 3-D lighting and architectural innovation. 

  • While our team have, variously, built the world's largest Ferris wheel; a suite of prototype spherical concert halls and large complex projects, this is an ambitious project.
  • We have built 7 prototypes over 18 months, spending $50k and thousands of volunteer hours on R&D.
  • Black Rock Desert presents unique challenges including extreme weather 
  • We have been solving, and will continue to solve, these challenges with a mixture of gumption and enthusiasm.  

Further ways of participating

Sonic Sphere is part of an international open-source movement to reanimate applied research into how the light of consciousness can form new shapes. It is not only through donating that you can contribute:

  • Musicians should compose 3-D music and sound installations for the Sphere
  • Anyone with stems and/or 3-D recordings of music or soundscapes should please get in touch to contribute
  • Please forward this campaign to your most vibesome friends - especially those who are patrons of the arts

Please reach out to us via:  https://sonicsphere.art/ 

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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Choose your Perk

Special Spatial Audio Mix

$33 USD
A special 360 spatial recording mixed into stereo - shared as a high quality digital audio file
Included Items
  • Special spatial mix
Estimated Shipping
December 2022
4 claimed

Special Surprise Memento

$100 USD
We’ll send you a special surprise memento in Q4, 2022
Included Items
  • Special Surprise Memento
Estimated Shipping
November 2022
12 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Extra Special Surprise Memento

$500 USD
We’ll send you an extra special surprise memento in Q4, 2022
Included Items
  • Extra Special Surprise Memento
Estimated Shipping
November 2022
0 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Super Special Surprise Memento

$1,000 USD
We’ll send you a super special surprise memento in Q4. 2022
Included Items
  • Super Special Surprise Memento
Estimated Shipping
November 2022
2 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Special Experience

$5,000 USD
All previous perks plus an invitation for two to a special experience in Q4, 2022.
Included Items
  • Special Experience
Estimated Shipping
November 2022
1 out of 7 of claimed

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