the sound tree
3D audio stories for children
1995 - ongoing

>The Sound Tree is both a storyteller and a
listening environment. His tales immerse the
children in a three
dimensional world of sound -
a “cinema for the ears”.

>The Tree’s story unfolds in a semi-darkness
conducive to “active listening” and allows the
children to imagine for themselves the spatial
dimension of the story.
They are free to generate their own visualisation of the characters and events.

>The Sound Tree uses octophonic spatialization. It is a powerful educational tool, capable of conveying a broad range of ideas and emotions.
It is an entirely automated system which makes it possible to program sessions flexibly, much along the same lines as a cinema.

 >Capacity : 25 to 30 children per session
Duration : +/- 50 minutes
The Sound Tree installation requires a room with minimum 8mx 12m floorspace and 4m in height.

We are developing a collection of
stories for the Sound Tree:

 >Operation Sunflower
Theme : the city as a macro-organism
for 8 to 12 year olds

>Toby and the Green-haired Frog
(in production)
Theme : the hole in the ozone layer
for 6 to 11 year olds

>The Isle of Why   (in production)
Theme : curiosity
for 5 to 8 year olds

 >Concept, sound and stories : Bobvan and Liz Scrimgeour

>Produced by Des Airs Productions

>Architecture and design : Artstation (Cardiff, UK)

>Fabrication : Publiair (Baarn, Holland)

>Fibre optic lighting : Wilbey (London, UK)