'Sound Modulated Light #1' by Edwin van der Heide

'Sound Modulated Light #1' is environment of light and sound. The sound is not present acoustically but is radiated by the lights. The light sources are the carriers for the sound. The space consists of a design of multiple lights. Every light source has a double role. It's part of the light design and part of the sound design. The sound is modulated on top of the light by means of intensity modulation. The lights are flickering but mostly with a speed which not perceivable with the eye.

The visitors of the installation get a special hand held device which makes the modulated light audible as sound on a headphone. It can be seen as a light receiver instead of a radio receiver. The balance between the different sounds depends on the light falling on the receiver. By moving (the receiver) in space the different (combinations of) lights are sensed. The sound changes according to the movements because every light is radiating a different sound. The space itself is dynamically changing over time. The light composition is changing and the interrelated sound composition as well.

'Sound Modulated Light #1' is an environment in which the visitors are invited to explore and interact with the space.

In the year 2000 Edwin van der Heide realised the first version of 'Radioscape'. There are certain similarities between 'Sound Modulated Light' and 'Radioscape'. 'Radioscape' however is designed for the public space and not related to light nevertheless it has resulted in the first experiments for 'Sound Modulated Light'

This installation was co-produced with Argos (for the Argos festival 2003) and was supported by the Flemish Ministry of Culture.