This machine records ambient noise to remix sounds from reality

Ambient noise is something that we don’t think about much, but by definition is always there. "Collector" is an interactive art object from Dmitriy Morozov as part of his ::vtol:: project, that puts a focus on the sounds that surround us.

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The piece consists of a rotating stereo microphone and speakers, which swivels toward the loudest sounds near it. When it hears noise, it records samples and puts together an algorithmic composition of the various background noises without any time between them.

Morozov describes the work as "a kind of reality re-mixer." And the end result, as seen in the video, yields a really interesting effect that sounds almost like a digital parrot, echoing people and noises in the room long after they’ve left the physical area.