Our focus on sound
Sound is at the heart of our identity, representing the rich diversity of life in the natural world. Nature is filled with a vast range of sounds, from the low-frequency rumbles of elephants to the high-pitched calls of bats.
While some of these sounds fall within the human audible range (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz)—like the roar of a tiger or the buzz of a bee—many others, such as infrasound and ultrasound, are beyond our hearing. We harness this spectrum of sound to create our unique soundscapes—visual representations of nature's frequencies.
Sumatran Tiger
176 Hz
Main Camp
40 Hz
Kepayang Elementary School
40 Hz
Agile Gibbon
2587 Hz
How it comes to life
1
Sound Collection
At our project sites, we deploy specialized audio recording devices to capture the sounds of the forest, rivers, and wildlife over time. These recordings serve as the foundation of our soundscapes
2
Frequency Extract
The sounds are converted to series of amplitudes and frequencies using the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) algorithm. Then, we will calculate the peak frequency (frequency with highest amplitude) from the input. The peak frequency will be the base for the Chladni pattern.
3
Pattern Formation
We then translate these sound frequencies into visual patterns by simulating sand particles forming a Chladni pattern on a 2D surface using the Chladni equation.
4
Visual Enhancement
Finally, we use creative software to artistically enhance the patterns, maintaining the integrity of the original Chladni pattern.
Visualizing sounds:
The Chladni Method
The Chladni Method is a method of visualizing sound, discovered by German physicist and musician Ernst Chladni in the late 18th century. Chladni is often referred to as the "father of acoustics" for his pioneering work in this field. In his experiments, Chladni spread sand on a metal plate and then used a violin bow to vibrate the plate. As the plate vibrated at different frequencies, the sand moved to areas where the plate was not vibrating (called nodal lines), forming intricate and symmetrical patterns. These patterns, known as Chladni patterns, visually represent the frequencies of the vibrations.
“Our focus on sound is not just about aesthetic appeal—it's about giving a voice to the environment. By transforming the natural sounds of our project sites into visual and auditory experiences, we aim to create a deeper connection between people and the ecosystems we strive to protect.”